Mary Robinson becomes ICW's first patron
ICW is honoured to announce that Mary Robinson has agreed to be our first patron. Mary Robinson is a lawyer by profession, moving on to become the first woman President of Ireland between 1990 and 1997. She then served as United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights from 1997 to 2002. Her current commitments include being on the Steering Committee of the Global Coalition on Women and AIDS and starting Realizing Rights: The Ethical Globalization Initiative. Read More for Mary's letter of acceptance and support.
Mary Robinson writes:
"I am honored to become a Patron of ICW, and in this way to strengthen the bonds of friendship that have been developing between us. I was so proud of those I heard telling their personal stories in Bangkok about combating stigma and discrimination and exercising leadership at local level. In all that we, in Realizing Rights: The Ethical Globalization Initiative, do on HIV/AIDS we will ensure ICW is fully involved.
In a time when women and girls around the world are being infected and affected by HIV/AIDS in alarming numbers, while access to prevention, treatment and care remains limited, ICW's voice in the HIV/AIDS discourse is integral to overcoming the pandemic. As such, it is with great pleasure that I welcome ICW Global Advocacy Officer Promise Mthembu to the Steering Committee for the Business Women's Initiative Against HIV/AIDS. This Initiative is a collaborative effort of The Female Health Company and Realizing Rights: The Ethical Globalization Initiative (EGI), that aims to strategically engage women in the business community in the global fight against HIV/AIDS.
Although critical alliances between government and non-governmental agencies, multi-lateral aid agencies and other global public health agencies have made considerable progress in the HIV/AIDS campaign, the private sector has remained an untapped resource. This Initiative seeks to harness the collective talent and energy of women business leaders in order to fill the gap and, ultimately, bring prevention, care and treatment to HIV positive women in the developing world.
I am happy to attest to the selfless courage and commitment that ICW forges in order to advance the livelihoods and rights of HIV positive women around the world. Indeed, ICW's and Promise Mthembu's participation in the Steering Committee will be an invaluable contribution to the Initiative. At EGI's Gender and HIV/AIDS: Mobilizing African Leadership for Prevention and Access to Treatment conference in May, Promise Mthembu inspired many African parliamentarians to include HIV positive women in their HIV/AIDS campaigns. I trust that Promise Mthembu's membership on the Steering Committee will, similarly, encourage the private sector to meaningfully involve HIV positive women in their efforts so that they can raise issues which are significant to them, but which are often neglected.
My friend, the poet Eavan Boland, put it very well when she wrote of women ‘finding a voice where they had found a vision.’ My hope is that, together, the women of ICW and the Initiative will fortify our cries in a shared vision for a more ethical and gender sensitive approach to surmounting the HIV/AIDS pandemic."
Mary Robinson
Executive Director
Realizing Rights: The Ethical Globalization Initiative
271 Madison Avenue, Suite 605
New York, NY 10016
Tel: (212) 895-8082 Fax: (212) 895-8084
Web: http://www.eginitiative.org
Mary Robinson writes:
"I am honored to become a Patron of ICW, and in this way to strengthen the bonds of friendship that have been developing between us. I was so proud of those I heard telling their personal stories in Bangkok about combating stigma and discrimination and exercising leadership at local level. In all that we, in Realizing Rights: The Ethical Globalization Initiative, do on HIV/AIDS we will ensure ICW is fully involved.
In a time when women and girls around the world are being infected and affected by HIV/AIDS in alarming numbers, while access to prevention, treatment and care remains limited, ICW's voice in the HIV/AIDS discourse is integral to overcoming the pandemic. As such, it is with great pleasure that I welcome ICW Global Advocacy Officer Promise Mthembu to the Steering Committee for the Business Women's Initiative Against HIV/AIDS. This Initiative is a collaborative effort of The Female Health Company and Realizing Rights: The Ethical Globalization Initiative (EGI), that aims to strategically engage women in the business community in the global fight against HIV/AIDS.
Although critical alliances between government and non-governmental agencies, multi-lateral aid agencies and other global public health agencies have made considerable progress in the HIV/AIDS campaign, the private sector has remained an untapped resource. This Initiative seeks to harness the collective talent and energy of women business leaders in order to fill the gap and, ultimately, bring prevention, care and treatment to HIV positive women in the developing world.
I am happy to attest to the selfless courage and commitment that ICW forges in order to advance the livelihoods and rights of HIV positive women around the world. Indeed, ICW's and Promise Mthembu's participation in the Steering Committee will be an invaluable contribution to the Initiative. At EGI's Gender and HIV/AIDS: Mobilizing African Leadership for Prevention and Access to Treatment conference in May, Promise Mthembu inspired many African parliamentarians to include HIV positive women in their HIV/AIDS campaigns. I trust that Promise Mthembu's membership on the Steering Committee will, similarly, encourage the private sector to meaningfully involve HIV positive women in their efforts so that they can raise issues which are significant to them, but which are often neglected.
My friend, the poet Eavan Boland, put it very well when she wrote of women ‘finding a voice where they had found a vision.’ My hope is that, together, the women of ICW and the Initiative will fortify our cries in a shared vision for a more ethical and gender sensitive approach to surmounting the HIV/AIDS pandemic."
Mary Robinson
Executive Director
Realizing Rights: The Ethical Globalization Initiative
271 Madison Avenue, Suite 605
New York, NY 10016
Tel: (212) 895-8082 Fax: (212) 895-8084
Web: http://www.eginitiative.org