Gender Justice
YMCA is a world-wide Christian, ecumenical, voluntary movement for women and men with special emphasis on the genuine involvement of young people. It seeks to share the Christian ideal of building a human community of justice with love, peace and reconciliation for the fullness of life for all creation.
Each member YMCA is therefore called to focus on certain challenges which will be prioritised according to its own contexts- that includes:
• Empowering all, especially young people and women to take increased responsibilities and assume leadership at all levels and working towards an equitable society.
• Advocating for and promoting the rights of women and upholding the rights of children
(Excerpts from Challenge 21)
The APAY adheres to the guiding principle of Challenge 21; hence commitment for the Gender Justice remains an integral part and a mandate in the YMCA, especially in the Asia and Pacific region. APAY initiates the promotion of Gender Equity in all levels with a community-specific approach. It affirms that the quest for the elimination of discrimination of gender-based violence and promotion of an inclusive society requires a collaborative undertaking irrespective of sex and gender. The YMCAs will continue to establish an inclusive environment by creating awareness and policies that promote and reflect gender justice and develop a mechanism that addresses gender issues, including sexual harassment. Through the Gender Justice initiatives, APAY increases dialogue and discussions on various perspectives, including the non-binary perspectives of gender.
Gender Justice is one of the main focus of the Quadrennial Program Plan (QPP) of the APAY with the following objectives:
- To cultivate a culture of gender equity and empowerment of women and girls at all levels through the creation of platforms of learning, reflection and exchanges of experiences
- To ensure the development of leadership skills, organizing and advocacy capacities of YMCA constituencies that promote reforms for equal opportunities for all at all levels
YMCA is a world-wide Christian, ecumenical, voluntary movement for women and men with special emphasis on the genuine involvement of young people. It seeks to share the Christian ideal of building a human community of justice with love, peace and reconciliation for the fullness of life for all creation.
Each member YMCA is therefore called to focus on certain challenges which will be prioritised according to its own contexts- that includes:
• Empowering all, especially young people and women to take increased responsibilities and assume leadership at all levels and working towards an equitable society.
• Advocating for and promoting the rights of women and upholding the rights of children
(Excerpts from Challenge 21)
The APAY adheres to the guiding principle of Challenge 21; hence commitment for the Gender Justice remains an integral part and a mandate in the YMCA, especially in the Asia and Pacific region. APAY initiates the promotion of Gender Equity in all levels with a community-specific approach. It affirms that the quest for the elimination of discrimination of gender-based violence and promotion of an inclusive society requires a collaborative undertaking irrespective of sex and gender. The YMCAs will continue to establish an inclusive environment by creating awareness and policies that promote and reflect gender justice and develop a mechanism that addresses gender issues, including sexual harassment. Through the Gender Justice initiatives, APAY increases dialogue and discussions on various perspectives, including the non-binary perspectives of gender.
Gender Justice is one of the main focus of the Quadrennial Program Plan (QPP) of the APAY with the following objectives:
1 To cultivate a culture of gender equity and empowerment of women and girls at all levels through the creation of platforms of learning, reflection and exchanges of experiences
2 To ensure the development of leadership skills, organizing and advocacy capacities of YMCA constituencies that promote reforms for equal opportunities for all at all levels
INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY REGIONAL VIRTUAL SYMPOSIUM
Last Updated (Saturday, 03 April 2021 12:16)
Women in leadership: Achieving an equal future in a COVID-19 world
The Gender Equity Committee of the APAY organized a regional Symposium on Women in Leadership: Achieving an equal future in COVID-19 world to commemorate and celebrate together the international women’s day on 8th March. World YMCA President Patricia Pelton, Dr Aruna Gnanadasan, Convener of the Indian Christian Women’s Movement, General Secretary Nam Boo Won were the speakers on various topics. President Chen chin-Seng, Secretary-General Carlos Sanvee shared solidarity greetings in journeying together in achieving an equal world! Dr Hahn Meerha, Chair of the GEC, gave the welcome greetings, and Ms Sunita Suna, executive secretary for programs and responsible for Gender Justice Program in APAY, delivered the symposium's introductory remarks. Ms Siu Law, Mr Asher Leo, and Ms Cecilia Lou moderated the symposium. Around 45 members joined the Symposium from Australia, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Canada, Hong Kong, India, Japan, Korea, Laos, Macau, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Switzerland, Taiwan.
Read more: INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY REGIONAL VIRTUAL SYMPOSIUM
APAY’S PARALLEL EVENT DURING THE UN CSW65
Last Updated (Saturday, 03 April 2021 12:09)
Towards a Safe, Just and Inclusive World: Women’s Participation in Decision Making
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This year the United Nations Commission on Status of Women (UN CSW 65) organized virtually, from March 15-26, 2021, which is an opportunity for many of us to participate online. Thanks to the World YMCA leadership for coordinating the regions and bringing a delegation from different parts of the world to join the Virtual UN CSW 65 this year. Eleven members from APAY, mainly the Gender Equity Committee (GEC) members, attended the UN CSW 65. The UN CSW 65 invited us to initiate discourse and dialogue on an overarching theme “Women's full and effective participation and decision-making in public life, as well as the elimination of violence, for achieving gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls.”
Perhaps this is the first time the Gender Equity Committee of the Asia & Pacific Alliance of YMCAs (APAY) organized a CSW Parallel Event during the UN CSW65 on March 25, from 13:00-15:00 GMT. The Parallel Event theme: “Towards a Safe, Just and Inclusive World: Women’s Participation in Decision Making” to advocate for a safe, just and inclusive world in solidarity with women worldwide. Around 45 participants attended from Africa, Asia, Europe, and North America.
Manila Downtown YMCA and Youth Club celebrate Women's History Month
Last Updated (Tuesday, 30 March 2021 17:16)
Read more: Manila Downtown YMCA and Youth Club celebrate Women's History Month
REGIONAL SYMPOSIUM ON INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY
Last Updated (Wednesday, 03 March 2021 11:33)
March 8, 2021 at 8:00PMHK
A regional Symposium is planned to celebrate International Women’s Day (IWD) on 8th March. “Women in leadership: Achieving an equal future in a COVID-19 world” is the theme that celebrates women and girls' tremendous efforts worldwide in shaping an equal future and recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. Ms. Patricia Pelton, president of the World YMCA, Dr Aruna Gnanadasan, national convener of the Indian Christian Women’s Movement and former global programme director on Women in Church and Society and the Justice, Peace and Creation of the World Council of Churches are among the speakers. The symposium brings insight into women leadership in the Asia Pacific, the YMCA, and the Church. The GEC invites you to join the Symposium in solidarity with women and celebrate the IWD together. Interested members can register to join the symposium. Please click the link to register by March 7, 2021
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZMkfumgqD8qHtxN1ioxzlDimVorelkTRoCw
Participation at the UN Commission on the Status of Women 65
NGO Side event Workshop
Towards a Safe, Just and Inclusive World: Women’s Participation in Decision Making
March 25, 2021
Every year, representatives of Member States gather at United Nations Headquarters in New York for the Commission on Status of Women. CSW evaluates the progress of gender equality, identify challenges, set global standards and formulate concrete policies to promote gender equality and advancement of women worldwide. The CSW is the principal international intergovernmental body exclusively dedicated to promoting gender equality and women's empowerment. A functional commission of the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) was established by ECOSOC resolution 11(II) of 21 June 1946.
World YMCA, as an accredited organization to the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) of the United Nations, an international delegation will attend this year's virtual session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW65), which will take place between 15-26 March 2021. Usually, this is an event that takes place in New York, but this year it will, of course, be virtual due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Twelve members of the gender equity committee have registered to attend the virtual workshops. APAY also has registered to hold an NGO side event during the UN CSW on March 25 on the theme Towards a Safe, Just and Inclusive World: Women’s Participation in Decision Making. More information on registration will be shared in the coming days.
Together We Stand against Sexual and Gender-Based Violence
Last Updated (Thursday, 28 January 2021 16:58)
Together We Stand against Sexual and Gender-Based Violence
The National Council of YMCAs of India organized a Week-long of Activism Against
Gender-Based Violence
In response to the call of the Asia & Pacific Alliance of YMCAs( APAY), to observe the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence (GBV), the NCY India organized a week long virtual program on December 4-10, 2020. The global campaign began on November 25, 2020, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, and concluded on 10th December 2020, the Human Rights Day. The UN UNiTE campaign had set the theme for the year “Orange the World: Fund, Respond, Prevent, Collect!" The APAY chose the theme “Together We Stand Against Sexual and Gender-Based Violence”, and invited men and women to actively participate in the 16 days of the campaign.
The NCY India actively participated in the global campaign. The week long meaningful virtual program was a collective effort of the National Women’s Forum, The Department of National Youth Work & Programmes of the National Council of YMCAs of India (NCYI) in association with different Projects & Region of the NCYI - The Southern India Region of YMCAs, Health & Healthy Living Project, Vellore, YMCA Youth Centre Project Bhimtal, YMCA Multi-Sports Complex project, Faridabad, YMCA Programme Centre, Kurnool and National Projects in South West India Region, Alwaye Campsite Project, hosted the week long program.
The virtual program was designed with specific themes for each day to address issues related to sexual, gender-based violence, specifically violence against women. The Inaugural day programme hosted by the Youth Work Department of NCY India on the 4th December led by Mr. Sam Robert, (Secretary of National Youth Work & Programme Department) and inaugurated by the chief-guest honourable Justice (Retd.) Jacob Benjamin Koshy, (National President of NCYI). The order of worship was led by Mrs Elizabeth George, (General Convener, Dr Leonora R. Mohan, &Ms Asha Paul, Vice-Chairpersons of the National Women’s Forum, NCYI, Dr Betsy Williams, National Executive Member, NCYI, Mrs Rosleen Devaraj, Chairperson, Women’s Forum, South Central India Region of YMCAs, Ms Riya Raj Dubey, Youth Leader, Faridabad Project, Ms Janet Vasantha Kumari, Chairperson, Women’s Empowerment & Gender Concern, Madurai YMCA, Dr Lalthankima Ralte, Chairperson, Women’s Forum, North East India Region of YMCAs &Ms Jayashree Pradhan, Chairperson, Women’s Forum, Eastern India Region of YMCAs.
Mr. Nam Boo Won, General Secretary of APAY, gave the guest of honour message, which stressed on the significance of growing leadership of women together with men. He congratulated the NCY India for a meaningful programme with great response. Mr. Bertram Devadas, National General Secretary of NCY India delivered the special address. The keynote speaker Dr. Ruth Manorama, President, National Alliance of Women, & Dalit Social Activist focused on the theme “Together We Stand Against Sexual and Gender-Based Violence.” She quoted various points in a practical way and asked the YMCA movement must extend theire projects especially on this particular issue at all over the word.
Read more: Together We Stand against Sexual and Gender-Based Violence
Read more...
- APAY invites the members of YMCAs to participate in the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence
- 16 Days of Activism Against Gender – Based Violence November 25 – December 10
- APAY Gender Equity Committee (GEC) Meeting held via Zoom
- East Asia Gender Justice and Social Transformation Workshop
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