World YWCA Day message to YWCAs 2010
All women are entitled to live in safety and security
Women and young women of the YWCA movement in over 120 countries will celebrate World YWCA Day on April 24. As part of the celebrations, member associations will also take time to reflect on the World YWCA Day theme and World YWCA Council 2011 theme ‘Women Creating a Safe World.’
World YWCA Day President Susan Brennan and World YWCA General Secretary Nyaradzayi Gumbonzvanda, through a World YWCA Day video message, encourage the YWCA movement to continue creating the world women want to live in. “In the World YWCA we believe that all women are entitled to live in safety and security. Whatever their circumstances, their status, their background, whatever their religion, their race, their culture, age, ability or sexuality, all women are entitled to live in a world free from violence a world of safety and security,” says Susan Brennan.
“As a movement we are coming together fifteen years after the Beijing Conference to celebrate, but also to continue to seek ways in which more women and girls in our communities can live a life free of violence and also a life, which continues to respect, and support women living with HIV and AIDS,” reflects Nyaradzayi Gumbonzvanda.
Many associations will mark the day by honouring women leaders in the YWCA and beyond. “As we honour women leaders today, I ask you to prepare yourselves to join us in Zurich in 2011 where we will gather as an entire world movement, again to celebrate women creating a safe world. Put aside your coins and your dollars and your pennies, and your shillings so that you can join us and support the world movement on our special day,” urges the World YWCA President.
The World YWCA President and General Secretary have prepared a video message for World YWCA Day and calls on the movement to reflect on the theme ‘Women Creating a Safe World.’
Full transcript of the World YWCA Day 2010 video message
Message of Susan Brennan, World YWCA President
“Greetings to you on this special day, the World YWCA Day. This year we are celebrating “Women creating a safe world.” Imagine what a safe world for women might look like? A world free from violence, a world in which women live with personal security, free from violence in the village, in the home, in the market, in the city, in the world. Imagine a world where women live in economic security, with good work, with freedom of movement, with the ability to educate themselves and their children. Imagine a world of political security where women live in peace. And imagine a world of environmental security, a world in which we take seriously the impacts of climate change and act to stop it. In the World YWCA, we believe that all women are entitled to live in safety and security. Whatever their circumstances their status, their background, whatever their religion, their race, their culture, age, ability or sexuality, all women are entitled to live in a world free from violence a world of safety and security. And as we honour women leaders today, I ask you to prepare yourselves to join us in Zurich in 2011 where we will gather as an entire world movement, again to celebrate women creating a safe world. Put aside your coins and your dollars and your pennies, and your shillings so that you can join us and support the world movement on our special day. Greetings to you from the World YWCA!”
Message of Nyaradzayi Gumbonzvanda, World YWCA General Secretary
“Today is World YWCA day and it is a special day as a movement our theme this year is “Women Creating a Safe World”. It is an important theme as we prepare for our World Council in Zurich in 2011. As a movement we are coming together fifteen years after the Beijing conference to celebrate… but also to continue to seek ways in which more women and girls in our communities can live a life free of violence and also a life, which continues to respect, and support people living with HIV and AIDS. We know it is the World YWCA day. We know that around the world we are celebrating this day. We know that together we are making a difference in our communities. We are changing lives and we are changing our communities. We are leading change, as women and young women in all our diversities but for us to do that we need to continue to remain in solidarity through giving. As you honour somebody today, continue to give to the YWCA nearest to you, give your time, give your treasures, give your talents. Just be a member of the YWCA that in itself is part of a contribution to creating a safe and secure world for all women around the world. “
- Visit the World YWCA YouTube page to view video
