Soroptimist International of Upper Pinellas County General Membership Meeting Minutes

 I was privileged to be part of the Soroptimist International Delegation for the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women 51 during the week of February 26- March 2 2007 focusing on the Girl child. Arguably the most important lessons of the week were the following:

1. No violence against children is acceptable. All violence against children is preventable. So many of the issues that face girls is because they are largely "invisible"- their problems are hidden and not even perceived as problems.

2. Girl children face enormously more negative consequences in their lives around the world in both developing and developed countries simply for being born a girl. Types of violence include: Harmful Traditional Practices: Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting, Forced Child Marriage, Child mothers and heads of household ( as young as 9), Girls in the worst form of child labor-- slavery and recruited for the military, Girls affected by HIV ( three times more girls 15-24 than boys are getting the disease) Girls as refugees, and particularly the problems that socially marginalized girls face which very often exacerbate any of the other situations listed above.

3. The first and most pervasive form of discrimination and abuse against girls is in the home-- the very place that girls should be protected. This type of violence includes emotional and the worst forms of physical violence including beating, raping, and death. Girls are treated as commodities and property.

4. Ninety-five percent of all violence again women and girls is perpetrated by males. Violence against women and girls should more properly be referred to as male violence against women and girls.

5. Solutions and strategies for effective changes in society will only occur when men and boys are part of the solution.

6. People are born with a sex and are taught gender. Social behavior is learned and therefore can be changed.

7. Strategies that work and have lasting benefit must consider values.

A particularly important part of the week's experience was sharing sessions with over 240 girls that were brought to NY from around the world. We were privileged to hear testimonies from girls of 12-18 years old; some had served as soldiers, some had been raped and now have HIV, some had been slaves and others trafficked, some were "activist" girls who were working for girls. We were implored to make sure that girls were invited to have a "voice" in the sessions and to remember that girls are not women; they are in the process of development and change and bring unique perspectives to the issues we were addressing. SI sponsored a young girl from India. One of the sessions I attended that was particularly heart warming It was about effective strategies with high risk girls. We heard three young women talk about their horrifying stories and their transformations through the wonderful supportive services of the Silesian sisters, a Catholic Charity operating in 79 countries helping disadvantaged children, especially girls. We heard three stories: one from a girl in Zambia, another from India and the third from Colombia. Each of the girls showed bravery and courage beyond my imagination and each of their stories commanded the room. The following is Anna's story:

A young woman who is now 20 from Zambia- Anna-particularly took my breath away. She told her story where at age 12 she was orphaned, living with her aunt and on a day when she went with her sister to the hospital to visit her brother in law, they were "picked up" by a man that her sister knew. He took her sister home and then raped Anna. Anna screamed and struggled and was dropped from the car. She tried to report the rape, but no one really followed through, tried to find out who the rapist was and no one took her to the hospital. It was only after her Auntie decided that she was tired of taking care of her that Anna went to the Silesian sisters’ program, and when they did a health check it was discovered that she had HIV. The news of her HIV status- which should have been private- became known and this too become a jeopardy for her because the other girls at her school- many who were richer than her and had families at the private school she initially attended- rebuked her and even attacked her. Eventually Anna starting a healing process through personalized special treatment and now this young woman is a model of courage and self sufficiency. She has graduated from college and is an advocate for people with HIV throughout many countries in Africa. She said to us " I have a message to give girls with HIV. Believe in yourself. Take your treatments. Take care of yourself. I have to rule the virus- the virus doesn't rule me. It is my body. I am very much happy and proud of myself. I can do something good. Let us give support to women that are vulnerable. Let's also take these issues to Government and society!"
Dawn Marie Lemonds, Liaison
Soroptimist International Quadrennial Project
14411 Heights Dr.
Tustin, CA USA 92780 USA