UNIFEM is the United Nations Development Fund for Women and focuses on four key areas:
1. Reducing poverty among women 2. Ending all forms of violence against women 3. Halting the spread of HIV/AIDS among women and girls 4.Achieving gender equality in democratic governance in developing countries
Since its inception Baha’is have collaborated closely with UNIFEM at international, national and regional level. Lois Hainsworth MBE was a member of the Board of UNIFEM UK from 1998 and its President from 200 – 2004. Hazel Holmlund has just completed a 6 year term of office as UK Board Member and was elected Chairman of the Northern Ireland Branch in March 2006. Mahin Gornall and Sarah Lindsay were elected to the Committee of the Northern Ireland Branch at the same meeting. However the National Board still has Baha’i representatives following the end of Lois and Hazel’s terms of office, as Wendi Momen and Zarin Hainsworth were elected at the AGM in May 2006.
UNIFEM members are very concerned that the current reorganisation of the UN may result in UNIFEM being dismantled and its staff and duties dispersed across the UN. While the gap between the rights of each half of the world’s population is still so great we believe that there is still a need for a dedicated UN Agency. To quote the Millennium Development Goals, ‘the issue of gender equality is not limited to a single goal – it applies to all of them. Without progress towards gender equality and the empowerment of women, none of the Millennium Development Goals will be achieved. Women disproportionately suffer the burden of poverty, are the primary agents of child welfare, are the victims of widespread and persistent discrimination in all areas of life, and put their lives at risk every time they become pregnant.’
During this year of my chairmanship of the NI Branch of UNIFEM UK, I am committed to raising the profile of the organisation and to raising funds for UNIFEM projects in the developing world. A number of Northern Ireland Baha’is, men and women, are members of UNIFEM and it is important to point out that UNIFEM is not just a “women’s organisation”. This year for the first time, a man Matthew Cadbury has been elected to the Board of UNIFEM UK. As Baha’is we know that it is only when women and men work together that we can strive to achieve equality.
Our first major event this year takes place at Springhill House, Moneymore on 17 June when the guest of honour will be Professor Monica McWilliams, Chief Commissioner of the HRC Northern Ireland.
For further information about UNIFEM visit the websites www.unifem.org and www.unifemuk.org
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