Through Women's Eyes Film Festival is here! This is a wonderful opportunity to see films not available elsewhere - and it's our biggest UN Women-USNC Chapter Fundraiser. See the full line up on our site (link below). Best deal: the weekend package! TWE Film Festival - April 1 and 2
Perspective: so easy to lose, so important to keep in mind. Here are three reality checks for today to help you put things in perspective. 1 I frequently evaluate grant proposals, especially from small groups looking for modest funding to change harmful, deep-seated cultural practices. Sigh. Good luck with that one. Reality check: sometimes large and unexpected changes come from small and humble origins. 2 Margaret Mead. An iconic American cultural anthropologist well worth study, especially by those who think they have no need for 'cultural anthropology.' Her insights will help you see everything differently. Plus she was the mother…
Gulf Coast UN Women/USNC Co-Sponsors: “Gender Rights as Human Rights: Where are We in 2016?” Gender Rights as Human Rights - both locally and globally - was the topic of a panel discussion October 26 at the University of South Florida Sarasota- Manatee. Five panelists shared their experiences and expertise regarding women’s issues in our own local communities and in villages as far away as India and Africa. The Gulf Coast Chapter co-sponsored this event. Scott Osborne, Esq., President of the UN Women/USNC, Gulf Coast Chapter, discussed women in India and how cultural influences can be at odds with the…
Togo - a tiny country in West Africa - doesn't make it into Western news very often, but it's getting some good press today thanks to fellow Returned Peace Corps Volunteers Jenny Schechter and Kevin Fiori. They are the recipients of the 2016 Sargeant Shriver Award for Distinguished Humanitarian Service in recognition of their work founding Hope Through Health (HTH) a non-profit dedicated to improving health care in underserved northern Togo. Since 2004 Hope Through Health has focused on expanding health care for the community living with HIV/AIDS. Recently, much needed Maternal and Child Health services have been added to their work. The work of HTH is…
Here's a perfect collaboration: one of my favorite schools - New Gate Montessori IB in Sarasota, Florida - and one of my favorite causes - Cities for CEDAW. What a team! The New Gate students created a PSA about our local CEDAW initiative. They did a brilliant job explaining exactly how this global topic applies directly to Sarasota residents. Take a look and stay tuned for more on the Cities for CEDAW initiative. And thanks to all these 11th-year students who donated time to help the local Chapter of UN Women-USNC.
Way back in November 2014 (wait, a year and a half ago; is that possible?) I wrote about the shame of menstruation, the last worst taboo. (See that post here. If you haven't read it, go back and do that now. I'll wait.) I have also spoken about the fact that sanitary hygiene products are taxed as luxury items in 40 states - unlike nearly all medications, Rogaine for men and, of course, viagra, all of which are untaxed 'necessities.' (See The Power of Love: Violence Against Women and What We Can Do About It.) So it is utterly delightful when…
I was thrilled to present at "The Power of Love" V-Day event in Sarasota this year. V-Day is a global awareness movement to help end violence against women and girls. Created by playwright and activist Eve Ensler, V-Day events are now held in communities around the world. Here's my talk on Violence Against Women: What's Going On, Why, and What Can We Do About It. Stay tuned.
A few statistics: it is estimated that 1 in 3 girls in the developing world marry before the age of 18 by 2050, there will be approximately 1.2 BILLION child brides India, with an estimated 10 million child brides, has more than the next 9 countries combined (see below) some child brides are as young as 8 or 9 Why is this a problem? it is a violation of human rights and, in most countries, is illegal it is a key driver of pregnancy and childbirth complications in girls 15 - 19 it puts girls at greater risk of domestic…
We started collaborating with the Tampa Bay Chapter of UNA very early on in our work for CEDAW Sarasota. They were also interested in a Cities for CEDAW movement. The UNA/ Tampa Bay Chapter is large, diverse, well-organized, and well funded. Their approach to an ordinance movement is necessarily very different, but our long-term goals are the same. See my short article in their most recent newsletter, below or here. CEDAW Update CEDAW – What is it and why should I care? By: Elizabeth Scott Osborne. Esq., Chair – Cities for CEDAW, Gulf Coast Chapter – UN Women/USNC CEDAW is the Convention on…
The Film Festivals are back! The 17th Annual Sarasota Film Festival is April 1 - 10 this year and once again the Through Women's Eyes Film Festival will take place on the opening weekend, April 2 and 3. Both festivals continue to attract stronger and more diverse submissions every year with many entries going on to successful mainstream runs. The Through Women's Eyes (TWE) Festival is run entirely by volunteers of the Gulf Coast Chapter of UN Women-USNC and is a major fundraiser for the Chapter. We are delighted to combine a fantastic selection of films with a fundraiser for the…
