At Soroptimist International (SI) we stand with women around the world in condemning all crimes against women and girls.
SI is a non-political and non-religious organisation that works to achieve gender equality, human rights, peace and security for all people. SI has United Nations representatives in Geneva following the work of the Human Rights Council and also in Vienna following issues relating to crimes against women and girls.
SI notes that Nada Al-Nashif, the acting UN High Commissioner for Human Rights has said: “Mahsa Amini’s tragic death and allegations of torture and ill-treatment must be promptly, impartially and effectively investigated by an independent competent authority”
SI has a number of Position Statements on Gender Violence, Human Rights Defenders, Women Peacemakers, and Women, Peace and Security and this gives SI stance on each of these issues. These can be viewed on the SI website: https://www.soroptimistinternational.org/members-area/si-statements
SI, together with other organisations has signed an open letter ahead of the annual UN Security Council Open Debate on Women, Peace and Security on 20 October 2022, which calls on all Member States to take immediate action to uphold the rights of women and girls, including by:
· Urgently stepping up preventive diplomacy in all conflict situations; Defending gender equality and the human rights of diverse women and girls in all conflicts and crises;
· Ensuring women’s full, equal and meaningful participation in all aspects of peace and security, including peace processes; and
· Ending intimidation, attacks and reprisals against all women human rights defenders, peacebuilders and civil society leaders.
SI is a Global Voice for all Women and Girls. We carefully review facts surrounding any human rights issue. As we speak with One Voice on behalf of our Global Membership, we focus on the SI Position Statements, as those are the statements that have been agreed by representatives from all SI Federations and approved by the Soroptimist International Board.