International Federation of University Women

The International Federation of University Women (IFUW), renamed Graduate Women International (GWI) in 2015, is an international organization for female university graduates. IFUW was founded in the wake of the First World War by both British and North American college and university workers who were hoping to contribute to congenial relations between women of different nationalities and to improve general education for women.[1] The organization describes its mission as one of promoting "lifelong education for girls and women" along with "international cooperation, friendship, peace and respect for human rights for all, irrespective of their gender, age, race, nationality, religion, political opinion, gender and sexual orientation or other status" and "advocating for the advancement of the status of women and girls".[2]

History

In the aftermath of World War I, Dean Virginia Gildersleeve of Barnard College, Professor Caroline Spurgeon of the University of London and Rose Sidgwick of the University of Birmingham created the federation to help prevent another catastrophe such as the recent war in Europe. In July 1919, the IFUW was founded in London with founding members from three countries, Canada, Great Britain and the United States. Besides promoting peace, the advancement of careers for women in university formed a major objective for the organization and it created fellowships and promoted the founding of women's clubhouses where women could stay during research visits overseas.[1] The IFUW was renamed Graduate Women International in April 2015.

Since 2015 Graduate Women International

IFUW, now called Graduate Women International (GWI),[3] is based in Geneva, Switzerland, and advocates for girls' and women’s rights, equality and empowerment through access to lifelong quality education and training up to the highest levels. The organisation's work is focused on Secondary, Tertiary and Continuing Education, as well as Non-conventional Education to empower girls and women.

GWI has 61 national affiliates.[4] The organisation has special consultative status with the United Nations ECOSOC and is an NGO maintaining official relations with UNESCO and the ILO. It advocates actively within the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW), and is also a founding member of the Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW). CEDAW is the most comprehensive international agreement on the human rights of women. It calls for states to eliminate all forms of discrimination on the basis of gender and sets an agenda for achieving full equality between women and men.

Over its nearly centenary existence, the organization has managed grass roots projects, done capacity-building, advocated with leader all over the world in favour of girls' and women's education, human rights and empowerment.

Governance

GWI is a membership-driven organization. The General Assembly takes place every three years and elects its officers for the next triennium. The Board of Officers and all committee members are volunteers. GWI is financed mainly by its membership dues. Other funding is also provided in the form of grants or donations.

Activities

GWI runs a fellowship cycle at least once a triennium, which funds PhD students only. GWI's Hegg-Hoffett Fund for Displaced Women Graduates assists graduate women (in special cases tertiary women students) who have been displaced as a result of war, political upheaval or other serious emergencies. The Hegg-Hoffett fund provides small short term grants for refresher courses for re-entry into the candidates' professional field. GWI carries out advocacy and communications campaigns focused on its mission, as well as projects aiming to strengthen girls' and women's access to education. GWI's members run grass roots projects providing girls and women with training, mentorship, and skill building.[5]

References

  1. 1 2 Goodman, Joyce (November 2011). "International citizenship and the International Federation of University Women before 1939". History of Education. 40 (6): 701–721. doi:10.1080/0046760x.2011.598469.
  2. ↑ "IFUW homepage". Retrieved 6 February 2013.
  3. ↑ http://southasia.oneworld.net/news/ifuw-rebrands-itself-as-graduate-women-international#.VUIAJPntmko
  4. ↑ http://www.graduatewomen.org/who-we-are/our-membership/
  5. ↑ http://www.graduatewomen.org/what-we-do/projects/

External links

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