Launch of U.S. National Committee for UNIFEM website
The new U.S. National Committee for UNIFEM website was launched in October. We owe a debt of gratitude to our Public Relations Chair, Diane M. Olson, for her dedication and creativity in giving us this beautiful site. Together with the tireless work and artistic sensibility of Kaytee O’Neill, Diane has brought us an up-scale site, worthy of our work. The updated website provides visitors with the basic information they need to understand the work of UNIFEM and the U.S. National Committee for UNIFEM. The site includes our By-laws and Policies and Procedures. It also includes our annual reports and allows members to access Updates and Fact Sheets. With the new website, the Committee is able to accept credit/debit card payments for new memberships, gift memberships, renewals and donations. Other improvements include an individual Chapter section for each U.S. National Committee for UNIFEM Chapter, information on Goodwill Ambassador Nicole Kidman and a section for a Committee Book Club. Our section on "How to Start a Chapter" has resulted in a surge of interest from individuals across the country interested in launching new UNIFEM/USA Chapters.
All U.S. National Committee for UNIFEM members, former members and prospect members received a postcard announcing the launch and we also sent out an announcement to our listserv. In addition, we have engaged a webmaster to keep the site current who reports through Kaytee O’Neill. Kaytee works with the webmaster and the Chapters to ensure the information on the website is correct.
UN Reform
The U.S. National Committee for UNIFEM continued to advocate for women within the context of UN Reform. Under the UNIFEM/USA President’s signature, and in consultation with the Executive Committee, the Committee sent correspondence to key players, including Coherence Panel members Josette Shiner and Kemal Dervis, as well as Senator Joe Biden, urging them to support the creation of a high level, sufficiently resourced agency in support of women which would be on a par with UNICEF and be UNICEF-like in scope and resources. The Committee also developed numerous press releases on the issue and joined other organized efforts to ensure that as work on UN Reform went forward that an agency in support of women remained a priority at the UN.
On November 9, 2006, the Coherence Panel delivered its recommendations in "Delivering as One," a report stressing the establishment of one dynamic UN entity focused on gender equality and women’s empowerment. The report also stated that "the gender entity must be fully and ambitiously funded." The U.S. National Committee for UNIFEM will continue to advocate for women, focusing our efforts in support of a budget that reflects the needs of women worldwide with a $1 billion budget for the new gender entity a realistic goal. There is much work left to be done before women have an agency that they deserve and that matches their needs.
New Membership Brochure
In February, Public Relations Chair Diane Olson and Program Director Kaytee O’Neill designed a new U.S. National Committee for UNIFEM membership brochure. This new brochure highlights UNIFEM’s four strategic areas and UNIFEM’s efforts to support these initiatives around the globe. The updated brochure also includes information on UNIFEM Goodwill Ambassador Nicole Kidman and the Committee Chapters. With this brochure, individuals can join, give a gift membership or donate to a specific UNIFEM strategic area. The US Committee can also accept credit and debit card payments. Thank you to Diane Olson and Kaytee O’Neill for creating a beautiful document that reflects well on our Committee work. A special note of thanks to Diane for her creative contributions in support of UNIFEM/USA over the last eight years.
United Nations Representation
U.S. National Committee for UNIFEM’s team of representatives has continued to monitor events at the United Nations, attending meetings and conferences throughout the year on issues concerning the work of UNIFEM. Heading the team is our UN Representative, Ruth E. Zeller, working with team members Ruth Clay Bowman, Sybil Evans, Shari Gruber and Margaret Howard. The US Committee thanks Ruth for her leadership and her team members for their important service in support of our Committee!
Alliance and Coalition Building
The US Committee has continued to be actively involved with other NGOs and women’s organizations in the Washington, DC area and are affiliated with the National Council of Women’s Organizations, the United Nations Association Council of Organizations, Friends of the UN, Women Impacting Public Policy, and the National Hispana Leadership Institute.
Public Speaking Engagements
On the local level, chapter representatives and members of the Board are often invited to speak at local events and meetings – generally about the US Committee, UNIFEM or about issues affecting women worldwide. Our "UNIFEM in Action" poster series and up to date information on our website facilitate these types of activities. The Committee is working on creating more presentation pieces for future speaking engagements.
Media Coverage
The "Ladies Home Journal" ran a cover story on UNIFEM Goodwill Ambassador Kidman in their June 2006 issue, which included a reference to UNIFEM/USA. This article has resulted in inquiries about membership and over $8,000 to support the UN Trust Fund to End Violence Against Women. This good response underscores the importance of involving celebrity figures in raising funds for charity.