UNIS/INF/198
7 March 2007
International Women's Day 2007 Marked in Austria
VIENNA, 7 March (UN Information Service) -- Ending Impunity for Violence against Women and Girls is the theme of this year's International Women's Day. The day is observed annually on 8 March by the United Nations and in countries all over the world.
In his message on the day, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon reminds us that: "This day is an opportunity for all of us - women and men - to unite in a cause that embraces all humankind. Empowering women is not only a goal in itself. It is a condition for building better lives for everyone on the planet".
A wide number of activities are taking place in Austria to mark International Women's Day 2007.
At a public lecture at the Diplomatic Academy of Vienna, co-sponsored by UNIS Vienna, the President of the African Ombudspersons' Association Alifa Chaabane Farouk is giving insight to "The Situation of Women in an Arab Islamic Country: Example of Tunisia". The lecture takes place at the Diplomatic Academy on 8 March,19.00 hours.
At the Austrian Parliament, International Women's Day is being marked with an event that includes a 'speakers' corner', at which female Members of Parliament will be available to the public for discussion, followed by a panel discussion on "Women in Leadership Positions".
The Austrian Federal Ministry for Women is holding an open house day, with Federal Minister for Women, Media and Civil Service Doris Bures.
The City of Vienna is holding an open day at the Vienna City Hall, with a focus on equal opportunities for women.
On the occasion of International Women's Day, the Salzburg Seminar, an international think tank that works for global change is publishing a study titled "Women in governmental decision-making in the early 21st Century". The work presents a comprehensive picture of where women are, and where they are not present in government decision-making. The study is available at: http://www.salzburgseminar.org/2007/news.cfm?IDMedia=28774
The Vienna NGO Committee on the Status of Women has issued a statement urging that violence against women in all its forms is a violation of their human rights and must be punished accordingly, and calls on relevant authorities to fulfill their responsibility by recognizing, admitting and punishing gender-based killings and violence against women.
The Vienna International Centre (VIC) Women's Group is marking International Women's Day 2007 with an event on "Women and Water", with former Austrian Minister for Women and Health, Maria Rauch-Kallat, as keynote speaker. The event will take place at the Vienna International Centre on 8 March from 11.45 hours.
Information on worldwide activities for International Women's Day 2007 can be found at the United Nations International Women's Day website at: http://www.un.org/events/women/iwd/2007/.
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For further information, please contact:
Renate
Henke
UNIS Vienna
Telephone: +43 1 260 60 3324
E-mail:
renate.henke@unvienna.org
