\nIt was an important step forward that the recipients of this year\u2019s Nobel Peace Prize <\/a> were recognized for their efforts to end the use of sexual violence as a weapon of war and armed conflict. The history of the culture of war <\/a> tells us that: “Rape and other violence against women has been fundamental to the culture of war over the course of history.” <\/p>\n \nThe Nobel Committee joins an impressive list of organizations around the world that are making progress for women\u2019s equality and an end to violence against women. Here are examples from CPNN during the past month.<\/p>\n Local NGOs<\/p>\n \n In Guatemala<\/a>, \u00a0the organization Mujeres Transformando el Mundo\u00a0(Women Transforming the World) has helped the “abuelas” of Sepur Zarco to obtain the conviction of military officers for their systematic rape and enslavement during the 36-year-long Guatemalan civil war, and to obtain reparations, including the promise to reopen the files on land claims, set up a health centre, improve the infrastructure for the primary school and open a new secondary school, as well as offer scholarships for women and children.<\/p>\n National NGOs:<\/p>\n \n In the United States<\/a>, Planned Parenthood is leading the fightback to resist the attacks by President Trump and his appointees against women\u2019s reproductive rights. They are planning a multi-million dollar, nationwide campaign to ensure that abortion remains accessible\u2014even if the landmark decision legalizing it nationwide is overturned thanks to Trump\u2019s choice for the Supreme Court.<\/p>\n International NGOs:<\/p>\n \nPlan International sponsored a campaign in which over 1000 schoolgirls become world leaders for the day<\/a>,\u00a0from executives at Google and Facebook to government posts and local councils. Among the posts they held for a day were the presidency of Peru and the heads of the parliamentary speakers of Zimbabwe and Western Australia.<\/p>\n Religious organizations<\/p>\n \n In Bougainville<\/a>, an island of Papua New Guinea, the Nazareth Centre for Rehabilitation, established by the Congregation of the Sisters of Nazareth, led by Sister Lorraine Garasu, supports a network of Women Human Rights Defenders (WHRDs). Their work is focused on issues of family and sexual violence, community safety and security, poverty reduction, leadership, and recognition of the work of WHRDs, particularly those in rural communities. The women work for sexual reproductive health and rights, access to education and services and the need for action on climate change, among many other important issues. The initiative is supported by the International Women\u2019s Development Agency.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Business enterprises<\/p>\n \nSoftware giant Adobe <\/a> has announced that it has achieved pay parity between women and men globally across 40 countries. The company defines pay parity as ensuring that employees in the same job and location are paid fairly, regardless of their gender or ethnicity. \u201cI am proud that we have taken this important step towards fair recognition of all our people\u2019s contributions \u2014 achieving this milestone is fundamental to who we are,\u201d said Adobe president and CEO Shantanu Narayen. <\/p>\n National governments<\/p>\n \nIceland has the smallest overall gender gap of 144 countries\u00a0ranked\u00a0 by the World Economic Forum and has enacted the world\u2019s first\u00a0equal pay law<\/a>. This has come about through grass-roots pressure and the election of women leaders, as illustrated by the recent national \u2018Kvennafr\u00ed 2018\u2019, Women\u2019s Strike <\/a> with demonstrations held in 16 towns and cities. The rally in the capital city Reykjavik was addressed by a former prime minister (a woman) and attended by the sitting prime minister (also a woman).<\/p>\n United Nations<\/p>\n \nThe Executive Director of UN Women, Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka presented the Secretary-General\u2019s report on women, peace and security <\/a> to the UN Security Council in October. “We commend\u00a0the Nobel Committee\u2019s recognition to Denis Mukwege and Nadia Murad\u00a0for their advocacy on behalf of victims of wartime sexual violence. It is an example of\u00a0the importance of this issue . . I met many exceptionally courageous women in my recent travels to Somalia, South Sudan, the Sahel and the Rohingya refugee camps in Bangladesh. Many of them are here today. But many could not be here.\u00a0 In 2017,\u00a0half of the women honoured in the annual tribute of the Association for Women in Development were murdered\u00a0in conflict affected countries.\u00a0. . . It is my strong wish that we will find the political will to do much more about this epidemic of killings of women over the next decade than we have in this past one.<\/p>\n \nUNICEF is part of the United Nations taking positive steps at the local and national level. For example, In Ethiopia, UNICEF supports the development of girls\u2019 clubs <\/a> as part of an accelerated effort to end child marriage.<\/p>\n
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