Note to Correspondents

United Nations Delegations Women’s Club to Hold ‘Women for Peace’

Event at Headquarters 11 March

 

The United Nations Delegations Women’s Club (UNDWC), an association of women delegates to the United Nations and spouses of delegate missions’ representatives, will host a unique cultural event in conjunction with its “Women for Peace” project on Tuesday, 11 March, from 6:15 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the United Nations General Assembly Hall.  The event celebrates opportunities for peace in the context of International Women’s Day.

The event will feature a special, multicultural production that reflects the richness of diverse cultures and shows how, through song and dance, differences among people can be overcome.  In addition, UNDWC is raising funds to provide scholarships for five women from five different continents to attend the University for Peace in Costa Rica.  Among the major donors are the United Nations Foundation, in collaboration with the United Nations Office for Partnerships, and the Alcoa Foundation.

“The show is designed to highlight unity and solidarity in the celebration of peace and to invite the world community to join in the effort,” said Anna Birgis Hannesson, president of the UNDWC and wife of the United Nations Ambassador from Iceland.

The event patron, the Ban Soon-taek, wife of United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, agrees.  “International Women’s Day is a time to reflect on the progress that women have made throughout history, and I am delighted to support the United Nations Delegations Women’s Club in its programme to promote peace worldwide,” said Mrs. Ban.

Under the leadership of “Women for Peace” project chair Helene Yousfi, wife of the Algerian Ambassador to the United Nations, a diverse group of women from around the world joined together to build awareness of women’s quest for peace.  According to Mrs. Yousfi, who has had personal experience with war in Algeria and as a physician in Kosovo, “In our role as ‘first ladies’ of the United Nations, we are obligated to contribute to the purpose of this great institution.  It is tremendously gratifying to work with so many talented women from countries that have a dream of peace.  I personally want to thank the Organizing Committee of ‘Women for Peace’ for their tremendous efforts in bringing this event to fruition.”

For entry, visitors must use the gate at First Avenue and 46^th Street and RSVP to e-mail:  undwc.wfp@gmail.com.

More information about the United Nations Delegations Women’s Club is available at:  www.undwc.net.

For more information and to arrange interviews, please contact:  Felicia Morton, tel.:  917 309 3489, e-mail:  Felicia@mortonpr.com.

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For information media • not an official record