YWCA News current

On December 4, young people from every country in the world will participate in a first-of-its-kind global forum. The ICPD Beyond 2014 Global Youth Forum aims to address youth issues with 43% of the world’s population under the age of 25 and represents the peak of efforts by UN agencies, young people and civil society to translate the participatory aspirations of the 1994 International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) into a sustainable youth advocacy network. Recommendations from the Global Youth Forum will be presented by the Secretary General of the United Nations to the General Assembly. Nine hundred delegates will attend in person in Bali, Indonesia. Thousands more will participate virtually. No matter where you live, this is your chance shape the global agenda. You do not need to be in Bali to participate, around the world youth leaders will connect locally and electronically to provide a shared response to the social, economic and human rights challenges and opportunities faced by their generation.

The World Council of Churches (WCC), the World YWCA (Young Women’s Christian Association) and the World Student Christian Federation (WSCF) have come together to promote a common 16-day global movement of reflection, prayer and action towards overcoming violence against women in church and society.

The World YWCA appeals for peace and the protection of women and girls in Gaza, and the Middle East region as we witness the unacceptable violence, airstrikes and the resulting loss of lives and catastrophic humanitarian consequences. The movement stands in solidarity with the YWCA of Palestine in its efforts to secure peace with justice.

As the World YWCA International Training Institute (ITI) came to a close in Seoul, Korea, 50 women representing YWCAs from 30 countries committed to provide stronger leadership to address violence against women (VAW) and peace building.  Participants, including 40% young women, contributed towards a strong vision for ending violence and securing peace by 2035 and identified innovative strategies for global campaigning.

Abigail Disney is best known as for producing the award-winning documentary "Pray the Devil Back to Hell", which documents the courage of Liberian women who campaigned for peace and who played a pivotal role in ending Liberia's civil war. Following the remarkable impact of this film, Abigail embarked on an ambitious journey of making a series of films detailing the untold stories of women in wartime around the world. The series, called "Women, War and Peace", has screened on PBS in the United States attracting 13 million viewers.

Nearly 60 years since the creation of the Korean Demilitarized Zone - Korea's heavily guarded demilitarized zone – a YWCA delegation participated in a witness visit in the context of the International Training Institute on Violence against Women and Peace building taking place in Seoul from November 8-13, 2012.

Building upon the prayers that have been spoken for over 100 years; staff, members, friends and well-wishers of the World YWCA and World Alliance of YMCAs gathered at the Ecumenical Centre’s Chapel in Geneva, Switzerland today November 12, 2012. Together they worshiped and opened the Week of Prayer and World Fellowship.

Every day women and girls in most of the world are treated differently from men and boys. They might be paid less than a man doing the same job, or kept at home to look after siblings instead of going to school or they might be subject to forced marriage. Yet, the United Nations Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) prohibits such discrimination. YWCAs can monitor the implementation of CEDAW in their country and hold their governments accountable through the reporting process. The morning session of the third day of the International Training Institute taking place in Seoul, Korea, was precisely intended to strengthen advocacy skills of the participants and encourage them to contribute in the reporting process for their country.

The World YWCA and the YWCA of Korea have partnered to deliver the first YWCA International Training Institute in ten years taking place in Seoul, Korea from 8 to 13 of November 2012. With significant financial support from the host YWCA and a pool of dedicated volunteers, the hospitality and generosity shown from the moment delegates arrived signal a well organised and enriching experience.

Between November 8-13, 2012, 50 YWCA leaders representing 29 countries will gather in Seoul, Korea, for the World YWCA International Training Institute (ITI). Hosted by the YWCA of Korea, the ITI will be the first in a series of international trainings institutes to develop women’s leadership and define a stronger global agenda for YWCA advocacy and programmes. With the theme ‘Women’s leadership in peace building and global advocacy to eliminate violence against women’, the weeklong training will enhance the capacity of YWCAs to strengthen the response to violence against women (VAW) at the community, national, regional and global levels.