Let’s get to it!

That was the message echoed by George Alagiah, in response to a similar call from Soroptimist International President Lynn Dunning at the 71^st Annual Conference of Soroptimist International of Great Britain and Ireland, held in Nottingham 28-29 October. In both cases they were speaking of the tasks that lie ahead of the organisation in terms of the alleviation of poverty, the lobbying for improved human rights and the battle against oppression, discrimination and violence against women. Together with UNIFEM UK President Juliet Colman, the speakers provided an inspiring and thought provoking take home message for the local women who attended. 

Two members of SI Thames Valley travelled to the conference, amongst the 1600 women in management and business across 30 countries and territories who met together to hear from these two keynote speakers as well as from other members of the organisation of progress on international, national and local service projects. 

In his speech George Alagiah said: ‘So many of the conflicts I have reported on over the years have one thing in common – political instability caused, in large measure, by chronic poverty. Without a level playing field when it comes to trade even the best policies would come to nothing.’ He spoke of the Fairtrade Foundation of which he is a patron, and highlighted ways in which its effects are now reaching some of the poorest of the poor, changing lives for the better. George told the conference audience of his many years as a broadcast journalist, reporting from parts of Africa where extreme poverty, hunger and deprivation are facts of life and he illustrated his views with case studies of individuals he had met and the lives they lead.

Earlier in the day Juliet Colman, President of UNIFEM UK had highlighted the parallels between the two organisations by echoing the conference theme ‘Together We Are Strong’. She said: ‘Your vision and your values, and all the work you do as the ‘Global Voice for Women’ is an inspiration to many. I am pleased to say that our two organisations share common aims to improve the lives of disadvantaged women in the world.’ Juliet described some of the projects taking place through UNIFEM funding in 96 developing countries of the world. She closed saying : ‘As I have illustrated today, it is a struggle for equality and human rights for all women that has not yet been won.  The world is a complex web of culture, tradition and disadvantage, and change must continue in order to give all women the freedom to live in dignity free from fear of abuse.’

 In her keynote speech, International President Lynn Dunning introduced her international appeal, due for launch on December 10, International Human Rights Day. ‘Soroptimists Roll Back Malaria’ will be targeted at a community in rural Benin in West Africa where malaria causes more deaths among children under five than any other single infection. Soroptimists across the world in 126 countries and territories will contribute to the fund, which will purchase and make available insecticide-treated bed nets to the community’s pregnant women and children and young families with children. These will be distributed, together with information and advice on malaria,  by Soroptimist members in Benin in co-operation with representatives of the Ministry of Health and the World Health Organisation’s local country office.