Strategies for Action 2007-2009
The Soroptimist International of Europe theme for 2007-2009 is: Soroptimists Go for Water The following strategies are meant to inspire and encourage Soroptimist projects in this context.
Human Rights and the Status of Women
- Share knowledge and experience in human trafficking and violence against women at all levels
- Develop and implement water and sanitation projects to improve living conditions
- Lobby governments to ratify conventions of international bodies (e.g. CoE, OSCE, EWL, EU, AU) concerning trafficking and violence against women
- Encourage governments to implement conventions / directives in national laws and to establish national action plans
Education and Culture
- Promote initiatives that provide access to primary education for girls
- Train women to deal with water management matters
- Promote water as a theme for education (art, literature, music)
Economic and Social Development
- Develop and implement projects in partnership to eradicate extreme poverty
- Support microcredits to help develop small enterprise
- Initiate projects in partnership that encourage women to play a central role in securing, managing and safeguarding water and sanitation
- Encourage women to enter into decision-making professions and to participate actively in the local, national and international political arena
Environment and Health
- Increase awareness by providing information on water, sanitation, health and diseases
- Train women to implement sustainable water management projects
- Strengthen alliances between women organisations to advocate sustainable water management
- Support initiatives that address the need for water supplies and sanitation to improve the standard of living
International Goodwill and Understanding
- Promote intercultural activities and dialogue
- Promote the sharing of projects and ideas – especially relating to water – through PEP (Project Exchange Pool) and the use of PFR database
- Promote exchange programmes (Open Heart/Open Door; youth exchange; Friendship Links)