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In memory of the hundreds of Bishnoi Women, who died protecting their dear trees in 1730, a number of khejri trees are planted around the area, which is still notably lush and rich with animal life. The Bishnoi sacrifices became the inspiration for a much larger Chipko movement that is still growing today, in which villagers physically embrace trees to save them from logging. The Bishnoi faith is founded on 29 principles, most of which promote environmental stewardship. Bishnois strictly forbid the harming of trees and animals.
Save the Girl, Educate the Girl.
Photo: Firoz Ahmad Firoz, Barmer, Rajasthan.
All Rights Reserved
RIP Nirbhaya. Delhi gang rape victim,"passed away peacefully at 4.45 a.m. (2.15 IST), 29-12-2012" with her distraught family and Indian diplomats by her side, Singapore's Mount Elizabeth Hospital's Kelvin Loh said. She died but she became a catalyst in making the nation to fig for the honor of women. Her words 'they should be punished' should ring in the corridors of power and any individual responsible for delaying or denying justice should also be suitably punished. Her death will further harden the demand of all right-thinking people to strengthen our laws against rapes, uphold the dignity and safety of girls and women, as well as the struggle for gender equality. Reactions on Twitter “here”.
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Tens of thousands of demonstrators took to the streets across India , calling on authorities to stem the rising tide of violent sexual attacks on women, after a 23-year-old medical student was raped and beaten by six men on a Delhi bus. The condition of the woman is reported to be "critical". Delhi has one of the highest rates of crime against women in India. Delhi is often called the "rape capital of India" - police recorded more than 550 cases in the city last year.
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MIND THE GAP.
An interactive data game that lets you explore the progress and pitfalls of girls’ and women’s education around the world. “learn more”.
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The new Indian census(2011), which put the population at 1.2 billion, has revealed an alarming trend. Rising incomes only seem to accelerate gendercide – the evocative term for the selective abortion of girl foetuses. There were 945 girls per 1,000 boys in the 1991 census, 927 in 2001 and now 914. It's now a crisis and we need to move beyond just acknowledging the issue.The PC & PNDT Act 1994 prohibits any form of sex-determination practise and sex-selective abortion.
According to the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) of India; 89,546 cases of cruelty by husband and relatives; 21,397 cases of rape; 11,009 cases of sexual harassment and 5,650 cases of dowry harassment were reported in India during the year 2009.
Source: National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) India, 2009
Your voice matters. Say NO – UNiTE to End Violence against Women and girls!
Up to 70 percent of women may be abused in their lifetime. Tell governments that you want them to make ending violence against women a top priority. More than 5 million people already signed on to Say NO.
Add your name to become part of the global Say NO–UNiTE Network: “here”.
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Photo: Firoz Ahmad Firoz, Doosra Dashak, Rajasthan, India
International Women’s Day is a time to reflect on progress made, to call for change and to celebrate acts of courage and determination by ordinary women who have played an extraordinary role in the communities.
Photo (by Firoz Ahmad): A woman leader at Basawan Hamlet Pure Village, Pratapgarh, UP in India.
UNiTE to End Violence against Women and girls!
“As we commemorate International Women’s Day, we must look back on a year of shocking crimes of violence against women and girls and ask ourselves how to usher in a better future.
One young woman was gang-raped to death. Another committed suicide out of a sense of shame that should have attached to the perpetrators. Young teens were shot at close range for daring to seek an education.
These atrocities, which rightly sparked global outrage, were part of a much larger problem that pervades virtually every society and every realm of life.
Look around at the women you are with. Think of those you cherish in your families and your communities. And understand that there is a statistical likelihood that many of them have suffered violence in their lifetime. Even more have comforted a sister or friend, sharing their grief and anger following an attack.
This year on International Women’s Day, we convert our outrage into action. We declare that we will prosecute crimes against women – and never allow women to be subjected to punishments for the abuses they have suffered. We renew our pledge to combat this global health menace wherever it may lurk – in homes and businesses, in war zones and placid countries, and in the minds of people who allow violence to continue.
We also make a special promise to women in conflict situations, where sexual violence too often becomes a tool of war aimed at humiliating the enemy by destroying their dignity.”
--- Ban Ki-moon, UN Secretary-General
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MIND THE GAP.
An interactive data game that lets you explore the progress and pitfalls of girls’ and women’s education around the world. “learn more”.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
The new Indian census(2011), which put the population at 1.2 billion, has revealed an alarming trend. Rising incomes only seem to accelerate gendercide – the evocative term for the selective abortion of girl foetuses. There were 945 girls per 1,000 boys in the 1991 census, 927 in 2001 and now 914. It's now a crisis and we need to move beyond just acknowledging the issue.The PC & PNDT Act 1994 prohibits any form of sex-determination practise and sex-selective abortion.
According to the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) of India; 89,546 cases of cruelty by husband and relatives; 21,397 cases of rape; 11,009 cases of sexual harassment and 5,650 cases of dowry harassment were reported in India during the year 2009.
Source: National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) India, 2009
Your voice matters. Say NO – UNiTE to End Violence against Women and girls!
Up to 70 percent of women may be abused in their lifetime. Tell governments that you want them to make ending violence against women a top priority. More than 5 million people already signed on to Say NO.
Add your name to become part of the global Say NO–UNiTE Network: “here”.
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Photo: Firoz Ahmad Firoz
Bangladesh has the highest rate of child marriage in South Asia and the fourth highest in the world, despite child marriage being illegal here, too. In Bangladesh, young girls are married off soon after reaching puberty and usually move in with their husbands straight away.
shadman ali © All rights reserved.
Please don't hesitate to contact with me if you wish to use any of my images.
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Photo by Firoz Ahmad
All rights reserved
Location: MP, India
Programm: The Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI) zinc/ORS program in India.
Wanted to do a Photo Series,
will start with this Portrait Series of my Grandmother.
I always share a special bonding with her, since I was raised by her until the age of seven.
Find if u can feel the emotional shift
thanks
:)
Inspired Women are Empowered Women
The goal of gender equality has been at the centre of the economic and political agenda during the two decades since the adoption of the 1995 Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action. In September 2015, world leaders adopted the 17 new global Sustainable Development Goals and 169 targets. Goal 5 focuses specifically on gender equality and the empowerment of women. Financial independence is key to women empowerment.
Photo: Firoz Ahmad
All Rights Reserved
Violence against women and girls is everyone's problem. It brings down an entire society. We are ALL touched by femicide in India. Census data shows that poverty and illiteracy are not key factors in India’s female genocide as many assume. The survival of girls is determined by a patriarchal politics of wealth control.
Save the Girl, Educate the Girl.
interactive.unwomen.org/multimedia/timeline/yearinreview/...
Photo: Firoz Ahmad
Bina Kalindi, a fourteen-year-old girl, has been fighting a battle against child marriage in her village Purulia, West Bengal, for years now. She diligently goes from door to door, spreading awareness and convincing families of the ills of this social evil. She was just twelve when she resisted her father's efforts to get her married to an older man.
Five brave girls from Purulia, West Bengal, including Bina Kalindi, were invited and met to the President of India Hon’ble Smt. Pratibha Patil at Rashtrapati Bhavan on December 07, 2011 in recognition to their courageous stand against child marriage.
For detais please share the link : www.flickr.com/photos/23985194@N06/8537570745/
Kanyashree Prakalpa - a big step in the right direction
West Bengal Government’s flagship programme, Kanyashree Prakalpa is a conditional cash transfer scheme for the promotion of girl’s education and prevention of forced child marriages. It is a unique child sensitive social protection scheme launched in October 2013 with technical assistance from UNICEF.
The scheme includes an annual scholarship of INR ₹500 (£5) for girls between the ages of 13-18 years to continue with their studies from upper primary up to higher secondary levels, and provided they are not married off before the legal age of 18 years. A one-time grant of INR ₹25,000 (GBP £250) is also provided to the girl, once she reaches the age of 18, to pursue higher studies.
Between October 2013 and March 2015, 2.22 million girl students of the state have enrolled in the scheme with a budget of GBP £100 million. The scheme's enrolment pattern is in line with its equity focus - girls from Scheduled Castes are 23.55% of the total beneficiaries while religious minorities are 23.45%, other backward classes are 8.69%, the Scheduled Tribes are 5.71% and from general castes are 37.51%.
The Kanyashree Prakalpa is run by the Department of Women Development and Social Welfare as nodal agency with convergent support of over 13 departments of Govt. of West Bengal besides other partners including the state's leading banks. The project is becoming popular because of its 'simplicity of design, easy accessibility, targeted- communication strategy, convergent implementation and focus on raising the financial, social and self worth of the girls'.
West Bengal Govt. has been given international recognition for this scheme by DFID (Department for International Development, UK) and UNICEF in 2014. UNICEF has supported the state Govt. in the preparation of the scheme Guidelines, its implementation and monitoring framework, its communication strategy, the scheme MIS and has supported an all-district baseline survey on key indicators. It is also technically facilitating regular assessments of the scheme to strengthen its governance, implementation and coverage.
See more at: unicef.in
...taken at the Contemporary Art Center of Thessaloniki - CACCT... "Red Figurine" by Vally Nomidou...
Thessaloniki, Greece...
MIND THE GAP.
An interactive data game that lets you explore the progress and pitfalls of girls’ and women’s education around the world. “learn more”.
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The new Indian census(2011), which put the population at 1.2 billion, has revealed an alarming trend. Rising incomes only seem to accelerate gendercide – the evocative term for the selective abortion of girl foetuses. There were 945 girls per 1,000 boys in the 1991 census, 927 in 2001 and now 914. It's now a crisis and we need to move beyond just acknowledging the issue.The PC & PNDT Act 1994 prohibits any form of sex-determination practise and sex-selective abortion.
According to the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) of India; 89,546 cases of cruelty by husband and relatives; 21,397 cases of rape; 11,009 cases of sexual harassment and 5,650 cases of dowry harassment were reported in India during the year 2009.
Source: National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) India, 2009
Your voice matters. Say NO – UNiTE to End Violence against Women and girls!
Up to 70 percent of women may be abused in their lifetime. Tell governments that you want them to make ending violence against women a top priority. More than 5 million people already signed on to Say NO.
Add your name to become part of the global Say NO–UNiTE Network: “here”.
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“To call woman the weaker sex is a libel; it is man's injustice to woman. If by strength is meant brute strength, then, indeed, is woman less brute than man. If by strength is meant moral power, then woman is immeasurably man's superior. Has she not greater intuition, is she not more self-sacrificing, has she not greater powers of endurance, has she not greater courage? Without her, man could not be. If nonviolence is the law of our being, the future is with woman. Who can make a more effective appeal to the heart than woman?”
― Mahatma Gandhi
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Photo by Firoz Ahmad at Room To Read (www.roomtoread.org/) programme
# The Indian women dress up like newlyweds in bright hues of red, orange, blue and green in order to celebrate the Teej festival.
Photo: Firoz Ahmad
All Rights Reserved
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The Teej festival is an auspicious Hindu festival in which married women worship Goddess Parvati and Lord Shiva to pray for marital bliss. The women gather in groups to enjoy the celebrations with Teej songs, mehendi and playing on swings, while enjoying the monsoon winds.
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Orange the World: #HearMeToo
Violence against women and girls is everyone's problem. It brings down an entire society. We are ALL touched by femicide in India. Census data shows that poverty and illiteracy are not key factors in India’s female genocide as many assume. The survival of girls is determined by a patriarchal politics of wealth control.
In recent years, the voices of survivors and activists, through campaigns such as #MeToo, #TimesUp, #Niunamenos, #NotOneMore, #BalanceTonPorc and others, have reached a crescendo that cannot be silenced any more.
Join the UNiTE Campaign’s Orange the World: #HearMeToo! Share your photos, messages and videos showing how you are participating in the campaign at facebook.com/SayNO.UNiTE and twitter.com/SayNO_UNiTE using #orangetheworld and #HearMeToo.
Violence against women and girls is everyone's problem. It brings down an entire society. We are ALL touched by femicide in India. Census data shows that poverty and illiteracy are not key factors in India’s female genocide as many assume. The survival of girls is determined by a patriarchal politics of wealth control.
Save the Girl, Educate the Girl.
An interactive data game that lets you explore the progress and pitfalls of girls’ and women’s education around the world. “learn more”.
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Photo: Firoz Ahmad
All Rights Reserved
An interactive data game that lets you explore the progress and pitfalls of girls’ and women’s education around the world. “learn more”.
MIND THE GAP.
An interactive data game that lets you explore the progress and pitfalls of girls’ and women’s education around the world. “learn more”.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
The new Indian census(2011), which put the population at 1.2 billion, has revealed an alarming trend. Rising incomes only seem to accelerate gendercide – the evocative term for the selective abortion of girl foetuses. There were 945 girls per 1,000 boys in the 1991 census, 927 in 2001 and now 914. It's now a crisis and we need to move beyond just acknowledging the issue.The PC & PNDT Act 1994 prohibits any form of sex-determination practise and sex-selective abortion.
According to the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) of India; 89,546 cases of cruelty by husband and relatives; 21,397 cases of rape; 11,009 cases of sexual harassment and 5,650 cases of dowry harassment were reported in India during the year 2009.
Source: National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) India, 2009
Your voice matters. Say NO – UNiTE to End Violence against Women and girls!
Up to 70 percent of women may be abused in their lifetime. Tell governments that you want them to make ending violence against women a top priority. More than 5 million people already signed on to Say NO.
Add your name to become part of the global Say NO–UNiTE Network: “here”.
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Photo: Firoz Ahmad Firoz
MIND THE GAP.
An interactive data game that lets you explore the progress and pitfalls of girls’ and women’s education around the world. “learn more”.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
The new Indian census(2011), which put the population at 1.2 billion, has revealed an alarming trend. Rising incomes only seem to accelerate gendercide – the evocative term for the selective abortion of girl foetuses. There were 945 girls per 1,000 boys in the 1991 census, 927 in 2001 and now 914. It's now a crisis and we need to move beyond just acknowledging the issue.The PC & PNDT Act 1994 prohibits any form of sex-determination practise and sex-selective abortion.
According to the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) of India; 89,546 cases of cruelty by husband and relatives; 21,397 cases of rape; 11,009 cases of sexual harassment and 5,650 cases of dowry harassment were reported in India during the year 2009.
Source: National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) India, 2009
Your voice matters. Say NO – UNiTE to End Violence against Women and girls!
Up to 70 percent of women may be abused in their lifetime. Tell governments that you want them to make ending violence against women a top priority. More than 5 million people already signed on to Say NO.
Add your name to become part of the global Say NO–UNiTE Network: “here”.
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Photo: Firoz Ahmad Firoz
Fisher-women SHG meeting is going on in a dense forest under Mahua trees in Barakhad village beside the dam in India.
Photo: Firoz Ahmad All rights reserved!
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"When we unleash the power of women, we can secure the future for all," says UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in his message for International Women’s Day 2015. -
You can See short films:
*A short (1.2 minute) film about women’s education. vimeo.com/127373367
*a film with English subtitle is about the empowerment of marginalized women
*a film with English subtitle is about the empowerment of marginalized women and adolescent girls.>
a short film about the Girls lead boys in academic achievement>
*a short film about the Girls education:
An interactive data game that lets you explore the progress and pitfalls of girls’ and women’s education around the world. “learn more”.
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The new Indian census(2011), which put the population at 1.2 billion, has revealed an alarming trend. Rising incomes only seem to accelMind The Gaperate gendercide – the evocative term for the selective abortion of girl foetuses. There were 945 girls per 1,000 boys in the 1991 census, 927 in 2001 and now 914. It's now a crisis and we need to move beyond just acknowledging the issue.The PC & PNDT Act 1994 prohibits any form of sex-determination practise and sex-selective abortion.
According to the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) of India; 89,546 cases of cruelty by husband and relatives; 21,397 cases of rape; 11,009 cases of sexual harassment and 5,650 cases of dowry harassment were reported in India during the year 2009.
Source: National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) India, 2009
Your voice matters. Say NO – UNiTE to End Violence against Women and girls!
Up to 70 percent of women may be abused in their lifetime. Tell governments that you want them to make ending violence against women a top priority. More than 5 million people already signed on to Say NO. Take action to Orange your day.
Add your name to become part of the global Say NO–UNiTE Network: “here”.
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Photo: Firoz Ahmad
Shot with Carl Zeiss Sonnar T* FE 55mm F1.8 ZA at village Jogiwada, Madhya Pradesh in India.
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An interactive data game that lets you explore the progress and pitfalls of girls’ and women’s education around the world. “learn more”.
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Photo: Firoz Ahmad
ENDING VIOLENCE AGAINST
WOMEN AND GIRLS
Violence against women and girls is a grave violation of human rights. Violence happens in public and private places.
It has many forms which range from domestic or intimate
partner violence to sexual harassment and assault, female
genital mutilation, trafficking, sexual violence in conflict
and gender-related killing.
The impact of violence ranges from immediate to longterm physical, sexual and mental health consequences
for women and girls, including death. It negatively affects
women’s general well-being and prevents women from
fully participating in society. Violence not only has longlasting consequences for women but also their families,
the community and the country at large. It also has tremendous costs, from greater health care and legal expenses to productivity losses, impacting national budgets and overall development.
#EndVAW #HearMeToo
Photo by Firoz Ahmad
All rights reserved
Location: New Delhi, India
International Women’s Day 2019: Think equal, build smart, innovate for change
Photo by Firoz Ahmad
All Rights Reserved
Today is the Teacher's Day in India. To all my friends who are connected with teaching, I send my best wishes.
MIND THE GAP.
An interactive data game that lets you explore the progress and pitfalls of girls’ and women’s education around the world. “learn more”.
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The new Indian census(2011), which put the population at 1.2 billion, has revealed an alarming trend. Rising incomes only seem to accelerate gendercide – the evocative term for the selective abortion of girl foetuses. There were 945 girls per 1,000 boys in the 1991 census, 927 in 2001 and now 914. It's now a crisis and we need to move beyond just acknowledging the issue.The PC & PNDT Act 1994 prohibits any form of sex-determination practise and sex-selective abortion.
According to the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) of India; 89,546 cases of cruelty by husband and relatives; 21,397 cases of rape; 11,009 cases of sexual harassment and 5,650 cases of dowry harassment were reported in India during the year 2009.
Source: National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) India, 2009
Your voice matters. Say NO – UNiTE to End Violence against Women and girls!
Up to 70 percent of women may be abused in their lifetime. Tell governments that you want them to make ending violence against women a top priority. More than 5 million people already signed on to Say NO.
Add your name to become part of the global Say NO–UNiTE Network: “here”.
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Photo: Firoz Ahmad Firoz
In February 2016, the Girls Not Brides team headed out to Zambia to film “We are Girls, Not Brides”, a two-minute music video about ending child marriage. The song was written, composed and sung by a group of talented young girls from Lusaka Girls School, who take part in a girls’ empowerment club run by Girls Not Brides member Continuity Zambia.
Photo credit: Maryam Mohsin | Girls Not Brides.
Every year, 24th of January is celebrated National Girl Child Day in India with an objective to raise consciousness of Indian society towards the girl children.
The new Indian census (2011), which put the population at 1.2 billion, has revealed an alarming trend. Rising incomes only seem to accelerate gendercide – the evocative term for the selective abortion of girl foetuses. There were 945 girls per 1,000 boys in the 1991 census, 927 in 2001 and now 914. It's now a crisis and we need to move beyond just acknowledging the issue.
According to the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) of India; 89,546 cases of cruelty by husband and relatives; 21,397 cases of rape; 11,009 cases of sexual harassment and 5,650 cases of dowry harassment were reported in India during the year 2009.
(Source: National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) India, 2009)
An interactive data game that lets you explore the progress and pitfalls of girls’ and women’s education around the world. “learn more”.
Photo by Firoz Ahmad at Room To Read (www.roomtoread.org/) programme
Welcome 2017.
Let us pray that it will be a year with peace, happiness and abundance of new friends.
Violence against women and girls is everyone's problem. It brings down an entire society. We are ALL touched by femicide in India. Census data shows that poverty and illiteracy are not key factors in India’s female genocide as many assume. The survival of girls is determined by a patriarchal politics of wealth control.
Save the Girl, Educate the Girl.
Photo: Firoz Ahmad at Barmer, Rajasthan_ CmF_Tata Trusts SHG.
West Bengal Government’s flagship programme, Kanyashree Prakalpa secured the top award (among 552 projects from 63 countries) at the United Nations Public Service Forum and Awards Ceremony (2017) on UN Public Service Day, 23 June, 2017.
The United Nations Public Service Award (UNPSA) is the most prestigious international recognition of excellence in public service. The purpose of the UNPSA is to promote and reward innovation and excellence in public services for sustainable development in support of the realization of the Sustainable Development Goals and the principle to leave no one behind. Through an annual competition, the UN Public Service Awards promote the role, professionalism and visibility of public service. They encourage exemplary public service and recognize that democracy and successful governance are built on a competent civil service.
Kanyashree Prakalpa - a big step in the right direction
Kanyashree Prakalpa is a conditional cash transfer scheme for the promotion of girl’s education and prevention of forced child marriages. It is a unique child sensitive social protection scheme launched in October 2013 with technical assistance from UNICEF.
The scheme includes an annual scholarship of Rs.750 (GBP £9) for girls between the ages of 13-18 years to continue with their studies from upper primary up to higher secondary levels, and provided they are not married off before the legal age of 18 years. A one-time grant of Rs.25,000 (GBP £300) is also provided to the girl, once she reaches the age of 18, to pursue higher studies.
Between October 2013 and March 2015, 2.22 million girl students of the state have enrolled in the scheme (more than 4 million as of 2017) with a budget of Rs 1000 crore (GBP £122 million). The scheme's enrollment pattern is in line with its equity focus - girls from Scheduled Castes are 23.55% of the total beneficiaries while religious minorities are 23.45%, other backward classes are 8.69%, the Scheduled Tribes are 5.71% and from general castes are 37.51%.
The Kanyashree Prakalpa is run by the Department of Women Development and Social Welfare as nodal agency with convergent support of over 13 departments of Government of West Bengal besides other partners including the state's leading banks. The project is becoming popular because of its 'simplicity of design, easy accessibility, targeted- communication strategy, convergent implementation and focus on raising the financial, social and self worth of the girls'.
West Bengal Govt. has been given international recognition for this scheme by DFID (Department for International Development, UK) and UNICEF in 2014. UNICEF has supported the state Govt. in the preparation of the scheme Guidelines, its implementation and monitoring framework, its communication strategy, the scheme MIS and has supported an all-district baseline survey on key indicators. It is also technically facilitating regular assessments of the scheme to strengthen its governance, implementation and coverage.
See more at: unicef.in
Images of Bengal, India
Girls' Empowerment race organized by Great Ethiopian Run in partnership with UNICEF Ethiopia ,City Administration of Gonder Culture, Tourism & Sport Bureau, Amhara Region Bureau of Women, Children & Youth Affairs (BoCWYA), with a theme of " Ending Child Marriage".Gonder, Amhara Region, Ethiopia © UNICEF Ethiopia 2015/Tesfaye
'The assumption and common practice that women and girls look after the home and the family is a stubborn and very real stereotype that not only discriminates against women, but limits men's participation and connection within the family and society,' Anne Hathaway said at the UN this Women's Day (2017).
www.unwomen.org/en/news/stories/2017/3/speech-anne-hathaw...
Woman and child at a village in Silliguri, West Bengal, India
Photo: Firoz Ahmad
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"When we unleash the power of women, we can secure the future for all," says UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in his message for International Women’s Day 2015. -
You can See 4 short films:
a film with English subtitle is about the empowerment of marginalized women and adolescent girls.>
a short film about the Girls lead boys in academic achievement>
2 short film about the women's and Girls education:
Abelone Melese, Goodwill Ambasador to UNICEF Ethiopia, performing on the event Girl's Empowerment campaign organized by Great Ethiopian Run and UNICEF with the theme of ending child marriage, Amhara Regional State, at Gonder - Meskel Square. © UNICEF Ethiopia 2015/Tesfaye
Ethiopia has one of the highest rates of early marriage in sub-Saharan Africa.
In partnership with the Government of Ethiopia, DFID-funded Finote Hiwot is helping at least 37,500 adolescent girls, and indirectly many more, to avoid child marriage in Ethiopia.
Thirty-old-year-old Tizezew works for Finote Hiwot and sees the change the programme is making to girls’ lives.
“Now the community and the students are leading the conversations,” she says. “People from every part of the community - from religious leaders to schools - are talking. They’re coming up with solutions on the ground. To see the voice of change passing down from Finote Hiwot, to community facilitators to schools, to girls, it makes me feel proud.”
Picture: Jessica Lea/DFID
In February 2016, the Girls Not Brides team headed out to Zambia to film “We are Girls, Not Brides”, a two-minute music video about ending child marriage. The song was written, composed and sung by a group of talented young girls from Lusaka Girls School, who take part in a girls’ empowerment club run by Girls Not Brides member Continuity Zambia.
Photo credit: Maryam Mohsin | Girls Not Brides.
Portrait of a community health activist ASHA shot at Betul, Madhya Pradesh.
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One of the key components of the National Rural Health Mission is to provide every village in the country with a trained female community health activist ASHA or Accredited Social Health Activist. Selected from the village itself and accountable to it, the ASHA will be trained to work as an interface between the community and the public health system. Following are the key components of ASHA :
• ASHA must primarily be a woman resident of the village married/ widowed/ divorced, preferably in the age group of 25 to 45 years.
• She should be a literate woman with due preference in selection to those who are qualified up to 10 standard wherever they are interested and available in good numbers. This may be relaxed only if no suitable person with this qualification is available.
• ASHA will be chosen through a rigorous process of selection involving various community groups, self-help groups, Anganwadi Institutions, the Block Nodal officer, District Nodal officer, the village Health Committee and the Gram Sabha.
• Capacity building of ASHA is being seen as a continuous process. ASHA will have to undergo series of training episodes to acquire the necessary knowledge, skills and confidence for performing her spelled out roles.
• The ASHAs will receive performance-based incentives for promoting universal immunization, referral and escort services for Reproductive & Child Health (RCH) and other healthcare programmes, and construction of household toilets.
• Empowered with knowledge and a drug-kit to deliver first-contact healthcare, every ASHA is expected to be a fountainhead of community participation in public health programmes in her village.
• ASHA will be the first port of call for any health related demands of deprived sections of the population, especially women and children, who find it difficult to access health services.
• ASHA will be a health activist in the community who will create awareness on health and its social determinants and mobilise the community towards local health planning and increased utilisation and accountability of the existing health services.
• She would be a promoter of good health practices and will also provide a minimum package of curative care as appropriate and feasible for that level and make timely referrals.
• ASHA will provide information to the community on determinants of health such as nutrition, basic sanitation & hygienic practices, healthy living and working conditions, information on existing health services and the need for timely utilisation of health & family welfare services.
• She will counsel women on birth preparedness, importance of safe delivery, breast-feeding and complementary feeding, immunization, contraception and prevention of common infections including Reproductive Tract Infection/Sexually Transmitted Infections (RTIs/STIs) and care of the young child.
• ASHA will mobilise the community and facilitate them in accessing health and health related services available at the Anganwadi/sub-centre/primary health centers, such as immunisation, Ante Natal Check-up (ANC), Post Natal Check-up supplementary nutrition, sanitation and other services being provided by the government.
• She will act as a depot older for essential provisions being made available to all habitations like Oral Rehydration Therapy (ORS), Iron Folic Acid Tablet(IFA), chloroquine, Disposable Delivery Kits (DDK), Oral Pills & Condoms, etc.
• At the village level it is recognised that ASHA cannot function without adequate institutional support. Women's committees (like self-help groups or women's health committees), village Health & Sanitation Committee of the Gram Panchayat, peripheral health workers especially ANMs and Anganwadi workers, and the trainers of ASHA and in-service periodic training would be a major source of support to ASHA.
Photograph by Firoz Ahmad
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On the eve of the International Day of the Girl Child, UN Women Goodwill Ambassador Emma Watson visits Malawi to shine a global spotlight on the need to end child early and forced marriage. She met with national leaders, traditional chiefs and girls who have returned to school after having marriages annulled.
In 2015, Malawi passed the Marriage, Divorce and Family Relations Bill, raising the minimum age of marriage to 18. UN Women, together with partners, played an integral role in advocating the new law and works with traditional chiefs to change local practices.
Pictured: Emma Watson visits Mtakataka Secondary School in the District of Dedza where she hears from Stella Kalilombe and Cecilia Banda whose marriages were anulled and they returned to school.
Read More: www.unwomen.org/en/news/stories/2016/10/press-release-emm...
Photo: UN Women/Karin Schermbrucker
Daughter of a Panchmura Artisan
Kanyashree Prakalpa - a big step in the right direction
West Bengal Government’s flagship programme, Kanyashree Prakalpa is a conditional cash transfer scheme for the promotion of girl’s education and prevention of forced child marriages. It is a unique child sensitive social protection scheme launched in October 2013 with technical assistance from UNICEF.
The scheme includes an annual scholarship of Rs.500 (£5) for girls between the ages of 13-18 years to continue with their studies from upper primary up to higher secondary levels, and provided they are not married off before the legal age of 18 years. A one-time grant of Rs.25,000 (GBP £250) is also provided to the girl, once she reaches the age of 18, to pursue higher studies.
Between October 2013 and March 2015, 2.22 million girl students of the state have enrolled in the scheme with a budget of GBP £100 million. The scheme's enrolment pattern is in line with its equity focus - girls from Scheduled Castes are 23.55% of the total beneficiaries while religious minorities are 23.45%, other backward classes are 8.69%, the Scheduled Tribes are 5.71% and from general castes are 37.51%.
The Kanyashree Prakalpa is run by the Department of Women Development and Social Welfare as nodal agency with convergent support of over 13 departments of Govt. of West Bengal besides other partners including the state's leading banks. The project is becoming popular because of its 'simplicity of design, easy accessibility, targeted- communication strategy, convergent implementation and focus on raising the financial, social and self worth of the girls'.
West Bengal Govt. has been given international recognition for this scheme by DFID (Department for International Development, UK) and UNICEF in 2014. UNICEF has supported the state Govt. in the preparation of the scheme Guidelines, its implementation and monitoring framework, its communication strategy, the scheme MIS and has supported an all-district baseline survey on key indicators. It is also technically facilitating regular assessments of the scheme to strengthen its governance, implementation and coverage.
See more at: unicef.in
Bangladesh: Players of the Brahmanbaria team celebrate after winning the final match of the BFF-UNICEF Under-16 National Women’s Championship at Sonaimuri, Noakhali District. In 2018, UNICEF and the Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) forged a partnership to empower girls through sports and end child marriage. Following delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic, a nationwide football talent scout was launched for girls aged 12 to 16 years earlier this year.
© UNICEF/UN0479336/Farhana Satu
Bina Kalindi, a fourteen-year-old girl, has been fighting a battle against child marriage in her village Purulia, West Bengal, for years now. She diligently goes from door to door, spreading awareness and convincing families of the ills of this social evil. She was just twelve when she resisted her father's efforts to get her married to an older man.
Five brave girls from Purulia, West Bengal, including Bina Kalindi, were invited and met to the President of India Hon’ble Smt. Pratibha Patil at Rashtrapati Bhavan on December 07, 2011 in recognition to their courageous stand against child marriage.
For detais please share the link : www.flickr.com/photos/23985194@N06/8537570745/
Kanyashree Prakalpa - a big step in the right direction
West Bengal Government’s flagship programme, Kanyashree Prakalpa is a conditional cash transfer scheme for the promotion of girl’s education and prevention of forced child marriages. It is a unique child sensitive social protection scheme launched in October 2013 with technical assistance from UNICEF.
The scheme includes an annual scholarship of Rs.500 (£5) for girls between the ages of 13-18 years to continue with their studies from upper primary up to higher secondary levels, and provided they are not married off before the legal age of 18 years. A one-time grant of Rs.25,000 (GBP £250) is also provided to the girl, once she reaches the age of 18, to pursue higher studies.
Between October 2013 and March 2015, 2.22 million girl students of the state have enrolled in the scheme with a budget of GBP £100 million. The scheme's enrollment pattern is in line with its equity focus - girls from Scheduled Castes are 23.55% of the total beneficiaries while religious minorities are 23.45%, other backward classes are 8.69%, the Scheduled Tribes are 5.71% and from general castes are 37.51%.
The Kanyashree Prakalpa is run by the Department of Women Development and Social Welfare as nodal agency with convergent support of over 13 departments of Govt. of West Bengal besides other partners including the state's leading banks. The project is becoming popular because of its 'simplicity of design, easy accessibility, targeted- communication strategy, convergent implementation and focus on raising the financial, social and self worth of the girls'.
West Bengal Govt. has been given international recognition for this scheme by DFID (Department for International Development, UK) and UNICEF in 2014. UNICEF has supported the state Govt. in the preparation of the scheme Guidelines, its implementation and monitoring framework, its communication strategy, the scheme MIS and has supported an all-district baseline survey on key indicators. It is also technically facilitating regular assessments of the scheme to strengthen its governance, implementation and coverage.
See more at: unicef.in
West Bengal Government’s flagship programme, Kanyashree Prakalpa secured the top prize at the english.un-psf2017.nl/ United Nations Public Service Forum and Awards Ceremony (2017) on UN Public Service Day, May 23, 2017.
The United Nations Public Service Award (UNPSA) is the most prestigious international recognition of excellence in public service. The purpose of the UNPSA is to promote and reward innovation and excellence in public services for sustainable development in support of the realization of the Sustainable Development Goals and the principle to leave no one behind. Through an annual competition, the UN Public Service Awards promote the role, professionalism and visibility of public service. They encourage exemplary public service and recognize that democracy and successful governance are built on a competent civil service.
In February 2016, the Girls Not Brides team headed out to Zambia to film “We are Girls, Not Brides”, a two-minute music video about ending child marriage. The song was written, composed and sung by a group of talented young girls from Lusaka Girls School, who take part in a girls’ empowerment club run by Girls Not Brides member Continuity Zambia.
Photo credit: Maryam Mohsin | Girls Not Brides.
"When we unleash the power of women, we can secure the future for all," says UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in his message for International Women’s Day 2015. -
Photo: Firoz Ahmad
See 2 short films:
a film with English subtitle is about the empowerment of marginalized women and adolescent girls.>
a short film about the Girls lead boys in academic achievement>
An interactive data game that lets you explore the progress and pitfalls of girls’ and women’s education around the world. “learn more”.
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The new Indian census(2011), which put the population at 1.2 billion, has revealed an alarming trend. Rising incomes only seem to accelerate gendercide – the evocative term for the selective abortion of girl foetuses. There were 945 girls per 1,000 boys in the 1991 census, 927 in 2001 and now 914. It's now a crisis and we need to move beyond just acknowledging the issue.The PC & PNDT Act 1994 prohibits any form of sex-determination practise and sex-selective abortion.
According to the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) of India; 89,546 cases of cruelty by husband and relatives; 21,397 cases of rape; 11,009 cases of sexual harassment and 5,650 cases of dowry harassment were reported in India during the year 2009.
Source: National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) India, 2009
Your voice matters. Say NO – UNiTE to End Violence against Women and girls!
Up to 70 percent of women may be abused in their lifetime. Tell governments that you want them to make ending violence against women a top priority. More than 5 million people already signed on to Say NO.
Add your name to become part of the global Say NO–UNiTE Network: “here”.
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Photo by Firoz Ahmad at Room To Read (www.roomtoread.org/) programme
In February 2016, the Girls Not Brides team headed out to Zambia to film “We are Girls, Not Brides”, a two-minute music video about ending child marriage. The song was written, composed and sung by a group of talented young girls from Lusaka Girls School, who take part in a girls’ empowerment club run by Girls Not Brides member Continuity Zambia.
Photo credit: Maryam Mohsin | Girls Not Brides.
Kanyashree Prakalpa - a big step in the right direction
West Bengal Government’s flagship programme, Kanyashree Prakalpa is a conditional cash transfer scheme for the promotion of girl’s education and prevention of forced child marriages. It is a unique child sensitive social protection scheme launched in October 2013 with technical assistance from UNICEF.
The scheme includes an annual scholarship of INR ₹500 (£5) for girls between the ages of 13-18 years to continue with their studies from upper primary up to higher secondary levels, and provided they are not married off before the legal age of 18 years. A one-time grant of INR ₹25,000 (GBP £250) is also provided to the girl, once she reaches the age of 18, to pursue higher studies.
Between October 2013 and March 2015, 2.22 million girl students of the state have enrolled in the scheme with a budget of GBP £100 million. The scheme's enrolment pattern is in line with its equity focus - girls from Scheduled Castes are 23.55% of the total beneficiaries while religious minorities are 23.45%, other backward classes are 8.69%, the Scheduled Tribes are 5.71% and from general castes are 37.51%.
The Kanyashree Prakalpa is run by the Department of Women Development and Social Welfare as nodal agency with convergent support of over 13 departments of Govt. of West Bengal besides other partners including the state's leading banks. The project is becoming popular because of its 'simplicity of design, easy accessibility, targeted- communication strategy, convergent implementation and focus on raising the financial, social and self worth of the girls'.
West Bengal Govt. has been given international recognition for this scheme by DFID (Department for International Development, UK) and UNICEF in 2014. UNICEF has supported the state Govt. in the preparation of the scheme Guidelines, its implementation and monitoring framework, its communication strategy, the scheme MIS and has supported an all-district baseline survey on key indicators. It is also technically facilitating regular assessments of the scheme to strengthen its governance, implementation and coverage.
See more at: unicef.in
In February 2016, the Girls Not Brides team headed out to Zambia to film “We are Girls, Not Brides”, a two-minute music video about ending child marriage. The song was written, composed and sung by a group of talented young girls from Lusaka Girls School, who take part in a girls’ empowerment club run by Girls Not Brides member Continuity Zambia.
Photo credit: Maryam Mohsin | Girls Not Brides.
In February 2016, the Girls Not Brides team headed out to Zambia to film “We are Girls, Not Brides”, a two-minute music video about ending child marriage. The song was written, composed and sung by a group of talented young girls from Lusaka Girls School, who take part in a girls’ empowerment club run by Girls Not Brides member Continuity Zambia.
Photo credit: Maryam Mohsin | Girls Not Brides.
Fifteen-year-old Mantegbosh (far left) is now in school – and unmarried - thanks to DFID support.
“My father used to tell me that he was finished with sending me to school and he wanted to marry me off,” she says.
“He said he wanted to marry me to a rich man or someone more settled with a source of income. So I decided to find someone who would support me to get an education.”
Picture: Sheena Ariyapala/Department for International Development