Our Rights, Our Lives: Women’s Call to Action Toward Cairo+20[i]

As the world reviews progress on implementation of the Program of Action of the 1994 International Conference on Population and Development, women in all our diversity, are mobilizing.  We aim to build political commitment, to overcome financial and legal obstacles, and to transform the weak health systems, adverse social and economic conditions, violence and discrimination that impede us from accessing the necessary health services and information to make informed decisions about our sexual and reproductive lives.  All over the world, millions of women are demanding justice.  Young women are speaking out, calling for meaningful participation in all areas of public life, for education and jobs, and fulfillment of human rights, including sexual and reproductive rights.

Stakeholders meet in Canada to examine delivering for women’s and children’s health

20-22 NOVEMBER 2011 | OTTAWA – More than 100 policymakers, donors, technical advisors, academics and advocates from around the world gathered in Ottawa for a two-day meeting to advance the implementation of the workplan of the Commission on Information and Accountability for Women’s and Children’s Health. Outcomes from the meeting included the development of a high-level action plan to take forward key components of the Commission’s recommendations, including acceleration of work on vital registration systems, resource-tracking, and global monitoring of progress.

Outcomes from the meeting included the development of a high-level action plan to take forward key components of the Commission’s recommendations, including acceleration of work on vital registration systems, resource-tracking, and global monitoring of progress. PMNCH will play a key role in this joint plan, leading on advocacy for the Commission recommendations in partnership with regional and national stakeholders, and contributing to the accountability work of the independent Expert Review Group (ERG).

Gumbonzvanda, RMT Founder Recieves the Women’s Leadership for Peacebuilding Award

Femme Afrique Solidaritae conferred the prestigious recognition and award “Women’s Leadership for Peacebuilding” to RMT Founder and Chairperson Ms Nyaradzayi Gumbonzvanda and Urgent Action Fund-Africa. The award  was held in Dakar, Senegal during the FAS Assembly and 15th Anniversary.  We share with you the Ms full acceptance speech,

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Acceptance Speech

Femme Afrique Solidaritae (FAS) 2011 Award

Women’s Leadership in Peace Peacebuilding

 Nyaradzayi Gumbonzvanda

December 13.2011

I have tears in my eyes, and I have joy and humility in my heart, as I accept this special award, conferred on the 15^th Anniversary of Femme Afrique Solidaritae! I congratulate Urgent Action Fund-Africa who share this moment and this award with me today. Your recognition is an honour to all African women, all girls, all those in the camps, in the communities, on the negotiating table and in the trenches for gender equality, rights and justice. I accept this award, with the bleeding heart of the daughters of this continent and my sisters globally, who seek to change the culture of violence and militarism to one of peace and coexistence. I accept the award with the full conviction that peace will one day be on our doorstep, through our voice, our agency, our commitment, our solidarity and our sisterhood.