UNIFEM'S SNOW (Say No to Oppression of Women) 2009 Gala Dinner

A Celebration of Hope and Happiness

UNIFEM is the women's fund at the United Nations, dedicated to advancing women's rights and achieving gender equality. Established in 1976, UNIFEM has through financial and technical assistance worked to help improve the living standards of women in developing countries and to address their concerns.

Here in Singapore, the National Committee for UNIFEM was created in 1999. Over the past decade, UNIFEM Singapore has worked tirelessly to raise awareness and create change on issues of critical importance to women through campaigns, talks and film screenings, supported innovative UNIFEM programmes in Aceh, Timor Leste and the Mekong region, and even promoted a unit trust fund that invested in global securities showing a commitment to the empowerment of women. UNIFEM continues to touch the lives of women and girls around the world.

In keeping with our commitment, UNIFEM Singapore is proud to present our annual "Say No to Oppression of Women" (SNOW) Benefit. This gala dinner will be held on the evening of Wednesday, 2nd December 2009 at the Conrad Centennial Singapore. The SNOW Benefit series was started in November 2005 and has since been an annual gala dinner held by UNIFEM Singapore.

The event has proven to be successful to date, and the funds raised have helped UNIFEM Singapore to further efforts towards women empowerment and gender equality within the Southeast Asian region. The proceeds from SNOW 2009 will go towards supporting the Save Community Initiatives: Women, Peace & Security in Aceh, Indonesia.

Funds raised will support UNIFEM's initiatives in creating sustainable governance and peace in Aceh through women's full participation in recovery and peace building. This programme will reach thousands of women at sub-district and village levels. It will develop training activities around women's crisis centers to be built inall 23 districts, and also develop one-stop crisis centers at sub-district hospitals in 6 pilot sites.

UNIFEM Singapore aims to provide hope and vital support and protection to the women in Aceh, and to assist them in rebuilding successful and fulfilling lives, particularly after the devastation of the Tsunami of 2004. Aceh has suffered over 30 years of civil conflict. Tens of thousands of lives have been lost and human rights abuse is widespread across the country. Along with this, the tsunami devastated the country: hundreds of thousands perished, and at least half a million became homeless.

The economy suffered billions of dollars of losses, thus destroying the livelihood of people. The women in Aceh continue to face numerous obstacles that hinder their development. "Genderblindness" threatens the success of the peace building process that has begun after 30 years of civil conflict. Many Acehnese live below the poverty line, with women and children often the most affected.

On a cultural and social basis, leadership for women is generally discouraged and there is weak support for women to pursue higher education. Today, there remains limited access to employment opportunities outside traditional earning capacity while violence against women is prevalent and grossly under-reported due to cultural sensitivities.

Charity Gala Features

Bob Blumer is best known as the creator and host of Food Network's "The Surreal Gourmet", one of the most innovative cooking shows on television. It has won many awards and is seen in more than 30 countries. His new TV series, which he co-created and hosts is called "Glutton for Punishment". He is also a cook book author and illustrator.

Bob Blumer is renowned for transforming ordinary ingredients into awe-inspiring dishes through whimsical presentations and unusual cooking methods. An evening with Bob Blumer is anunforgettable one!

For media enquiries, please contact Ms. Pia Bruce at pia.bruce@unifem.org.sg .