India is the most dangerous place to be a girl...

Today on CNN is a sad story about the death of a 3 month old baby girl- killed because she was not a boy.

Some startling info from the report:
India has a growing gender gap: The 2011 census showed that for every 1,000 boys six years or younger there were only 914 girls. It is the lowest child sex ratio since India's independence in 1947.

The United Nations has said India is the most dangerous place to be a girl. Dr. Anand Krishnan at All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), who has studied the gender gap for years, agrees.

"Yes, largely this is from the point of view of mortality statistics for girls versus boys," Krishnan told CNN.

Sex-selective abortions are against the law in India but are still happening at an alarming rate, he said.

His study shows a surprising trend: Sex selective abortions among the educated and well-off seem to be more prevalent than among the desperately poor and uneducated. Despite greater prosperity, their mindsets have not changed and they have the money to pay for ultrasounds and abortions.

"A boy is seen as a better investment. They prefer boys," Krishnan said.

Go here to read more

Women’s UN Report Network Article Round-up

In the news this week:

Afghanistan - Stoning of Woman Accused of Adultery

Uzbekistan- Rural Women Groups for Skills & Livlihoods

India- Stop Child Marriage Entrapment

Egypt - Evolving Analysis of Women's Issues, Rights

Women Confronting Violence in Mexico, Honduras, Guatemala- From Survivors to Defenders

Maternity Leave

find it here

Wear it, share it

WEAR THE GIRL EFFECT ON YOUR SLEEVE, ON YOUR COMPUTER & IN YOUR OFFICE

The Girl Effect is quite simply the greatest untapped solution to eradicating poverty and raising standards of living in the developing world.

To unleash it, we need your help to make sure the world knows about it.

So stop by and grab a t-shirt, a poster or a button and spread The Girl Effect word.

GlobalGiving Highlight of the Week: Mothers

GLOBALGIVING HIGHLIGHT OF THE WEEK: MOTHERS

Women’s untapped potential is great — they make up half of the world’s population, yet earn just 10 percent of the world’s income. When women have control over their incomes, they invest in the health, education and well-being of their families. They also tend to reach out to propel other women forward, creating a powerful multiplier effect that benefits all of society. When we help women and mothers, that help grows exponentially as they pass it on to those closest to them.

So this Mother's Day, let's maximize the difference we can make by helping out those mothers in need. Here are five GlobalGiving projects that focus their aid on mothers around the world.  Give a little and it will help a lot.

Save a Mom's Life in the Congo

Support Mother-Child Health for 40,000 Kashmiris

Saving Mothers' Lives in Rural Tanzania

Help Women Feed the World

Stop South Sudanese Moms from Dying in Childbirth


Happy Mother's Day!

Send a card for Mother's Day

Mothers, grandmothers, sisters, wives. They inspire us. They believe in us. They look out for us. How do you express the depth of your gratitude to your most tireless champions?

Here’s how: honor them with a Mother’s Day gift that supports mothers worldwide.

Send a card* from Women for Women International, and you’ll help women in war-torn countries change their lives, support their children, and nurture their communities.

The Best and Worst Places to be a Mom

Today, PBS Newshour has a special report up on their website entitled 'The Best and Worst Places to be a Mom'.

What would you guess are the best and worst? Norway came in at #1, Niger was dead last, and the U.S. ranked #25. Surprised? {I wish I could say I was, but I think the U.S. is now notorious for it's lack of mother support systems.} It's a fascinating look at how mother's are treated around the world, I highly recommend it! Go here to watch it.

Remember your mother AND a lot of other mothers too...

Find something beautiful for your mom for Mother's Day and spread the love to a lot of other moms in Uganda and Guatemala....

MUSANA JEWELRY

MERCADO GLOBAL

Happy Mother's Day to all!!

Up on The Girl Effect

I'm always browsing the websites of my favorite non-profit orgs to see what's new, and I just have to share this awesome new page with you.

Up now on The Girl Effect is the More Resources page- and it's LOADED with great information and hundreds of resources. Take a look!

Sex and World Peace

One of my favorite women and mentors, Dr. Valerie Hudson {WomanStats Project pioneer} has a fascinating paper recently published on Foreign Policy, and it is well worth reading. Her research, data, and arguement are all incredibly compelling.

Read it now:

What Sex Means for World Peace
The evidence is clear: The best predictor of a state's stability is how its women are treated.

HRW: Putting Women on the Agenda in Cartagena

"It’s the Americas’ largest reunion. Happening every three years, the Summit of the Americas brings together the heads-of-state of the region to talk about pressing concerns. Over the weekend in Cartagena, Colombia, the theme will be 'Connecting the Americas: Partners for Prosperity'..."

This is an excellent essay about the vital importance of discussing women and women's issues at the Summit of the Americas this year. Click here to continue reading...

GlobalGiving Highlight of the Week: Mexico

I'm so excited to announce my new project!!

Starting this week, GlobalGiving and I will be highlighting one country, area, or issue that is in need of attention. We'll give you an array of opportunities to help out, so if you find that the issue or country is near and dear to your heart, just follow the links to learn more and give generously. And if there is something or somewhere you'd like to see us highlight, leave it in the comments and I'll make sure we add it to our list. 

As always, thank you for making a difference!
xo
Lindsey

GlobalGiving Highlight of the Week: MEXICO

I absolutely love Mexico. My husband was born and raised there and we've spent a lot of time visiting his family and exploring up and down Baja.

Unfortunately, between the drug wars, slowing tourism, even slower economy, negative US influences, and poverty levels, it's a struggling country these days. So I'm always on the lookout for ways to help.

Here's a round-up of my favorite GlobalGiving projects currently going on in Mexico:

Microloans Help Poverty-Stricken in Mexico

Help Mexican Youths Fight Violence Through Art\

Support Indigenous Women to Market Their Products

Microfinance for Marginalized Communities, Mexico

Give Safe Water to 1000 Families in Latin America

A donation as small as $10 will make a big difference for any one of these projects {some of which are very close to meeting their goal!}, so don't hesitate, even if you only have a little to share. As our neighboring country, only good can come to both of us if Mexico continues improving the lives of it's people. And we can help.

Landmark Anullment in India

An Indian woman who was a baby bride has had her 17-year marriage legally annulled in a ground-breaking case challenging the culture of child weddings, Agence France Presse reported Wednesday.

Laxmi Sargara was 1 year old when she was married to a 3-year-old boy named Rakesh in the desert state of Rajasthan in northwestern India, the French news agency said. Their families decided that when they grew up they would live together and have children.

A UNICEF report says 47 percent of married women in India wed before age 18. Unicef also says 40 percent of the world's child marriages take place in India.

"I was unhappy about the marriage,” Sargara, now 18, told AFP. “I told my parents who did not agree with me, then I sought help. Now I am mentally relaxed and my family members are also with me."

Read the full article here ----->

Unfortunately, child marriages are still a big issue in India, especially in rural areas. NGOs try to halt the practice through negotiation with parents and improved education for girls, however, they're fighting against an age-old tradition and the mindset of thousands of parents.

GlobalGiving hosts several projects that are working to make changes for young girls in India. If you're looking for a way to help, check out these two:

The Blossom Bus: Help Rural Girls in India Get To School

Prevent Child Marriage, Educate 100 Girls in India

Unfinished Revolution

The Unfinished Revolution

Hillary Clinton memorably proclaimed at the United Nations conference in Beijing in 1995 that, “women’s rights are human rights.” But around the world, this is a distant goal for millions of women and girls. In Saudi Arabia, women are banned from driving and many are forbidden from playing sports. In the Central African Republic and Afghanistan, it is not uncommon for childbirth to bring about a woman’s death. And in the United States, state governments fail to test essential DNA evidence collected from rape victims. Released on International Women’s Day, The Unfinished Revolution: Voices from the Global Fight for Women’s Rights (Seven Stories Press), is an anthology that includes essays written by 34 experts from around the world– including leading women’s rights activists, top policymakers, and former victims, as well as experts from Human Rights Watch. It brings fresh voices to the ongoing struggle for gender equality in the 21st century. It also maps out solutions, creating a timely roadmap to understanding how we can help end even centuries-old practices that abuse women. Two Nobel Peace Prize laureates contributed to the anthology. Shirin Ebadi writes how Islamic law weighs on women while Jody Williams addresses the impact of armed conflict on women and girls. Other chapters tackle religious dress or headscarves in Europe, uncertain access to birth control in Latin America, unequal property laws that oppress women in Africa, how in the United States, rapists remain free in part because DNA evidence from rapes is often not tested. The chapter on female genital mutilation touches on women’s right to health, while the chapter that details how certain groups, like the Taliban, fight to keep girls out of school highlights how women can be denied their right to education. The anthology also addresses the uncertain prospects for women in the Middle East in the wake of the Arab Spring. Edited by Human Rights Watch’s Minky Worden, the book does more than spell out the problems women face. It also discusses creative ways that modern technology can be used to advance the cause of women’s rights. For example, it explains how using mobile phones can help combat fistula, a preventable childbirth injury which affects some two million women and girls worldwide. Publishers Weekly calls the book, “a powerful overview of contemporary women's issues … a cohesive and eminently readable document that is simultaneously an inspiration and a call-to-action.” A six-part photo essay with hauntingly beautiful images shot by acclaimed photographers including Platon and Stephanie Sinclair vividly illustrates some of the topics discussed in the book, such as Egypt’s Arab Spring and high rates of maternal death in India.   As Christiane Amanpour writes in the book’s foreword, “It’s a time of change in the world, with dictators toppling and new opportunities rising, but any revolution that doesn’t create equality for women will be incomplete. The time has come to realize the full potential of half the world’s population.” To read more about The Unfinished Revolution go here To buy The Unfinished Revolution go here

Singapore's Women's Rights Move

We have some good news to share: Singapore’s Manpower Ministry recently announced that the country’s domestic workers – women who work as live-in nannies or housekeepers – will be granted one day of rest each week.

Singapore’s families employ about 206,000 domestic workers, primarily from Indonesia, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, and India. Before this change, employers were only required to grant their domestic workers one day off per month. This weekly day free from work is critical for domestic workers’ physical and mental well-being.

But we want Singapore’s laws protecting domestic workers to be even stronger. This reform, for example, only pertains to contracts that go into effect beginning in January, 2013 and does not address other key labor rights, such as limits to working hours. We’re calling for the government to apply this change to all domestic workers, no matter when they started their job, and to allow domestic workers to benefit from basic rights under the labor law, giving them the same protection other workers already have.

“Singapore’s reforms are only a fraction of the change needed to protect women workers, who are too often undervalued and overworked,” HRW said. “Singapore should join countries around the world that have recognized the injustice of discrimination against domestic workers and are making comprehensive reforms to guarantee them the same rights as other workers.”

to read more, find the full article here

The Girl Effect Challenge

Introducing the Girl Effect Challenge

Dear Readers,


I’d like to introduce you to someone.

She’s not that different than your typical teenage girl. She’s energetic and creative, she values her friendships, and her family means the world to her.

However, this Bangladeshi teenager dropped out of school in the 10th grade because her parents couldn’t afford her school fees. Months away from her high school diploma, she was forced to stay home and raise chickens for her family.

Meet Insana.

Sadly, Insana’s story isn’t unique. 70 percent of the world’s 130 million out-of-school youth are girls.

Luckily for Insana, her story caught the attention of a local girls’ club – supported by BRAC USA through the Girl Effect Fund – where she was able to sign up for a tailoring class and connect with a mentor. Insana excelled at the course, won a sewing machine, and began earning an income on her own. Before long, she earned enough money to support her family and go back to school. Eventually, she was even able to teach her craft to other girls in her village.

You may have never thought of high school exams as something to celebrate, but for Insana, completing her exams is a ticket to a better tomorrow. By finishing school, she’s more likely to marry later, have fewer, healthier children, and support herself and her family.

Instead of becoming a statistic, Insana became a real-life she-ro. This is a little something we call “The Girl Effect.”

The Girl Effect is what happens when girls are given an opportunity to participate. It's a movement that believes in the unique potential of adolescent girls to end poverty for themselves and the world. (Warning: this link leads to an extremely compelling Girl Effect video.)

For the first time ever, we’ve created an opportunity for organizations working with girls to win a one-year spot on the Girl Effect fundraising page. But, to make sure the best programs for girls are chosen, we need your help!

More than 50 organizations are competing in the Girl Effect GlobalGiving Challenge for Girl Effect funding, but only twelve will become beneficiaries. Vote with your wallet NOW through November 15 for the project you think is doing the best work for girls, and please tell your friends and family to do the same!


Thanks in advance for helping us find the best programs for girls – and, thank you for the difference your donation will make for girls like Insana.


Warmly,

More Than Me Global, Alison Carlman and the GlobalGiving team

What is the Girls20Summit, you ask?

The G(irls)20 Summit

The G(irls)20 Summit brings together one delegate from each G20 country, plus a representative from the chair country of the African Union. The delegates debate, discuss and design innovative ideas necessary to empower girls and women globally. While the agenda is the same as the G20 leaders and focuses on economic innovation – the participants are all girls, aged 18-20.

The delegates participate in panel discussions, attend workshops (media relations, social media, business planning) and caucus to discuss and promote tangible, scalable solutions toward economic prosperity, culminating with a communiqué that provides a blueprint on how to utilize and engage one of the best resources in the world – girls and women.

The first G(irls) 20 Summit took place in Toronto, June 2010. It was a great success! The delegates, debated, discussed and designed ideas and spoke with political, corporate and non-profit leaders from around the world. Last year's themes focused on education, leadership and maternal health. At the end of the Summit, the delegates drafted a communique that was delivered in a press conference and to all the G20 Summit Leaders.

In our inaugural year (2010), we were overwhelmed with the calibre of the delegates and the debate. Our partners included Google, Dove, MasterCard Foundation, Aeroplan, Veritas Communications, MacroBlu, the Globe and Mail and more than 40 national and international NGOs. The summit garnered more than 128 million global media impressions in 160 countries and kick started a global conversation that highlighted to the G20 leaders the prowess of the 3.3 billion girls and women around the world. To review last year's campaign, please visit the G(irls) Summit Toronto 2010 page.

Girls20Summit t-shirts on pre-order now!

pre-order your Paris Girls20Summit t-shirt TODAY!

Girls 20Summit: 3.3 BILLION WAYS TO CHANGE THE WORLD

1. Apply to be a delegate HERE
2. Help build the agenda HERE
3. Get your number HERE.
{Mine is 9977. Share your number on More Than Me Global in the comments!}

Share your ideas!!!

Dear Supporters:

Less than a month until the G(irl)20 Summit and we are getting geared up.

We recognize not everyone can attend the Summit so we have created a platform on our youtube page for girls, boys, women and men around the world to share their ideas on what they believe is the most pressing concern for girls and women. http://www.youtube.com/girls20summit

Please share through your networks via email listserves, blogs, twitter and facebook.

Thank you for your continuing support!

Best regards,
Michele
http://www.girlsandwomen.com/