Soroptimist International South West Pacific

This month marks the end of the first year of this biennium. The first year has been extremely successful, with a great team working together we have achieved so much.  To hear about our achievements, and plan for the future and have your voice represented, make sure that your club has elected your representative to the Company AGM, Company General Meeting and the Federation Meeting. There will also be provision for silent observers to listen into the proceedings. There is a lot of information and much to be proud of to share with our members, including the much anticipated and prized Best Practice Awards for Programme and Membership.

I had 5 themes which I asked all clubs to incorporate into one or more of their club programme work this biennium, a few months ago I discussed Equity, Environment is another of the themes and it is appropriate to discuss this month, World Environment Month which is on the 5th of June, and the Federation wide Living with Nature Art competition on now until October. Do you feel better when you are outside? I know that when out in the fresh air my mood changes, I feel brighter and lighter and it gives me that burst of oxygen to get through the day. I do so much of the days planning whilst out walking each morning, as I know many of us do.

I hope that each of us lives near, or is able to visit, a natural open environment where we can reconnect with nature. Make sure you take the time each day to reconnect.

Recently at CSW67, SISEAP presented the Digital Democracy for Disasters presentation. One of the slides in the presentation showcased the severity of disasters in our Federation.

Image 1: Take a look at image 1, this image depicts countries at high risk of disasters, look at the countries marked in the darker red, just about all of our Federation countries are at high risk.  This is a prime example of why Environment, Disasters and Climate change should be a topic which Soroptimist clubs tackle in your programme work.

Image 1

Image 2

Image 2: Depicts how countries can change in vulnerability with human intervention. But where is the equity in this? Australia and New Zealand, with a higher GDP, has turned green but our other Federation countries and the pacific islands (not shown in this image), are still in the medium to high risk. This is where you as a Soroptimist can use your voice and actions to bring about democracy and equity across our Federation. It is not too late to think about actions by yourself and your club over the Month of June. Topics to consider; Prevention (early warning systems, indigenous and local knowledge of care for our land), Reducing Harm (short term actions such as build barriers, fire breaks, cool burn, emergency packs and alarms, evacuation plans), Mitigating risk (evacuation plans, early warning systems, safe havens, carbon reduction, tree planting), Good Governance Systems (emergency management systems, formal intervention, advocacy).

Do you value your membership of Soroptimist International? Do you believe in the future of Soroptimist International South East Asia Pacific? Do you understand that our future is reliant on women who have the attitude and believe in what we do, who step up to take on leadership roles. You have to be that person, you cannot sit back and wait for that ‘someone’ else to say, “I can do this”. Being President is an absolute honor and privilege, the growth in myself and the increased knowledge of how and why we do the work we do as Soroptimists is powerful, the support and encouragement by members, the work undertaken by the Directors and extended leadership team means that I do not do this alone, each has a set of skills and strengths, trust in each other. In this month’s Bulletin is a survey undertaken by the Membership team on Leadership roles. I urge all Soroptimists to follow the link and complete the survey. Have you heard about the Thriving Futures Program? This leadership development program is being offered by the Federation, please consider undertaking this course.

I hope to see all of you at the company AGM, General Meeting and the Federation meeting in the coming weeks, whilst we are not meeting face to face, we can celebrate being a Soroptimist.

Christine Johnstone
President 2022 - 2024
Soroptimist International South East Asia Pacific
swppresident2022@siswp.org

How long has it been since you reviewed our vision and mission?

Our Vision is that women and girls will achieve their individual and collective potential, realise aspirations and have an equal voice in creating strong, peaceful communities worldwide.

Our Mission is for Soroptimists to transform the lives and status of women and girls through education, empowerment and enabling opportunities.

Do these words inspire you? Do they provide you with the renewed energy and inspiration to continue to be a Soroptimist, they do me. Often when talking to potential members or partners in projects, I will respond that as a Soroptimist my work transforms the lives of women and girls through our project work. At your next club meeting, consider reading the vision and mission statements at the start of the meeting and remember in your project planning to consider the vision and mission objectives and ensure that the project is going to deliver on an aspect from each.

Visibility of our vision has been on fire this month, with social media platforms showcasing the work undertaken by clubs during Environment month. The range of actions has truly amplified our united voice and commitment in recognising the unequal burdens experienced by climate change.

Over 1,600 Soroptimists from across the 5 Federations will be converging in Dublin in the coming weeks for the SI Convention. At this convention we will be reminded of the SI Vision and Mission and the theme of Challenge the Future. One might ask who’s future!, our SISEAP future; the future of SI; or the future of the women and girls we so passionately advocate for? All very thought provoking, we will all come away motivated and inspired as we personally continue our Soroptimist journey.

SI Inner City Sydney, our newest club, held their charter dinner in June whilst SI Melbourne celebrated 75 Years of service, both milestone achievements. The members buoyed with enthusiasm as they embark on projects which follow our vision and mission.

Left: SI Inner City Sydney Charter

Above: SI Melboune Celebrating 75 Years

It is with much pleasure that I make the following announcements:

• The appointment of Michelle Kaur from SI Shah Alam, Malaysia, as the new Governance Convenor for the remainder of this biennium.
• The appointment of Gail Ker from SI Beenleigh, Australia as a new company Director.
• HQ Communications & Administration Assistant Jessica Aylward is taking maternity leave for 6 months, as she welcomes a new addition to her growing family. I had the pleasure to meet with Jess last week and present her with a gift and convey from all members of the Federation our congratulations and very best wishes on the safe delivery of her baby.
• Naomi To has been appointed as a replacement for Jess whilst she is on maternity leave, please say hello to Naomi next time you ring HQ.

This month we will be calling for position holders for the 2024-2026 Biennium. Our clubs cannot complete projects which transform the lives and women and girls without leaders in the Federation to steer the direction, you can be one of those leaders, you are not alone, we work in teams, please consider nominating for one of the positions or being a member of one of the committees.

Right: Jessica Aylward with President Christine

Yours in Soroptimist friendship,

Christine Johnstone
President 2022-2024
Soroptimist International South East Asia Pacific
swppresident2022@siswp.org

From November 25 (International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women) to December 10 (Human Rights Day), we come together to raise our voices for the 16 Days of Activism to Eliminate Violence against Women and Girls. This campaign is a call to action to confront and end violence in all its forms, ensuring that women and girls everywhere can live free from fear, harm, and injustice.

Violence against women and girls remains one of the most widespread, persistent human rights violations. 1 in 3 women globally experience physical or sexual violence in their lifetime. During the pandemic, rates of domestic violence surged, underscoring the need for urgent, collective action.

• Increase in domestic violence: The pandemic exacerbated violence against women and girls due to lockdowns, isolation, and financial strain. Countries like France, Argentina, and Singapore reported increases in emergency calls related to domestic violence of over 25-40% in the first months of the pandemic.
• UN Women Report (2021): Over 50% of women in several countries reported that they or someone they know had experienced violence since the pandemic started.

Today, violence against girls continue, with :

• Child marriage: Globally, 12 million girls are married each year before the age of 18. Progress in reducing child marriage has slowed significantly over the past 5 years, with the pandemic adding millions of girls at risk of early marriage.
• Female genital mutilation (FGM): 200 million girls and women alive today have undergone FGM, with countries like Somalia reporting over 90% prevalence rates among girls aged 15 to 49.

Let’s use these 16 days to:

• Raise awareness: Share stories, statistics, and resources to help shed light on the issue.
• Support survivors: Listen to and amplify the voices of survivors, and offer support through donations or volunteering with local shelters and organizations.
• Advocate for change: Call for stronger laws, better enforcement, and expanded services to protect women and girls from violence.
• Wear orange: Join the global movement by wearing orange, the color representing a brighter future without violence.

Support SISEAP in its 16 Days of Activism to Eliminate Violence Against Women and Girls Live Event on 26 November 2024.

Together, we can end the silence, dismantle harmful norms, and create a safer, more just world for women and girls. Every voice matters, and every action counts. Let’s make these 16 days a catalyst for lasting change.

Joanne Yeoh

SISEAP President, 2024-2026

swppresident2020@siswp.org