Deborah Holmes
Vice President of Communications
Global Fund for Women
phone (415) 248-4800 x349
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Call to Free Ethiopian Activist Birtukan Midekssa
January 28, 2010
The Global Fund for Women seeks to draw attention to the unlawful
detention of political prisoner Birtukan Midekssa in Ethiopia, who has
been jailed by government authorities for the past year. Birtukan
Midekssa is a lawyer by profession and rose to the rank of a judge in
the High Court prior to leaving her legal profession.
At least 16 women journalists and activists have been arrested following protests on the holy day of Ashura December 27th. According to The Feminist School and Change for Equality, detainees include: Noushin Ebadi - sister of Nobel Laureate Shirn Ebadi- as well as Mothers for Peace leaders Mahin Fahimi and Zohreh Tanekaboni.
Global Fund for Women joins the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association (ILGA-Europe) and others in expressing outrage over scare tactics being used by the government of Georgia to attack and intimidate human rights leaders and organizations in the country.
Global Fund for Women Condemns Uganda's Anti-Homosexuality Bill
December 15, 2009
The Global Fund for Women stands in solidarity with the global Pan Africa International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association (ILGA) in rejecting the recently proposed Anti-Homosexuality Bill in Uganda. We strongly believe that the bill goes beyond its alleged intention to "protect the nation" from HIV/AIDS. The bill is a thinly veiled attempt to punish people on the grounds of their sexual orientation and instill fear in friends, family and colleagues of homosexuals. Read more
On December 10th the world commemorates Human Rights Day, the day in
1950, when the United Nations adopted the Universal Declaration of
Human Rights, right here in San Francisco.
For women around the globe, realizing their right to live free from
violence, fear and discrimination is an ongoing struggle. Indeed, even
in 2009, there is only limited recognition of the fact that women's
rights are human rights.
Global Fund In Solidarity With Our Sisters in Indonesia, Samoa, Tonga and the Philippines
October 02, 2009
Dear Sisters in Indonesia, Samoa, Tonga and the Philippines,
The board and staff of the Global Fund for Women would like to express our collective sadness at the loss of life and devastation, over this past week, that has resulted from the earthquake that affected Sumatra, the tsunami that struck Samoa and Tonga, and the storms that have flooded the Philippines.
We have learned of this tragic course of events through the media
and our friends on the ground, and are writing to express our
solidarity with you during this difficult time. We do not know to what
extent you have been affected, but we can only hope that you, your
relatives, friends, and colleagues are safe. Please send us an e-mail,
if you can, to let us know how you are.
Global Fund Stands in Solidarity With Belgrade Pride
September 21, 2009
Dear Belgrade Pride organizers and friends and partners in Belgrade!
With heavy hearts we received your news about not holding the Pride. We are very sorry you have been faced with such hatred, high security risks, deception from authorities, pressure and control from police. We are so amazed by your bravery, commitment, and persistence in these conditions to celebrate your Pride with dignity and respect. We are standing with you during these times in demand of respect and recognition of sexual minorities in Serbia to be full participants and enjoy all the rights as Serbian citizens.
As you are planning your response and further activities please keep us in mind if you need any type of support and solidarity.
With great respect and in solidarity, Angelika Arutyunova
Program Director for Europe and CIS
GFW Joins the International Community In Solidarity With Zimbabwean Women
August 26, 2009
We must stand with the women of Zimbabwe! In the midst of unmitigated gender violence and spiraling inflation whose impact is most felt by women and girls, Zimbabwean women have organized to ensure that the African presidents slated to attend the annual Summit of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) hear their concerns and demands for justice.
Sudanese Feminists Demand an End to Repressive Laws
August 04, 2009
Last month, 13 Sudanese women were arrested on the basis that they had "indecent and immoral acts." Out of fear of being tortured, ten of the women, two of them under the age of 16, pleaded guilty and were given 10 lashes. The other three women pleaded not guilty and now face a sentence of up to 40 lashes. A group of fifty-seven women's rights groups in Sudan, including our grantees in Sudan, have signed a petition demanding an end to repressive laws targeting women in Sudan.
Honduran Feminists Demand Investigation of US Role In Coup: An Open Letter to President Obama
July 27, 2009
Last week, a collective of Honduran feminist activists sent a public letter to President Obama demanding US investigation any US involvement in the military coup. to end intromission of the US government in Honduran internal affairs and to refuse to legally recognize the de facto government in Honduras. The Global Fund for Women is committed to restoring democracy in Honduras - to date, we have supported over 70 women’s groups in the country, including groups like the Center for Women’s Rights and the Association for Mutual Support Among Women. Read the letter sent to President Obama.
Feminist and women's organizations from Honduras demand an end to the persecution of the members of the cabinet of President Manuel Zelaya
Rosales and leaders of social movements and the media, and they call for an end to
all types of brutal violence in their country. Fourteen different groups in Honduras have signed on to a letter calling for change in Honduras and attention from the global community.
Stop Unilateral Support of IMF: GFW Letter of Appeal
June 12, 2009
Read a letter of appeal that the Global Fund for Women recently sent to the US House of Representatives, expressing support for a range of critically needed changes to the policies and processes of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) that we
view as essential to ensuring that the United States is supporting
women globally suffering from the impacts of the global financial crisis.
GFW Concerned Over Post-Election Protests in Moldova
April 13, 2009
Since last week, there have been violent protests in Moldova following the elections. Read GFW’s solidarity letter sent to grantees and friends in Moldova below, including the Ukrainian Women's Fund, our sister fund in the region. To date the Global Fund for Women has supported 16 groups in Moldova totaling $91,500.
Call for Justice for Guatemalan Human Rights Defender Gladys Monterroso
April 06, 2009
The Global Fund for Women expresses its serious concern and condemns
the acts of violence committed against Guatemalan human rights defender
Gladys Monterroso. We are deeply concerned following reports that
Gladys Monterroso, a well-known lawyer and spouse of Guatemalan Special
Prosecutor for Human Rights Sergio Morales, was kidnapped and tortured
on March 25th, 2009.
GFW Stands in Solidarity with the People of Sri Lanka: Human Rights Watch (HRW) Report Findings Grim
March 03, 2009
As the conflict in Sri Lanka escalates to catastrophic levels, the
Global Fund for Women adds its voice to the international condemnations
of the bloodshed. The Sri Lankan government has repeatedly rejected
international appeals for a ceasefire and the Liberation Tigers of
Tamil Eelam (LTTE) stand accused of using innocent people as human
shields.
Greetings From the Global Fund for Women!
