The Relationship Between the United Nations and Soroptimist

“Women’s economic empowerment is at the heart of the 2030 Agenda. We will not achieve the Sustainable Development Goals if there is no accelerated action to empower women economically. We know that women’s participation in all spheres of life, including in the economy, is essential to sustainable and durable peace and to the realization of human rights.“
— UN SECRETARY-GENERAL ANTÓNIO GUTERRES, MARCH 2017

Accelerating economic empowerment for women and girls who have encountered obstacles – the focus of Soroptimist International of the America’s Dream Programs – is rooted in the agenda for women’s equality outlined by the United Nations. Central to this agenda is the Convention to End All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (1981), the Beijing Platform for Action (1995), and most recently, the Sustainable Development Goals (2016).

The 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development were adopted by world leaders in September 2015 at an historic UN Summit and officially came into force on January 1, 2016. With these new Goals that universally apply to all, countries will mobilize efforts to end all forms of poverty, fight inequalities and tackle climate change, while ensuring that no one is left behind.

Of the 17 goals and 169 targets, the Dream Programs directly support five goals and 12 targets. We share our progress on the targets with Soroptimist International so our support of the SDGS can be counted at the United Nations. Below are the SDGs and indicators with information about how the Dream Programs support the indicators.

Goal 1. End poverty in all its forms everywhere

Indicators

• By 2030, eradicate extreme poverty for all people everywhere, currently measured as people living on less than $1.25 a day.

• By 2030, reduce at least by half the proportion of men, women and children of all ages living in poverty in all its dimensions according to national definitions.

Dream Programs

The Dream Programs seek to help women and girls live their full potential. We target women and girls living in poverty. For women, the Live Your Dream Awards helps them get better paying jobs and increase their standard of living. For girls, Dream It, Be It put them on the right track to live lives free from poverty.

• 70% of Live Your Dream Awards recipients reported living in poverty on their application.

• 79.6% of Live Your Dream Awards recipients reported that their expenses exceed their income.

• Applicants from Brazil, Mexico, Paraguay, the Philippines and Panama have reported incomes of less than $1.25 a day.

• 81% of Live Your Dream Awards recipients who completed their education increase their standard of living.

• 88% of girls participating in Dream It, Be It feel more confident about their future success.

• 87% of girls participating in Dream It, Be It feel more prepared to pursue their future career goals.

• 87% of girls participating in Dream It, Be It have the tools to overcome obstacles to their success.

• 87% of girls participating in Dream It, Be It have new tools to overcome setbacks.

• 86% of girls participating in Dream It, Be It know women who want to support their professional aspirations.

• 84% of girls participating in Dream It, Be It were introduced to professional role models.

• 88% of girls participating in Dream It, Be It created achievable goals for their future.

Goal 4. Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all

Indicators

• 4.3 By 2030, ensure equal access for all women and men to affordable and quality technical, vocational and tertiary education, including university.

• 4.4 By 2030, substantially increase the number of youth and adults who have relevant skills, including technical and vocational skills, for employment, decent jobs, and entrepreneurship.

• 4.5 By 2030, eliminate gender disparities in education and ensure equal access to all levels of education and vocational training for the vulnerable, including persons with disabilities, indigenous peoples, and children in vulnerable situations.

• 4.b By 2020, substantially expand globally the number of scholarships available to developing countries, in particular least developed countries, small island developing States and African countries, for enrolment in higher education, including vocational training and information and communications technology, technical, engineering and scientific programmes, in developed countries and other developing countries.

Soroptimist Dream Programs

Providing women and girls with quality education is the cornerstone of our Dream Programs – whether it’s formal education or technical and vocational training. We want to ensure that women and girls have the skills and information they need to live their full potential. Due to the location of our clubs, we are ensuring women in developing countries have access to higher education and vocational training. Furthermore, by focusing on women and girls with obstacles, we include those who are most vulnerable.

• Each year, more than 1,800 women receive funding to support their educational goals through the Live Your Dream Awards.

• Each year, more than $2.7 million is provided to women to support their education and career goals.

• Since its inception, more than 94000 girls have participated in Dream It, Be It.

• Our federation includes 11 developing countries all of which have clubs supporting the educational goals of women and girls: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, the Philippines, and Venezuela.

Goal 5. Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls

Indicators

• 5.2 Eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls in the public and private spheres, including trafficking and sexual and other types of exploitation.

• 5.5 Ensure women’s full and effective participation and equal opportunities for leadership at all levels of decision-making in political, economic and public life.

Soroptimist Dream Programs

Women and girls need tools and resources to live lives free from violence. Too often, the dreams of women and girls are derailed by violence. Women report a lack of financial security as a reason they return to living with abusive partners. The Live Your Dream Awards is ensuring that women do not have to choose between independent and violence. Both programs provide women and girls with the resources they need to become leaders and participate fully in political, economic and public life including education and an opportunity to pursue their career goals.

• Over half (56%) of recipients of the Live Your Dream Awards have reported suffering some form of violence.

• 96% of recipients of the Live Your Dream Awards reported living in a safe environment.

• More than 1,800 women receive the Live Your Dream Awards every year.

• Since its inception, more than 94,000 girls have participated in Dream It, Be It.

• 93% of women who received a Live Your Dream Award report an increased self-esteem.

• 88% of girls participating in Dream It, Be It feel more confident about their future success.

• 87% of girls participating in Dream It, Be It feel more prepared to pursue their future career goals.

• 87% of girls participating in Dream It, Be It have the tools to overcome obstacles to their success.

• 87% of girls participating in Dream It, Be It have new tools to overcome setbacks.

• 86% of girls participating in Dream It, Be It know women who want to support their professional aspirations.

• 84% of girls participating in Dream It, Be It were introduced to professional role models.

• 88% of girls participating in Dream It, Be It created achievable goals for their future.

Goal 8. Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all

Indicators

• 8.5 By 2030, achieve full and productive employment and decent work for all women and men, including for young people and persons with disabilities, and equal pay for work of equal value.

• 8.6 By 2020, substantially reduce the proportion of youth not in employment, education or training.

Soroptimist Dream Programs

The Dream Programs are preparing women and girls to enter the work force and become economically empowered. With the support and resources from the Dream Programs, we are ensuring women and girls will have access to decent jobs.