Letter to UN Women - my vision and recommendation

The Honorable
MICHELLE BACHELET
Executive Director, United Nations Women
United Nations Organization

Dear Ms. Bachelet,

Warm greetings of peace, joy and prosperity!

First of all, congratulations! Please allow me to take this chance to express my gratitude and happiness that, at last, we women found our very valuable representation in the world’s largest and immensely influential organization, the United Nations. This is such a gargantuan breakthrough for us, and no doubt, will bring us women closer to where we are supposed to be and what we wish to become as global citizens.

At this point the biggest global hurdle for us women is the International Violence Against Women Act (IVAWA), which, in our initial triumph, was approved by the US Foreign Relations Committee last December 15, 2010. The next step, according to World Pulse Online Community Manager Jade Frank, is to get the bill passed by the US Senate and House.

It is my greatest hope and vision that the IVAWA will get through to its ultimate implementation. IVAWA will be our lighthouse and fortress as we pursue and uphold the highest ideals of womanhood all across the globe. Even now, as of now, and until now, it is unfortunate that despite increasing awareness, motivation, and action to protect women, many times we are rendered helpless and hopeless in the myriad forces and cases of violence against women. Just this week, the Philippines was painfully shocked to welcome back almost a hundred Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) from the Middle East, most of them working as domestic helpers, repatriated due to unspeakable forms of abuse and maltreatment. This is the lingering and dismal reality that our OFWs have been dealing with for so long. We know this has got to stop, but how? The only possible way I could see for now is the IVAWA. With the venue, the chance and the power vested on us women on your installation and representation as the highest authority for women in the most prestigious United Nations Organization, we are correctly certain we can make this world a better and safer place for women, today and in the generations to come.

In the light of the foregoing premises, I sincerely appeal for your honorable representation to strongly lobby for the International Violence Against Women Act. I honestly believe that the IVAWA will set the trend to our noble pursuits and pave the way for us to conquer bigger challenges as we journey towards well-being and empowerment of women, and thus effect the positive changes we want to see in the world.

In utmost trust and respect,

EMILIA O. ZOZOBRADO
Quezon City, Metropolitan Manila
Philippines

As the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women officially begins its work this month, World Pulse is asking women worldwide: What is YOUR vision and recommendation for UN Women? We invite you to raise your voice by writing a letter to UN Women Executive Director Michelle Bachelet outlining your recommendation for how this new UN agency can truly affect change on the ground to promote gender equality and uphold the rights and needs of women both on a local and global scale.
Learn more: http://www.worldpulse.com/pulsewire/programs/international-violence-agai...