World Bank chief: stealing aid money is unacceptable!

World Bank’s Zoellick speaks out against corrupt practices

Corruption where World Bank funds are pilfered in poor countries cannot be tolerated, and the Bank will work with countries to develop ways to protect against and punish graft, Bank President Robert Zoellick said Wednesday. “We are responsible to our contributors and the contributors have their taxpayers. Nobody wants their money stolen," Zoellick said
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Actress Drew Barrymore becomes advocate for World Food Programme

Actress Drew Barrymore has been named as an Ambassador Against Hunger for the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), and will advocate for school feeding projects.

Ms. Barrymore, 32, becomes the latest Ambassador for the WFP, joining Kenyan world marathon record-holder Paul Tergat, himself a former recipient of school feeding programmes, among others. Last year WFP fed 19.4 million children across 71 countries through such projects.

Barrymore said, "I can't think of any issue that is more important than working to see that no schoolchild in this world goes hungry."

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Peace, its cheaper than war!

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Women and Intellectual Property

Women and Intellectual Property

This web page is intended primarily to provide information about intellectual property issues and WIPO activities that may be of particular interest and concern to women. It also hopes to serve as a link to other related web sites and to facilitate networking among women in the intellectual property field. Finally, this web page pays tribute, at least in a representative capacity, to some of the many women around the world, frequently "unsung heroes", of all nationalities, races, religions, ages and social backgrounds, who have, are, and hopefully increasingly will continue to make significant contributions in the intellectual property field.

Although traditionally women have not generally held major prominence in the intellectual property field, an area frequently seen as a "masculine" activity in years past, this has sometimes been more a matter of perception than of reality. Moreover, in recent times, the intellectual property field, as every aspect of human endeavor, has witnessed significant strides being made by women towards achieving equality, both in terms of opportunities and of recognition.

One very visible sign of progress is the increasing number of women acceding to high-level positions in intellectual property administrations, within both the public and private sectors, and at the national, regional and international levels. This development is reflected in the growing number of women representatives who participate in WIPO meetings and other events as well as in the high proportion of women who benefit from the various WIPO training and other educational programs.

Women have long been known to have made important contributions in the visual and performing arts, in music and in literature, even if they may not have always received the recognition they deserved. Around the world, in indigenous, nomadic and agricultural communities, it is frequently women who have been and continue to be entrusted with safeguarding and transmitting traditional knowledge and folklore. It is important that these contributions be recognized and protected where appropriate.

The only person to have ever been awarded two Nobel prizes, each in a different science (physics and chemistry), Marie Curie, may have stood out as a "lonely" pioneer in her times. She nonetheless inspired millions of future women (and also male) scientists around the world.
http://www.wipo.int/women-and-ip/en/

Better World Campain

The United Nations Charter was the first international document to affirm the principle of equality between men and women. In 1975, the General Assembly created a UN Day for Women's Rights and International Peace, which is celebrated internationally on March 8. There are many ways you can get involved to celebrate International Women's Day.

TAKE ACTION:

Read the stories below to learn what the UN is doing around the world to empower women and girls and improve their health, safety, and chances for economic prosperity.

Take Action: Take a minute to thank your Members of Congress who signed onto H.Res.149 and S.Res.93, resolutions that support the goals of International Women's Day.

Join in the discussion: Hear about the women who inspire some prominent female leaders from around the world on ThePeopleSpeak.org, including Her Majesty Queen Rania of Jordan, U.S. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, and UNICEF Executive Director Ann Veneman. Take part in the online forum to discuss the women who have influenced you.

Visit the official International Women's Day website to learn about events and activities taking place around the world.

http://betterworldcampaign.org/resources/iwd_2007.asp

Women's and Children's Rights

Stockholmcollege.se open "Refugee Children and Women" netCommunity, place where childrens knowledge is visualised in a course blog

Refugee Children

The Women’s Commission for Refugee Women and Children
is a non-governmental organization based in New York City that works to improve the lives and defend the rights of refugee and internally displaced women, youth and children around the world.

The Women’s Commission was established in 1989 and is legally part of the International Rescue Committee (IRC). The Women’s Commission receives no direct financial support from the IRC.
www.womenscommission.org

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