Mahila Partnership Is Launched-Partnership with UMASS Boston

The University of Massachusetts Center for Rebuilding Sustainable Communities After Disasters (CRSCAD) and Mahila Partnership have established a partnership, working together to strengthen communities locally and internationally; focusing on sustainable rebuilding after disasters, and decreasing the impact of disasters on women and their families with a focus on particularly vulnerable populations such as those experiencing domestic violence or poverty.

To learn more go to:  www.mahilapartnership.org and http://www.rebuilding.umb.edu/

Women and Children: The Double Dividend of Gender Equality

Each week I receive my Executive Momorandum from Executive Mom.  This week I am compelled to share and celebrate the work that Marisa Thalberg does.  As a fellow professional mom, I admire her commitment to her family, her career and herself.  This year, as part of the celebration of their 60^th year, UNICEF published The State of the World’s Children 2007 Women and Children: The Double Dividend of Gender Equality where it examines the discrimination and disempowerment women face throughout their lives – and outlines what must be done to eliminate gender discrimination and empower women and girls. It looks at the status of women today, discusses how gender equality will move all the Millennium Development Goals forward, and shows how investment in women’s rights will ultimately produce a double dividend: advancing the rights of both women and children.(source:  http://www.unicef.org/sowc07/report/report.php)    So why did I mention Marisa?? Well I was thrilled to discover as part of this report, that Marisa was one of seven women from around the world that UNICEF profiled.  To see these incredible and inspiring profiles go to:  http://www.unicef.org/sowc07/profiles/profiles.php 

Key Points of the Report

Gender equality and the well-being of children go hand in hand. Gender equality furthers the cause of child survival and development.Gender equality produces a double dividend: It benefits both women and children. Healthy, educated and empowered women have healthy, educated and confident daughters and sons. Gender equality will not only empower women to overcome poverty and live full and productive lives, but will better the lives of children, families and countries as well. Women’s equal rights and influence in the key decisions that shape their lives and those of children must be enhanced in three distinct arenas: the household, the workplace and the political sphere. A change for the better in any one of these realms influences women’s equality in the others, and has a profound and positive impact on child’s well-being and development.Gender equality is not only morally right, it is pivotal to human progress and sustainable development. Achieving Millennium Development Goal Number 3 – promoting gender equality and empowering women – will also contribute to achieving all the other goals, from reducing poverty and hunger to saving children’s lives, improving maternal health, ensuring universal education, combating HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases, and ensuring environmental sustainability.

For the full report go to:  http://www.unicef.org/sowc07/report/full_report.php

Mary Fran Myers Gender and Disaster Award

Mary Fran Myers Gender and Disaster Award: Deadline Fast Approaching The Gender and Disaster Network and theNatural Hazards Center invite nominations of those who should be recognized for their efforts to advance gender-sensitive policy, practice, or research in the areas of disaster risk reduction. 

Established in 2002, the Mary Fran Myers Award recognizes that vulnerability to disasters and mass emergencies is influenced by social, cultural, and economic structures that marginalize women and girls, and may also expose boys and men to harm. The award was so named to recognize Myers’ sustained efforts as co-director of the Natural Hazards Center to launch a worldwide network promoting women’s opportunities in disaster-related professions and supporting research on gender issues, disasters, emergency management, and higher education.  

The intent of this award is to recognize women and men whose advocacy, research, or management efforts have had a lasting, positive impact on reducing disaster vulnerability. The award committee is especially interested in soliciting nominations from outside the United States and strives to enable award recipients with high travel costs to attend the Natural Hazards Center workshop in Colorado. 

There are three steps to nominate someone and all materials should be submitted lectronically: 

- Submit your full name and contact information (mailing address, e-mail, telephone, fax) and that of the nominee; - Attach a current resume or curriculum vitae of the nominee;- Write a letter of nomination detailing specifically how this individual’s work fits the award criteria as described above.- Optional: A one one-page letter of support from another person or organization may also be submitted. The deadline for nominations is April 15, 2007. 

Please pass this notice along so that people in varied sectors, regions, networks, and contexts can be recognized.  Direct any questions and submit nomination materials to Elaine Enarson at enarsone@brandonu.ca; phone (204) 571-8575; fax (204) 571-8588. More information about the Mary Fran Myers Award is available at http://www.colorado.edu/hazards/awards/myers-award.html.