SI President's Message on world toilet day. This year World Toilet Day focuses on wastewater, continuing the theme of World Water Day. Inspiring action to tackle the global sanitation crisis, this annual event is an important day on the Soroptimist calendar.
During the Climate Change Conference COP23 in Bonn 6-17 November 2017 there will be a WATER ACTION DAY on Friday, November 10th, during which SI President shall report on the progress of The Global Framework on Water Scarcity in Agriculture, or WASAG and explain why women should be seen as key allies and thé access to sustainable behavioral change in the water dimensions of climate adaptation.
The very first Dutch professor in Human Rights Education (HRE) in the Netherlands, Felisa Tibbitts, held her inaugural speech at the Utrecht University this week. This chair of HRE was funded by a legacy of Soroptimist Carla Looman and put in place in close cooperation with the Utrecht University and Soroptimists of the Netherlands.
The coming week sees three notable International days, leading with, 15 October, The International Day for Rural Women, closely followed by World Food Day on 16 October and International Day for the Eradication of Poverty on 17 October.
SI President Mariet will be speaking at the event ‘Rules of Water, Rules for Life’ in Milan on the theme of water as a legal asset and as a key element of sustainable development. Her speech will be on the role women play in the provision, management, and safeguarding of water.
The International Day of Peace ("Peace Day") is observed around the world each year on 21 September and a day for Soroptimists to reflect on how Soroptimist goals and the ideas behind Peace Day are linked together.
SI President Mariet Verhoef-Cohen writes from Stockholm World Water Week to express her sympathy with all who are suffering from the floods and disasters across the world.
On Saturday 29 July 2017 Mariet Verhoef-Cohen was inaugurated as the Soroptimist International President, for the 2017 – 2019 biennium. Read her first speech which she delivered at SI Board meeting in Rotterdam.
