Three Women UP!
Although disconnected by eras, backgrounds and geography, Attorney Karen Parker, New Zealand Hon. Tariana Turia, and Sojourner Truth share stories of their resolve to improve the lives of others.
Karen Parker, J.D. United Nations
The dedication of Karen Parker, J.D., to ensure a safer and fairer world for many whose voices are not heard has earned her global recognition . . . and WomanUp, America’s appreciation for her exemplary spirit.Read more
Honorable Tariana Turia, New Zealand
The Hon.Tariana Turia speaks of the Maori quality of "whanau ora" to describe her commitment to her role as Minister of the Community and Voluntary Sector in Hamilton, New Zealand. She notes: “A woman’s strength is having the fortitude to stand up in the face of moral or social pressure, to do what we know is right.”Read More
Sojourner Truth, former Slave
The extraordinary life and accomplishments of Sojourner Truth – ex-slave, abolitionist and suffragette – were memorialized in Washington on April 30 with the dedicationin the U.S. Capitol of a bust in her honor. She is the first African American woman to be so honored in a ceremony that would have delighted her for leading the celebration were Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, and First Lady Michelle Obama.
Women More Trustworthy --- GENDER ROLE IN ACCOUNTABILITY
British researchers working for the Development Research Group of the World Bank published an article in the Science Direct Journal in October 2001 that held the following: Numerous behavioral studies have found women to be more trust-worthy and public spirited than men. The report noted: "These results suggest that women should be particularly effective in promoting honest government. Consistent with this hypothesis, we find that the greater the representation of women in Parliament, the lower the level of corruption. We find this association in a large cross-section of countries; the result is robust to a wide range of specifications."
Kjerstin Erickson Executive Director FORGE
Kjerstin Erickson emerged from a summer as a college volunteer in a refugee camp in Botswana determined to continue to serve. Her commitment led to her 2003 founding of FORGE, a nonprofit organization that implements programs in Botswana and Zambia to empower refugees to rebuild their homes and communities.
Click on the link below to read more about FORGE and ways to participate in its work.
Zainab Salbi
Founder and CEO
WOMEN for WOMEN
With the watchword of “changing the world one woman at a time,” Women for Women International provides women survivors of war, civil strife and other conflicts with the tools and resources to move from crisis and poverty to stability and self-sufficiency. Founder Zainab Salbi’s memoir, told through her book Between Two Worlds: Escape from Tyranny: Growing Up in the Shadow of Saddam, lay the foundation for her dedication to helping women rebuild their lives.
Click on the link below to read more about Women for Women.
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Judge Sonia Sotomayor
U.S. Supreme Court Nominee
On May 26 President Barack Obama nominated Judge Sonia Sotomayor of the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New York to replace retiring Supreme Court Justice David Souter. Judge Sotomayor’s nomination has brought out the expected partisan discussions on the pros and cons of the role she might play on the highest court. Follow a sampling of the news and opinions on this historic nomination..
Follow a sampling of the news and opinions on this historic nomination.
THE COURAGE OF AFGHAN WOMEN
Matching the fortitude of the young women and girls in Afghanistan who refuse to be stopped in their quest for an education (see womanup.com EDUCATION page), hundreds of Afghani women recently risked their lives to publicly demand the reversal of new laws in certain parts of Afghanistan that severely limit their rights within their home and community.
Follow the links below to see what these women face along with calls for international support for them..