21 9 月, 2021

SMEStreet Global Women Leadership Awards and International Forum for Economic Empowerment Through Women Entrepreneurship to be Organized

NEW DELHI, Sep 20, 2021 - (ACN Newswire via SEAPRWire.com) - SMEStreet Foundation in association with WASME (World Association of SMEs) is all set to conduct Digital Forum For ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT THROUGH WOMEN ENTREPRENEURSHIP- a Webinar with globally acclaimed women leaders. This global webinar on the topic of "Shaping up Entrepreneurship through Empowered Women and Women Workforce" is getting organized on digital platforms. This webinar will happen along with the SMEStreet Global Women Leadership Awards 2021 in which over 20 Women leaders across the world are getting facilitated and recognized for their game-changing work towards creating opportunities around their respective horizons.The webinar and the awards are likely to be conducted around the Second Week of October 2021.The campaign of inviting nominations for the Global Women Leadership Awards was kickstarted from World Entrepreneurs Day on 21 August 2021. And nominations from around the world have come. Supporting Partners for this webinar and awards are WASME (World Association of SMEs) and SAVE Foundation (Society for Advancement of Village Economy). And most importantly the initiative is also supported by the Ministry of MSME, Govt of India. The Webinar is expected to host over 2000 Women Leaders across the world on that day through Digital and Social Media platforms and is expected to connect and educate over 50000 aspiring women entrepreneurs over the next few days through SMEStreet.in and its social media platforms. On this occasion, SMEStreet-Women Leadership Forum (Pink Power Group) is also getting formed with an aim to discuss, develop and empower entrepreneurship through Women Leaders and influence the positivity for Women @ Workforce. This will be a consortium of Women Leaders from Entrepreneurial Backgrounds. The outreach and impact partner for this initiative is SMEStreet Foundation and the organizing agency of this webinar is Vertical Business Media Pvt. Ltd. Jury Members of the AwardsJury Meeting SMEStreet-WICCI Global Women Leadership Awards The jury of the Global Women Leadership Awards is chaired by Shri MC Gupta, Former Chief Secretary Haryana Govt. and co-chaired by Shri Keshwar Janaki - Ambassador of Mauritius to Moscow, Russia. Other distinguished Jury members are Shri Amit Dua, Sr. VP, AXIS Bank, Smt. Sampa Banerjee, President -WICCI/Secretary- SAVE/Executive Director -WASME, Shri Faiz Askari, Founder & Chief Editor SMEStreet/Secretary-General SMEStreet Foundation and Ms Vaswati Mishra, Art & Culture Ambassador. While maintaining social distancing the Jury meetings have happened over digital platforms and have evaluated the nominations and activity roadmap of the awards.For any suggestions and nominations please connect with Faiz Askari on faiz@smestreet.in. Copyright 2021 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. (via SEAPRWire)

19 8 月, 2021

HKIoD Global Webinar Series Supports More Women on Boards

HONG KONG, Aug 19, 2021 - (ACN Newswire via SEAPRWire.com) - The Hong Kong Institute of Directors ("HKIoD"), together with The Institute of Directors South Africa, Institute of Directors New Zealand, Mauritius Institute of Directors, GCC Board Directors Institute and Caribbean Corporate Governance Institute, have jointly organised and concluded a global online conference series that addressed key themes of women in director positions. The "Women in Governance" series, running through July and August and attracting 500 directors, both men and women registered from around the world, discussed the crucial roles women directors play, their value, and how society can support more women in director positions. The series was divided into three webinars including, "Corporate Governance and Why Gender Matters", "Women on Boards" and "Corporate Governance Policies that Support Women". The three-event nine-hour conference featured 31 speakers, both men and women, and the hosting chief executive officers of the six organiser institutes, who are all women. As the organiser institutes took turns to present speakers, HKIoD played host to the second-half session of the final event with Ms Ada Chung, Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data, Hong Kong as keynote speaker. The Hong Kong panel was moderated by HKIoD Deputy Chairman Ms Bonnie Chan, and consisted of speakers Ms Katherine Ng, who is Chairman of Hong Kong Securities and Investment Institute and also Chief Operating Officer and Head of Policy and Secretariat Services of the HKEX Listing Division, Mr Andrew Weir, Senior Partner Hong Kong and Vice Chairman of KPMG China, and Ms Clara Chan, CEO of listed company Lee Kee Holdings Limited.On the objective of the conference series, HKIoD CEO Dr Carlye Tsui remarked, "We are all aware of the benefits of gender diversity. Though there has been progress on gender diversity on boards, many companies are still behind in taking action. Women should also upskill themselves and make the most of opportunities. The 'Women in Governance' series is a great example of the kind of global conversations needed to ensure we see real change at the board level." Referring to HKIoD's long-established community-wide project in the selection of Directors Of The Year, she pointed out that boards are assessed on, inter alia, board diversity, which notably includes gender diversity.In her keynote address, Ms Ada Chung observed that globally women on boards increased from 10% in 2010 to over 20% in 2020, according to a study by Morgan Stanley. She cited recent research findings by McKinsey that the most gender-diverse companies outperformed the least gender-diverse companies by a substantial 48%. She also noted an encouraging trend of women taking up senior leadership positions in Hong Kong.On policies to increase women's participation on corporate boards, Ms Chung said, "This can be driven by governments, regulators and companies themselves. One of the most 'straightforward' and arguably highly effective measures, is to set a mandatory gender quota for board composition." She cited the government policy of a gender benchmark for the membership composition of statutory boards and advisory committees, which facilitated the achievement of 34% of appointed non-official members in statutory and advisory bodies being female by the end of 2020. Ms Chung cited other policies facilitating appointment of women on boards, including transparency in reporting, internal support to develop a pipeline of potential successors to the board, gender diversity targets or gender-balance KPIs in human resources, leadership training and mentorship programmes to prepare women for board membership and support of working mothers.As for boosting Hong Kong's status, panel moderator Ms Bonnie Chan remarked, "Hong Kong is an international finance centre that has been advocating diversity and inclusiveness. We are fortunate to be able to operate, value and uphold a fair and competitive marketplace in Hong Kong. However, we should not take things for granted as we continue with our long march for diversity and inclusiveness."Panel speaker Ms Katherine Ng spoke on the evolutionary ESG journey of listed companies under HKEX regulations, specifically covering diversity and inclusiveness. She noted that currently over 800 listed issuers out of the total of 2,500 have single-gender boards. HKEX's recent public consultation puts forth a proposal that includes a timeline to turn around single-gender boards. Ms Ng believes that companies should continuously review their board composition, given the dynamically changing business environment. On gender diversity, she is calling for not just aspirational statements but action. She said, "We are looking for 1,000+ board opportunities in the next three years. It is not an exercise of finding a token woman on boards but a match of skills. We want to have the right woman on the right board." In his address, Mr Andrew Weir clarified for the global audience that Hong Kong's role as an international finance centre is still going strong, with the major advantages of rule of law, governance and quality directors. He mentioned governance as key to many issues faced by boards. He categorically said, "The diversity perspective needed at the board level has never been greater than now." On gender diversity of boards, he said, "The challenge is to get rid of those residual barriers on inclusion and diversity". He stated that people need to indicate whether they are setting targets and how they are getting to them. He said, "There is no shortage of candidates (for women directors). There is a shortage of agile thinking by the people who make the decisions." He sees that the aligned push of regulators and investors will accelerate the pace of increasing the number of women on boards.Speaking from the perspective of a non-ferrous metals industry, Ms Clara Chan has witnessed substantial improvement in gender diversity, with the acknowledgement of women's proven ability and contribution. She is convinced that gender diversity at the board helps in better decision-making, taking up opportunities and enhancing creativity and innovation. Moving forward, she recommended enhancing culture building, communication channels and open mindset. On a certain global appeal for boards to comprise 30% women, she said, "The 30% target stimulates boards to think differently about the changing world after the advance of technology, the pandemic, etc. We need more new minds to offer a variety of perspectives. And the target is achievable". Reiterating Hong Kong's status as an international finance centre, Ms Bonnie Chan said, "Our stakeholders do measure how Hong Kong performs vis-a-vis international benchmarks. If we are lagging behind in diversity, inclusiveness and sustainability, we will lose out in terms of our investment attraction as a financial hub."Ms Ada Chung gave her final remarks, "There is no question whether we should go with diversity, but it is the question of how to realise it and how to do it better. In Hong Kong, although we haven't been making very good progress in gender diversity on boards over the past 10 years, I believe that we will make substantial progress in the next decade, given our strategic position, economic situation and the efforts of all of us."Concluding the conference, Dr Carlye Tsui highlighted, "An astounding observation by a speaker in this three-part conference was that at the current pace, it would take over 100 years to catch up in engaging women on boards. With spreading and reinforcement of messages, culture building, policy setting and talent development, we can fast track the process of catching up. This conference series has issued a call for global attention and concrete action, with messages that are clear, vigorous, non-threatening, inspiring and convincing".About The Hong Kong Institute of DirectorsThe Hong Kong Institute of Directors ("HKIoD") is Hong Kong's premier body representing directors to foster the long-term success of companies through advocacy and standards-setting in corporate governance and professional development for directors. A non-profit-distributing organisation with membership consisting of directors from listed and non-listed companies, HKIoD is committed to providing directors with educational programmes and information services and establishing an influential voice in representing directors. With international perspectives and a multi-cultural environment, HKIoD conducts business in biliteracy and trilingualism. HKIoD is a member institute of the Global Network of Director Institutes, a worldwide alliance of 22 leading director institutes representing 150,000 directors.http://www.hkiod.comTel: (852) 2889 9986 Fax: (852) 2889 9982Media Enquiries:The Hong Kong Institute of DirectorsJoanne Yam +852 2889 1414 joanne.yam@hkiod.com Odessa So +852 2889 4988 Odessa.so@hkiod.comStrategic Public Relations Group LimitedBrenda Chan +852 2114 4396 brenda.chan@sprg.com.hkChak Yau +852 2114 4395 chak.yau@sprg.com.hk Copyright 2021 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. (via SEAPRWire)

19 8 月, 2021

Football: Former Afghan women’s captain tells players to burn kits, delete photos

COPENHAGEN (REUTERS) - The former captain of the Afghan women's soccer team has urged players to delete social media, erase public identities and burn their kits for safety's sake now that the country is again under Taleban rule. Copenhagen-based Khalida Popal told Reuters in a video interview on Wednesday (Aug 18) that the militants had killed, raped and stoned women in the past and female footballers were scared of what the future might hold. The co-founder of the Afghan women's football league said she had always used her voice to encourage young women "to stand strong, to be bold, to be visible" but now she had a different message. "Today, I'm calling them and telling them, take down their names, remove their identities, take down their photos for their safety. Even I'm telling them to burn down or get rid of your national team uniform," she said. "And that is painful for me, for someone as an activist who stood up and did everything possible to achieve and earn that identity as a women's national team player. "To earn that badge on the chest, to have the right to play and represent our country, how much we were proud." During their 1996-2001 rule, guided by Islamic law, the Taleban stopped women from working. Girls were not allowed to go to school and women had to wear burqas to go out, and then only when accompanied by a male relative. Those who broke the rules sometimes suffered humiliation and public beatings by the Taleban's religious police. The Taleban have said they will respect the rights of women within the framework of Islamic law. Afghan women's soccer 'dreams just faded': Popal More on this topic Related Story Taleban go door-to-door telling fearful Afghans to work Related Story Afghans evacuated to Germany describe terrifying scenes at Kabul airport Popal said soccer had enabled women to take a strong stand for their rights, and to defy those who would have them silenced. "They are so afraid. They are worried, they are scared, not only the players, but also the activists... they have nobody to go to, to seek protection, to ask for help if they are in danger," she said of the situation now. "They are afraid that any time the door will be knocked. "What we are seeing is a country collapsing," she added. "All the pride, happiness to be there to empower women and men of the country is like it was just wasted." A spokesman for Fifa said the world soccer body shared "concern and sympathy with all those affected by the evolving situation. "We are in contact with the Afghanistan Football Federation, and other stakeholders, and will continue to monitor the local situation and to offer our support in the weeks and months to come." More on this topic Related Story Afghan girls return to school in Herat after Taleban takeover Related Story 'Times have changed': Some Afghan women defiant as Taleban returns

18 8 月, 2021

Paralympics: Female Afghan athlete makes plea for help to get to Tokyo

LONDON (REUTERS) - Afghan athlete Zakia Khudadadi made a plea for help on Tuesday (Aug 17) as she sought to escape Kabul and revive her shattered dream of becoming the country's first female competitor at a Paralympic Games. The Afghanistan Paralympic Committee (APC) said on Monday the country's two para-athletes would not be at the Games starting in Tokyo on Aug 24 due to turmoil following the Taleban's takeover. The insurgents have overrun major cities and now control most of Afghanistan. Para-taekwondo athlete Khudadadi said in a video message from Kabul provided to Reuters by the APC's London-based Chef de Mission Arian Sadiqi that she felt "imprisoned", staying with extended family but unable to go outside with confidence to train, shop or check on others. Speaking in Farsi, and translated by Reuters, she said she felt an additional burden to her relations who did not have enough food to feed their own children. "I request from you all, that I am an Afghan woman and as a representative of Afghan women ask for you to help me," she said. "My intention is to participate in the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games, please hold my hand and help me. "I urge you all, from the women around the globe, institutions for the protection of women, from all government organisations, to not let the rights of a female citizen of Afghanistan in the Paralympic movement to be taken away so easily. "The fact that we ourselves have lifted ourselves from this situation, that we have achieved so much, it cannot be taken lightly. I have suffered a lot, I don't want my struggle to be in vain and without any results. Help me." More on this topic Related Story Paralympics: Dream over for Afghan athletes trapped in Kabul Related Story Taleban says burqa not mandatory for women, hijab is Khudadadi, 23, and track athlete Hossain Rasouli had been scheduled to arrive in Tokyo on Tuesday but were unable to fly out. The Taleban told reporters at their first official news conference in Kabul on Tuesday that they would respect the rights of women within the framework of Islamic law. The news conference came as the United States and Western allies evacuated diplomats and civilians and followed scenes of chaos at Kabul airport as Afghans desperate to flee the Taleban thronged to the terminal. More on this topic Related Story Unicef 'quite optimistic' after Taleban comments on girls' education, official says Related Story Life returning to a new normal in Kabul as Taleban consolidates power

29 7 月, 2021

S’porean studying at top British university convicted of filming multiple women in local toilets

SINGAPORE - A Singaporean student from a top university in Britain has admitted to filming multiple women inside local toilets, a district court heard on Thursday (July 29). The offender, who is now 23, pleaded guilty to seven counts of insulting a woman's modesty and an offence under the Films Act. Deputy Public Prosecutor Foo Shi Hao then applied to the court for the gag order on the offender's identity to be lifted, noting that the victims were unanimous in supporting the move. The gag order had been issued earlier to protect the women, who could be identified if the man is named. The order also does not allow the university to be named as doing so could lead to the man's identity. Urging the court to deny the application, defence lawyer Ashvin Hariharan pointed out that the prosecution had been unsuccessful in making a similar application previously. When District Judge Tan Jen Tse ruled that the gag order can be lifted, the defence said it may bring the matter to the High Court. In the meantime, the gag order remains. One of the man's offences took place in 2015, when he placed a video recording device in the bathroom of a hotel room and filmed a woman as she was taking a shower. He committed a similar offence the following year. This time, he placed a recording device in a toilet in an apartment in the eastern part of Singapore and filmed another woman. In earlier proceedings, the court heard that he started his studies at the university in 2018. On Thursday, Judge Tan called for a report to assess the man's suitability for probation. The case has been adjourned to Aug 26. For each charge of insulting a woman's modesty, an offender can be jailed for up to a year and fined. More on this topic Related Story NUS student admits to insulting the modesty of 2 women on campus Related Story NUS student who filmed women showering in dorm jailed for 12 weeks

24 6 月, 2021

Man who allegedly harassed 2 women with racist slurs intends to plead guilty

SINGAPORE - A man allegedly harassed two women with racist slurs in separate incidents, and a district court heard on Thursday (June 24) that he intends to plead guilty to his charges. Periyanayagam Appavoo, 52, is accused of two counts of harassment and one count of using criminal force on a man. His nationality as well as the nationalities of his alleged victims were not disclosed in court documents. He is expected to plead guilty on July 27. Periyanayagam was at a Rivervale Drive supermarket in Sengkang on April 23 last year when he allegedly verbally abused a woman identified as Ms Kamsuna with vulgar language. He is said to have told her: "Be careful as I would return to beat you... You Chinese people bring the Covid into Singapore." He was at Sengkang General Hospital on June 23 last year when he allegedly targeted a nurse, Ms Catherine Lam, and abused her with vulgar language. He is said to have pointed his finger at her and exclaimed: "You are Chinese, Chinese people are stupid. I want an Indian doctor." While at the hospital, Periyanayagam is also accused of using criminal force on Mr Muhammad Faizuan Ahmad Juan by grabbing his neck. Details about Mr Faizuan and Ms Kamsuna, who goes by only one name, were not disclosed in court documents. In an unrelated case, a woman was sentenced to four weeks' jail on Wednesday after she hurled racist insults and profanities at another woman while on a bus on Sept 3 last year. Siti Ai'sha Jaffar, 40, had called the 33-year-old victim a "stupid Indian" during her tirade, which the court heard was unprovoked. Both women are Singaporeans. For harassing a public service worker, an offender can be jailed for up to two years and fined up to $10,000. More on this topic Related Story Former property agent who made racist remarks on MRT train charged in court Related Story Courts & Crime: Read more stories

22 6 月, 2021

Amplifying Her Voice

BERMUDA, Jun 22, 2021 - (ACN Newswire via SEAPRWire.com) - You are cordially invited to join us for this Global Virtual Summit celebrating men who have empowered the voices of women & girls around the world as we discuss new paradigms in reshaping the global digital economy and celebrate the launch of The State of Women Podcast Network in partnership with The State of Women Institute, SHEQONOMI, and Women Investing in Women DIGITAL.1. Inviting all global partners & leaders committed to the economic empowerment of women to join us for various strategic opportunities2. Our 3-day event will engage women entrepreneurs & women owned enterprises build bridges for global international trade & commerce3. Join us in setting a new global standard for the economic empowerment of women, especially small and large scale women entrepreneurs from leading economies, emerging markets, and industry thought leaders and mavericks leading Post-Pandemic Recovery. Register here: https://hopin.com/events/strongertogetherGlobal investment into women led companies has reached an all time low during 2020. We are seeing many innovative ideas come out of developing nations across the globe that deserve more visibility and connectivity with qualified investors and partners who can help them grow and scale. Amplifying Her Voice will serve as a global platform that will bring such stakeholders together from within Women Investing in Women Digital's virtual tribe to a broader global community of women entrepreneurs, investors, technologies, and industry professionals to accelerate both communication and unprecedented digital connectivity. This Roundtable will be the beginning of a series of conversations where professionals from within the global innovation ecosystem may listen, learn, and share best practices with the global women's entrepreneurship ecosystem where our global network of women investors and philanthropists will be invited. Your will have the opportunity to share your CALL's to Action from local, regional, and global standpoints that will hopefully be a starting for deeper conversations and partnerships leading to change, investment, impact, and transformation. About Amplifying Her Voice (June 22-24, 2021):We brought together thousands of women from around the globe for International Women's Day. We have learned from mothers around the world this Mother's Day. And this June 22 to 24, in honor of this Father's Day, we're inviting you to join us for the Amplifying Her Voice Father's Day "Stronger Together" Summit as we join forces with the fathers speaking up and fighting for gender equity, safety for all, full economic participation for everyone, and more--all while raising the next generation of empowered, ambitious, equality-focused young people.Hear from the dads in our lives about gender roles, supporting children's gender expression, confidence, independence, the role of feminism in fatherhood and in men's lives, the importance and challenge of being allies to girls and women, navigating masculinity, mental health, preventing violence, fulfillment as fathers, supporting their partners, encouraging girls (and children of any gender) to pursue their dreams, the experiences of sons and daughters, and more.The State of Women is an inclusive and gender-affirming organization. Amplifying Her Voice "Stronger Together" is in honor of Father's Day, but we welcome all voices. As a women's organization, our primary focus is on issues that affect women--including cisgender, transgender, nonbinary, genderqueer, genderfluid, and agender people. We welcome this opportunity to join together in conversation as we all learn now we can help one another feel truly heard, seen, understood, empowered--and amplified. Each paid "Investing in Women" ticket supports 500 women to attend for FREE! We have 50+ countries represented so far and are looking forward to having a truly inclusive event for people of all genders, backgrounds, and experiences to learn and grow together. EVERYONE is welcome to listen, connect, and learn from our allies in the fight for gender equality. We never want cost to be prohibitive for any of our events or initiatives, if anyone is not able to afford a ticket, please email lily@thestateofwomen.org. All sessions will be recorded and shared free of charge post event.About Anu BhardwajFounder Anu Bhardwaj is a serial social entrepreneur and philanthropist, listed on the 2020 Inc Magazine Global Top 100 Female Founders and one of 7 female Award Recipients of the 2020 Transform Fund from the Islamic Development Bank (from a pool of 5,000 applicants worldwide). Anu also co-chaired the 2nd Annual Blockchain for Impact Summit at the United Nations HQ in 2019, and is the founder of Women Investing in Women Digital with over 1M international followers, The State of Women Institute, and SHEQONOMI which has produced a suite of women-led and women focused podcast APPS on Android, iOS, and KaiOS.About The State Of Women InstituteThe State of Women Institute is a U.S. 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to amplifying the voices of women and girls through programs and initiatives that support the creation of various forms of digital media (including podcasts, video documentary, social media related, print, AR and VR). The State of Women Podcast Network, launching Spring 2021 on GooglePlay, Android, and KaiOS, encompassing 300 women podcasters from across five continents. The State of Women Institute will be partnering with Women Investing in Women DIGITAL, SHEQONOMI, and a long list of reputable global non-profits and change makers across 100+ countries worldwide in leading "Amplifying Her Voice" Global Virtual Summit in honor of Father's Day 2021.About SHEQONOMISHEQONOMI is on a mission to bring women's voices to the main stage, and that alone has the power to change the trajectory of our entire planet. SHEQONOMI is a highly unique podcast platform - built organically by millennial women to serve 2 billion women globally, where content creation and listening are rewarded.Contact: ANU Bhardwaj Mobile: +18587367460 Email: Anu@womeninvesting.in Copyright 2021 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. (via SEAPRWire)

19 6 月, 2021

Population census: Helping women level up at work

SINGAPORE - Women have made strides in the workplace. The share of resident married couples with a working wife increased from 52.9 per cent in 2010 to 60 per cent last year. Please subscribe or log in to continue reading the full article. Get unlimited access to all stories at $0.99/month Latest headlines and exclusive stories In-depth analyses and award-winning multimedia content Get access to all with our no-contract promotional package at only $0.99/month for the first 3 months* Subscribe now *Terms and conditions apply.

7 6 月, 2021

More support needed for low birth weight babies, pregnant mums with diabetes, maternal mental health: Masagos

SINGAPORE - Couples who have babies with low birth weight and pregnant women with gestational diabetes mellitus need more support, and more can also be done to ensure maternal mental health and well-being, said Second Minister for Health Masagos Zulkifli on Monday (June 7). This additional support will provide a better environment for children here to grow up in, as the early years - and in particular the first 1,000 days - are critical for the child to build a strong foundation, he said. Mr Masagos, who is also Minister for Social and Family Development, highlighted these three key areas where more can be done during a speech at the third Temasek Shophouse Conversations forum, which focused on maternal and child wellness. The virtual event, organised by Temasek Foundation in partnership with KK Women's and Children's Hospital (KKH), was attended by about 600 participants from the public, private, and community sectors. Mr Masagos said that Singapore has achieved good international rankings in life expectancy and attaining the lowest infant mortality rates. "We can do more in some areas: go even more upstream where we can, focus our resources on certain developmental pathways which warrant more attention," he said. He noted that one in 10 babies in Singapore is born with low birth weight and is thus at higher risk of developing physical and mental health issues later in life, such as obesity and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Maternal malnutrition and health problems, maternal age, and preterm birth are key factors contributing to low birth weight, he said. "Fortunately, many of these can be addressed if we support couples even before conception. (This is) a good opportunity for social-health integration," said Mr Masagos. The Growing Up in Singapore Towards Healthy Outcomes (Gusto) study has also found that one in five pregnant women is at risk of developing gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). Gusto is a longitudinal study that started here in 2009 to study how pregnancy and early childhood conditions influence the health and development of women and their children. Diabetes in pregnancy, also known as gestational diabetes mellitus, is a condition of abnormal or elevated glucose readings during pregnancy. Mothers and their children are then at higher risk of metabolic disorders, and children are at a higher risk of developing obesity. Taking this into account, KKH initiated the Temasek Foundation GDM Care Programme to provide enhanced care for mothers with GDM, said Mr Masagos. "But we should not only see this as a medical issue. This is an area where it takes a whole-of-society effort," he added. More on this topic Related Story $3,000 support grant for S'porean babies born over next 2 years Related Story How can Covid-19 affect pregnancy and childbirth? Healthcare and social agencies can work alongside community organisations to develop programmes to address the risk factors for GDM, such as through physical activities and encouraging a nutritious diet. The Gusto study also found that found that maternal depression during pregnancy affects the development of brain microstructure in the foetus, which could lead to anxiety and mood disorders in the child's later life. Hence it is important to strengthen social support to mothers and mothers-to-be, and everyone can play a part, said Mr Masagos. For example, healthcare workers actively look out for symptoms of low mood and depression during antenatal and post-natal check-ups through screenings for mothers and mothers-to-be, while social agencies and community groups can also look out for such symptoms. At the workplace, more psychological and emotional support can be given to employees and colleagues who are pregnant or transiting back to work after maternity leave, such as through more flexible work arrangements. "At home and in the community, we can lend our support to our spouse, friends, relatives and neighbours who are pregnant and may be experiencing psycho-emotional stress," said Mr Masagos. He also gave an update on the inter-agency task force that aims to boost maternal health and kids' well-being here. The formation of the task-force was announced during the debate on the Health Ministry's budget earlier this year. More on this topic Related Story Govt to provide additional support for newborns to help aspiring parents cope with Covid-19 impact Related Story More pregnant women diagnosed with heart problems in Singapore The task force is developing a five-year strategy to provide comprehensive support to women and their children, starting as early as pre-conception and extending until the child turns 18. Mr Masagos gave a breakdown of the task force's plans. First, the task force will translate evidence-based findings into policies and programmes to address upstream risk factors. These include reviewing upstream preventive health efforts for women and children or exploring how to better prepare and equip young couples for parenthood. Second, the Government and the agencies involved are reviewing their service delivery processes and will look at how healthcare agencies can strengthen collaboration with the social service and education sector organisations. Third, the task force will use public education to boost awareness and engagement in order to shape positive behaviours. Said Mr Masagos: " If we want to give (children) the best start in life, our support must also extend to the mother... It makes good sense for our entire society to be invested into this cause, because it benefits everyone." More on this topic Related Story Prenatal depression: One mum-to-be started busking to ease pregnancy blues Related Story Covid-19 pandemic brought women's mental health needs to the forefront: Muslim women's association

4 6 月, 2021

Pregnant women should get Covid-19 jab to protect themselves and baby: Experts

SINGAPORE - Pregnant and breastfeeding women should get vaccinated to protect themselves and their babies from Covid-19, as real-world data has shown that this is not only safe but is also beneficial to both mother and child, said specialists here. With the emergence of new Covid-19 variants and a resurgence of community-transmitted cases, there is reason to vaccinate pregnant women, who are at higher risk of developing complications from Covid-19 than non-pregnant women, they added. Vaccination also protects the baby, said the College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists Singapore (COGS) and the Obstetrical and Gynaecological Society of Singapore (OGSS) on Thursday (June 3). Studies in other countries have shown that pregnant women who get Covid-19 are more likely to require intensive care or invasive ventilation, such as a breathing tube inserted into the windpipe, said Dr Lim Min Yu, president of OGSS. This puts the baby at higher risk of premature birth and stillbirth, and he may also need intensive care. "It's for these reasons that we feel it is imperative to encourage our pregnant women to be vaccinated," Dr Lim said. Moreover, antibodies that the women produce after vaccination are transferred to the babies before birth, as well as to breast milk. This offers protection to the babies, though the extent and duration of this protection is unclear at this stage, he said. COGS and OGSS said the vaccines are safe for breastfeeding mothers, with none of the vaccine components passing into the breast milk. They added that the vaccines are also safe for women who are planning to conceive. COGS and OGSS issued a joint advisory and guidelines on Thursday, two days after the authorities here said it was safe for pregnant or breastfeeding women to get vaccinated. Pregnant women who are older, overweight or obese, or who have conditions such as diabetes or high blood pressure, are at an increased risk of developing serious complications, the advisory said. Pregnant women will be able to register and book a vaccination appointment from June 4 if they are part of the population group eligible for vaccination. Adults aged 40 to 44 can now register for their Covid-19 jabs. Those aged 45 and above were included in previous phases of the national vaccination drive. Pregnant women were among those advised previously to hold off on receiving the shots, as large-scale clinical trials on the Covid-19 mRNA vaccines have not involved such volunteers. COGS and OGSS said a recent study of about 4,000 women in the United States "demonstrated safety of the mRNA Covid-19 vaccines (Pfizer and Moderna), with no increased risks of adverse pregnancy outcomes nor any obvious adverse events". Dr Lim said that, currently, the main published data available on Covid-19 vaccines and pregnancy is on the two mRNA vaccines that are currently being used here, and that there is no safety data yet for the use of the Sinovac inactivated vaccine on pregnant women. More on this topic Related Story Pregnant women, cancer patients on active treatment can get vaccines Related Story Covid-19 vaccines protect pregnant women, another study suggests It is not clear why pregnant women are more prone to becoming severely ill with Covid-19. Dr Lim said it could be due to the changes that women experience in pregnancy, such as increased heart rate and increased oxygen consumption. For instance, their lung capacity gets affected by a growing uterus, their immune system also changes and there is an increased risk of developing blood clots. He said that pregnant women can discuss the vaccination with their doctor. "It's mainly to ascertain that they don't have any of the risk factors that would preclude them from vaccination, but those risk factors are actually the same as for the general population." More on this topic Related Story Vaccines used in S'pore give significant protection against all Covid-19 variants: Experts Related Story Science Talk: Covid-19 vaccines boosted Related Stories: Related Story MOH allows special access to Sinovac vaccine through private healthcare sector Related Story Second wave of 'infodemic' hampering Covid-19 vaccination drives Related Story Moderna says different doses likely for Covid-19 variants and for kids under new Lonza deal Related Story WHO approves Sinovac's Covid-19 vaccine for emergency use Related Story 6 key announcements from PM Lee's address on Covid-19 plans Related Story Kuala Lumpur’s usually busy streets turn quiet as Malaysia goes into full Covid-19 lockdown Related Story Covid-19 vaccine could become like yearly flu shot, say experts Related Story WHO switches to Greek alphabet for coronavirus variant names Related Story S'pore still ranks high in Covid-19 vaccination pace despite supply constraints Related Story Covid-19: Why S'pore is in a stronger position than it was last year

21 5 月, 2021

The Change Company’s Newest Banking App Supports Women as the Next Wave of Financial Investors

LOS ANGELES, CA., May 21, 2021 - (ACN Newswire via SEAPRWire.com) - The Change Company (ChangeLLC.com) has officially launched its newest neobank ChangeFi (ChangeFi.com) in an effort to support the banking disadvantages women face around the world. Women in the U.S. and abroad are statistically less likely to have a bank account and own homes. According to GlobalFinDex, women make up 55% of the world's population without a bank account, a staggering 1 billion women worldwide. Globally, women are making significantly less income than men, which makes it harder for them to afford bank accounts that require a minimum balance. Additionally, some women don't have the ability to access a branch if they don't have a vehicle or are stay-at-home mothers. ChangeFi was created to address those needs by charging no overdraft fees, no monthly fees, no minimums while highlighting easy to use money management tools.As a digital bank, ChangeFi is creating initiatives specifically in the hopes of leveling the playing field of financial opportunities for women and female entrepreneurs. Its parent company, The Change Company, earned Community Development Financial Institution ("CDFI") certification from the United States Department of Treasury CDFI Fund in May 2018. Their CDFI Fund helps promote access to capital and local economic growth in low income and developing communities across the nation. This designation allows the company to provide equal access to the American Dream for all communities, including women in underserved communities.ChangeFi sees the women's banking initiative as one of the most important company priorities in 2021. This focus is reflected not just in their customers, but internally as well. CEO of ChangeFi and President of The Change Company, B.C. Silver discusses the need for female leadership in their financial institution: "From an organizational standpoint, we also empower women in banking. I'm proud to say that my team is predominantly female including several female executives. As a girl dad, gender equality is something I take very seriously. I'm honored to work for an organization that embraces diversity in the workplace which is highlighted in our senior executive leadership as well as within our board of directors," says Silver.But when it comes to its mobile banking platform, how does The Change Company actually plan on helping women meet their financial goals? Their uniqueness is found in their several lines of business, which empower women throughout their financial journey - wherever they may be. From Change Lending, which makes the dream of homeownership possible through traditional and non-traditional mortgage products and offers small business, renovation and real estate investor loans to help expand minority business ownership in America, to ChangeFi, an online banking solution that levels the playing field for women and overlooked minority communities by bringing social and racial equity to banking, to Change Lab a startup incubator that develops innovative, digital-first products to help communities on their path to financial freedom. Change Escrow and Change Appraisal ensure their members' work with a qualified appraiser who is knowledgeable about specific neighborhoods and is able to provide an accurate valuation of properties. And finally, they have xChange, an online marketplace for socially responsible investors who are searching for loans that will increase social equity for women everywhere. It's Time for Change!Visit www.changefi.com for more information.The ChangeFi Card is issued by Evolve Bank & Trust, Member FDIC. Pursuant to license by Visa.(C) Change Finance LLC. All rights reserved.Media Contact:Nadine Izaguirre, ChangeFiE: nadine.izaguirre@changefi.comW: https://www.ChangeFi.com; https://www.ChangeLLC.com Copyright 2021 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. (via SEAPRWire)

4 5 月, 2021

“IN MOMS WE TRUST” Global Virtual Summit

US, May 4, 2021 - (ACN Newswire via SEAPRWire.com) - You are cordially invited to join us for this Global Virtual Summit celebrating the voices of women & girls around the world as we discuss new paradigms in reshaping the global digital economy and celebrate the launch of The State of Women Podcast Network in partnership with The State of Women Institute, SHEQONOMI, and Women Investing in Women DIGITAL. Inviting all global partners & leaders committed to the economic empowerment of women to join us for various strategic opportunitiesOur 3-day event will engage women entrepreneurs & women owned enterprises build bridges for global international trade & commerceJoin us in setting a new global standard for the economic empowerment of women, especially small and large scale women entrepreneurs from leading economies, emerging markets, and industry thought leaders and mavericks leading Post-Pandemic Recovery. Register Here: https://hopin.com/events/inmomswetrustGlobal investment into women led companies has reached an all-time low during 2020. We are seeing many innovative ideas come out of developing nations across the globe that deserve more visibility and connectivity with qualified investors and partners who can help them grow and scale. Amplifying Her Voice will serve as a global platform that will bring such stakeholders together from within Women Investing in Women Digital's virtual tribe to a broader global community of women entrepreneurs, investors, technologies, and industry professionals to accelerate both communication and unprecedented digital connectivity. This Roundtable will be the beginning of a series of conversations where professionals from within the global innovation ecosystem may listen, learn, and share best practices with the global women's entrepreneurship ecosystem where our global network of women investors and philanthropists will be invited. Your will have the opportunity to share your Call's to Action from local, regional, and global standpoints that will hopefully be a starting for deeper conversations and partnerships leading to change, investment, impact, and transformation. About Amplifying Her Voice (May 11-13, 2021): (https://hopin.com/events/inmomswetrust)For three days starting this International Women's Day, we held the first Amplifying Her Voice Global Summit. From Fiji to France, Bermuda to Bhutan, South Africa to Sweden; women and men around the world came together as one to celebrate what we've overcome together and to discuss how to keep moving the needle. With more than 1,600 attendees and 250 speakers from over 100 countries, we were inspired by the turnout--and the conversation. We hope you'll join us again this May as we meet to honor mothers and discuss motherhood at our May, "In Moms We Trust" Summit.From investors and philanthropists to media moguls and CEOs, women are driving change--and then driving home to raise families, as they always have. On May 11, 12, and 13, in celebration of Mother's Day and mothers worldwide, we're inviting you to join us for the Amplifying Her Voice Mother's Day "In Moms We Trust" Summit as we listen to, learn from, and lift up the voices of the women raising the next generation.Hear from experts on finance, psychology, climate activism, health, entrepreneurship, podcasting, investing, and more.EVERY PAYING IT FORWARD: "Investing in Women" ticket will support 500 women to attend for FREE! We have 100+ countries represented so far and looking forward to having a truly INCLUSIVE event, where we can all learn and grow together. Digital gifts and giveaways be announced to all registrants over the next few weeks! Men are welcome to join us! We never want cost to be prohibitive for any of our events or initiatives. Free tickets will be announced starting May 1. All sessions will be recorded and shared free of charge post event.About Anu BhardwajFounder Anu Bhardwaj is a serial social entrepreneur and philanthropist, listed on the 2020 Inc Magazine Global Top 100 Female Founders and one of 7 female Award Recipients of the 2020 Transform Fund from the Islamic Development Bank (from a pool of 5,000 applicants worldwide). Anu also co-chaired the 2nd Annual Blockchain for Impact Summit at the United Nations HQ in 2019, and is the founder of Women Investing in Women Digital with over 1M international followers, The State of Women Institute, and SHEQONOMI which has produced a suite of women-led and women focused podcast APPS on Android, iOS, and KaiOS.About The State Of Women InstituteThe State of Women Institute is a U.S. 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to amplifying the voices of women and girls through programs and initiatives that support the creation of various forms of digital media (including podcasts, video documentary, social media related, print, AR and VR). The State of Women Podcast Network, launching Spring 2021 on GooglePlay, Android, and KaiOS, encompassing 300 women podcasters from across five continents. The State of Women Institute will be partnering with Women Investing in Women DIGITAL, SHEQONOMI, and a long list of reputable global non-profits and change makers across 100+ countries worldwide in leading "Amplifying Her Voice" Global Virtual Summit in honor of Mother's Day 2021.About SHEQONOMISHEQONOMI is on a mission to bring women's voices to the main stage, and that alone has the power to change the trajectory of our entire planet. SHEQONOMI is a highly unique podcast platform - built organically by millennial women to serve 2 billion women globally, where content creation and listening are rewarded.Contact: ANU Bhardwaj Mobile: +18587367460 Email: Anu@womeninvesting.inSource: Plato Data Intelligence: https://zephyrnet.com/ Copyright 2021 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. (via SEAPRWire)

2 5 月, 2021

Golf: Pine Valley ends 108 years as a male-only golf club, says report

NEW YORK (AFP) - Pine Valley Golf Club, a men-only private enclave since its founding in 1913, has voted to allow women memberships and unrestricted play, Golf Digest reported on Saturday (May 1). The club, located in the New Jersey suburbs of Philadelphia, has a layout that Golf Digest has ranked as the top course in the United States, and among the world's best, for several years. Pine Valley president Jim Davis wrote in a Friday e-mail to members obtained by the magazine about the unanimous move by the club's trustees and members to bring in female members and allow them to play at any time. Previously, women were only allowed on the course as guests and on Sunday afternoons. "This evening at our annual meeting of the members we made a historic change to Pine Valley's bylaws," Davis wrote. "The future of golf must move towards inclusion, and I am pleased to report that the trustees and members of the Pine Valley Golf Club have voted unanimously and with enthusiasm to remove all gender-specific language from our bylaws. "The club's policies will now allow all guests to enjoy our club without restrictions and we will begin immediately identifying women candidates for membership with the expectation of having our first women members in the club by the end of this year." Davis said all prospective members must "be socially compatible, share a deep passion for the game of golf and be able to play the golf course with the skill level our founder George Crump intended." Pine Valley follows several notable men-only private clubs in changing rules to allow women. Augusta National, home course for the Masters, welcomed its first women members in 2012. The Royal & Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews in Scotland allowed women members in 2014 and Muirfield began accepting women members in 2017. The magazine said that of 3,670 private US golf clubs, fewer than a dozen remain male-only enclaves.

12 4 月, 2021

Morning Briefing: Top stories from The Straits Times on April 12

Good morning! Here are our top stories to kick-start your Monday, April 12. New laws planned to curb unethical adoption practices in Singapore Such practices will be made a crime, with fines or jail terms. READ MORE HERE Crowds return to Lucky Plaza, Peninsula Plaza after lifting of weekend entry curbs There were so many visitors to Lucky Plaza on Sunday morning that the mall had to close briefly. READ MORE HERE Migrant worker who received Covid-19 vaccine among 20 new cases in S'pore "This case is a reminder that it is possible for vaccinated individuals to get infected," said MOH. READ MORE HERE More on this topic Related Story ST newsletters: Get alerts on the latest news Schools in Singapore continue to reap benefits of remote learning But it doesn't replace face-to-face lessons and CCA sessions, said teachers. READ MORE HERE ‘I still can’t call myself a Hong Konger’ Despite years of living in Hong Kong, some foreign-born residents continue to be treated like outsiders. READ MORE HERE Amid Covid-19 pandemic, South-east Asia's drug scourge proves resilient The region's US$61.4 billion (S$82.7 billion) narcotics trade is in full swing. READ MORE HERE Microbes on masks highlight need for frequent washing A study found that levels of bacteria, yeast and mould are higher on masks worn for longer periods. READ MORE HERE More women in S'pore named to boards in public, private and people sectors Statutory boards showed the most improvement, followed by companies and then IPCs. READ MORE HERE Kids, the virtual babysitter is here Some babysitters have pivoted online during the Covid-19 pandemic, providing meaningful screen time to kids. READ MORE HERE S'pore retailer Naiise closes last store at Jewel Changi, may wind up operations It may wind up as founder says he is unable to honour the debt repayment plan to vendors. READ MORE HERE

8 3 月, 2021

Women and girls enjoy less freedom in the online space than in real Singapore: Sim Ann

SINGAPORE - In her course of work at the Ministry of Communications and Information, Ms Sim Ann has encountered cases of victims who experienced online harm. "From time to time, they've approached us to say 'my photos were stolen'," she said. Listening to such stories prompted her to speak to more Singaporeans, to understand the dangers women and girls face online. Ms Sim, who is Senior Minister of State for Communications and Information, said: "We have to ask ourselves, do our women and girls, enjoy the same degree of freedom and confidence in the online space as they do in real life in Singapore. "The signs suggest there is a gap." She was particularly struck by a related video that The Straits Times produced last month. The video InstaSex had delved into the stories of teens who encountered sexual harassment and physical assault as a result of interactions on social media. "I think that really hit home. As an MP, when we hear about (such cases), it's usually because something has already happened. Someone has already become a victim. "But we may or may not interact with the victim directly. Sometimes they come through an intermediary, such as a family member." Ms Sim, a mother of three, also got her 17-year-old son and 14-year-old daughter to watch the video with her. "They felt concerned and felt like they learnt something, so I think it shows that actually I got them in time." "That's also part of what I hope education can do, which is to reach the young in time, before they either become victims or perpetrators of online harms." Getting the message across to boys at an early age is also critical, she said, "so that they don't grow up thinking that a certain way of approaching girls and women online is normal". Friends who are parents told her they were alarmed and concerned to see obscene images and messages young people are exposed to online, said Ms Sim. "This is part and parcel of levelling up everybody's knowledge about today's reality. (Parents) also need to come to terms with the fact that as digital natives, children may well lead quite a different lifestyle from them," she added. "So it's not about taking things away from them - walk in their shoes a bit, understand what's happening, and restore that parent-child connection." More on this topic Related Story Shining a light on dark online spaces for women and girls: Sim Ann Related Story InstaSex: When teens fall prey to social media voyeurs

8 3 月, 2021

Shining a light on dark online spaces for women and girls: Sim Ann

SINGAPORE - Women and girls could start to think it is normal to receive nude pictures or unwelcome advances online unless more is done to protect them, Senior Minister of State for Communications and Information Sim Ann has warned. Announcing on Monday (March 8) a new initiative to tackle the issue, she said that social norms that uphold females' safety are increasingly being challenged by factors like the anonymity of the web, possibly leading to more of them being subjected to exploitative behaviour. Her initial ideas for how to keep them safe include setting up an online repository where victims can seek help and understand tech companies' policies, and encouraging people to report inappropriate activities they see on the Internet. Ms Sim is leading a national conversation with the hope of shining a spotlight on some of the darker corners of cyberspace for females. The new initiative - the Singapore Together Alliance for Action - will look at how to keep women and girls safe online. It will be officially launched later this year. More than 60 women and men took part in the first two engagement sessions held last month and on Monday. More sessions will be held later. Speaking to the media after Monday's session, Ms Sim said the Ministry of Communications and Information has been tracking the topic of online dangers for women and girls, and has been in touch with concerned stakeholders. They include representatives of tech companies, parenting and student groups, as well as women's groups. "We were able to invite quite a number of men who also have deep concerns about this particular issue and they want to know how they can support women and girls," she said. Participants called for public education on the issue and resources to support victims of online harm, she added. In a statement on Monday, MCI said the Alliance supports the recently launched Digital for Life movement - to help Singaporeans have necessary digital tools and skills - and the wider ongoing conversations on women's development. Said Ms Sim: "We launched the Digital for Life Movement to bring together resources and ingenuity to help everyone in our society go digital. "As more embrace digitalisation and reap the benefits of doing so, the issue of online harms - as we live, work and play more online - cannot go unaddressed. "It is a difficult topic, as we delve into issues including the online grooming of young girls and the image based sexual abuse of women online." Speaking to The Straits Times, she said it is likely the first time the Government is "so focused on online harms that are primarily targeted at women and girls". More on this topic Related Story Women and girls enjoy less freedom in the online space than in real Singapore: Sim Ann Related Story New agency needed to keep online space safe, says Minister of State Tan Kiat How Ms Sim said the work involved will be extensive, and span several years. She identified three main areas of concern, based on discussions with the public. The first is the existence of websites that encourage young girls or women to engage in vice. The second is non-consensual posting of images, videos and personal details. Third, the unwelcome one-to-one interactions ranging from sexual harassment to online grooming, especially through direct messaging on social media. Ms Sim said: "Fundamentally these online harms are driven by a view of women and girls, which is exploitative in nature. In real life we have laws that uphold women's safety. "We have cultural norms as well that govern acceptable interactions between men and women." But norms are being challenged on the web, she said, perhaps because of the anonymity it offers. As a result, more females face behaviour laws are meant to deter. "So I feel very worried at the prospect women and girls would start to think that it's normal to be on the receiving end of nude pictures or unwelcome suggestive advances. "Because then it's really a very short step away from women and girls having their real-life safety and security compromised." The recent amendments to the law to strengthen protection for victims of sexual and hurt offences are an important move, said Ms Sim, but tackling online dangers should also involve public education. Tech companies could provide information to younger users about their policies against inappropriate speech or contact, Ms Sim said. "I would very strongly encourage the tech platforms to see Singapore as a place where very progressive policies for safeguarding the interests, wellbeing and safety of their users can be piloted, implemented and proven to work," she added. More on this topic Related Story 1 in 5 children involved in online sexual behaviours: Survey Related Story Call for push to fight negative effects of digital revolution She acknowledged that it may be tough for individuals to have a conversation with tech companies, which is why the Alliance for Action could help to engage the firms in a more structured way. Representatives from the likes of Facebook and Google had attended the initial dialogues. Ms Sim said the sessions will also involve segments of society such as women's groups, youths and those in professions like law and counselling. Parents are another key group she wants to reach out to. "As a society, I feel we are more ready to talk about it," she said.

6 3 月, 2021

Two new groups set up under PAP women’s wing to study women’s issues

SINGAPORE - The People's Action Party (PAP) women's wing will be setting up two new groups to look into research and policy to help it better address the issues faced by women in Singapore, Manpower Minister Josephine Teo said on Saturday (March 6). The research group, led by Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC MP Yeo Wan Ling, will look into emerging trends - such as remote working - and their impact on women, said Mrs Teo, who is also chairman of the PAP women's wing. "For example, how can remote working help women juggle their roles as caregivers, and yet not become marginalised when it comes to career progression?" said Mrs Teo during an event in Punggol held ahead of International Women's Day on Monday. This group will also sharpen its sensing of women's views, on topical issues such as Primary 1 registration rules and the new sentencing framework Law and Home Affairs Minister K. Shanmugam spoke about in Parliament on Friday. Mr Shanmugam had said that the maximum penalties for three sexual offences are set to be raised following a review of penalties for hurt and sexual offences. The PAP women's wing had in July last year expressed its serious concerns about the apparent inadequate sentences meted out in several cases, Mrs Teo said. The second group, focusing on policy, will be led by Ms Hany Soh, an MP for Marsiling-Yew Tee GRC. Mrs Teo said: "With 24 women in Parliament, the (PAP women's wing) can give voice to concerns of women through the questions they file, the Bills, motions and debates they speak on." As an extension of the research work, the women's wing can also advocate for improvements and set out recommendations through position papers, she added. The women's wing has, since 2012, put out six position papers on issues such as marriage, parenthood, seniors in Singapore, and strengthening gender diversity in corporate leadership. "Our vision has been to empower every woman in Singapore," said Mrs Teo. She added that understanding how other nations approach women's issues and providing policy inputs to the Government are two areas of growing interest among party activists. "This is a natural progression from our ground activism and also reflects the evolving profile of our women activists," she added during Saturday's event, a fashion show of "re-imagined" work outfits made from recycled material for women in various occupations, from gardener to plumber and harbour pilot. The event, jointly organised by the PAP's women's wing and the National Trades Union Congress' (NTUC) Women and Family Unit, also kick-started a month-long series of events on women's issues, including webinars and a career fair featuring jobs specially curated for women that offer flexibility for caregiving responsibilities. Mrs Teo was joined by NTUC president Mary Liew; Ms Yeo, who is director of the NTUC Women and Family Unit as well as Ms Sim Ann, Senior Minister of State for Communications and Information and National Development. A fashion show was selected to mark the day because it was visual. PHOTO: LIANHE ZAOBAO A fashion show was selected to mark the day because it was visual. PHOTO: LIANHE ZAOBAO Ms Sim is also organising chairman of the PAP Women's Wing International Women's Day 2021. Ms Yeo said a fashion show was selected to mark the day because it was visual. The show was an opportunity to let people see how job pathways and livelihoods can be re-imagined in a very visual way, she said. "It's actually to touch the hearts and imaginations of all our young females who are wanting to return to work... whether or not it is a career in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics)... or the types of work that we think right only men could do previously but actually right now, there's no gender bias," Ms Yeo added. The Punggol fashion show was part of a slew of other International Women's Day events that took place on Saturday islandwide, all of which featured a strong sustainability element. More on this topic Related Story Quest for equality: What ought to be relooked amid review of issues concerning S'pore women? Related Story Quest for equality: Call to recognise women's caregiving load, provide more support networks For instance, in central Singapore, Ang Mo Kio GRC MP Nadia Samdin was joined by other party activists on a tour of Sprout Hub, one of Singapore's largest urban farms growing strawberries, and rearing chickens and black soldier flies. They also attended a composting workshop. Meanwhile, West Coast GRC MP Rachel Ong led women in upcycling unused clothes into mask straps that were later distributed to members of the public. MP for Marsiling-Yew Tee GRC Hany Soh at Woodgrove Recycling Point. PHOTO: NTUC MP for West Coast GRC Rachel Ong taking part in the South West District's mask-strap making Zoom workshop. PHOTO: NTUC

5 3 月, 2021

Only 58% of women with Stem qualifications work in related jobs, compared with 70% for men: Study

SINGAPORE - A study of 738 Singaporeans by the Nanyang Technological University (NTU) has found that just 58 per cent of women who graduate with Stem degrees or diplomas go on to have related careers. In comparison, 70 per cent of men who hold such qualifications are in related fields of work. To tackle this "leak" of Stem talents, two female NTU professors are starting a new programme for women, to persuade more to pursue an education focusing on Stem - short for science, technology, engineering and mathematics - and work in related fields. The Promotion of Women in Engineering, Research and Science (Powers) programme was launched on Friday (March 5) by President Halimah Yacob at the biennial Women in Engineering, Science & Technology symposium. The event was held at the Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine at NTU's Novena campus. Powers is funded by the Ministry of Education and headed by Associate Professor Sierin Lim from NTU's School of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering, and Associate Professor Kimberly Kline from NTU's School of Biological Sciences. The strategy of the programme is to: connect women with role models and mentors, conduct research to address barriers and gaps in the local context, and provide education opportunities through public talks and activities to share discoveries. For a start, 20 to 30 incoming female students enrolled in NTU's science and engineering faculties in the first year will be matched to female faculty members in the new academic year from August. Students will also be connected to seniors who can share their experiences studying Stem subjects. Prof Kline, associate dean (faculty) at NTU's College of Science, said this will be a year-long mentoring programme with monthly meetings. Training will be conducted for faculty so they are equipped to motivate students, help them develop leadership skills and build personal connections with them. "We want to have a strong support system to build a sense of belonging for women in the Stem community," she said. The programme follows a study by NTU clinical psychologist and senior research fellow, Dr Chua Sook Ning, who had aimed to understand the gender disparity in Stem careers. The study's key findings were presented on Friday at the symposium. It showed that a proportion of women did not feel they belong in Stem-related fields of study and work. (From left) NTU Associate Professor Sierin Lim, Professor Subra Suresh, President Halimah and Associate Professor Kimberly Kline at the biennial Women in Engineering, Science & Technology symposium at NTU's Novena campus on March 5, 2021. ST PHOTO: ALPHONSUS CHERN More on this topic Related Story More women pursuing degrees in Stem fields: MOE Related Story Gender gap in Stem sector: Support from parents is crucial to help girls excel Those who felt this way tended to leave their Stem jobs, compared with men in general and other women who stayed on in the Stem sector. Prof Lim, NTU's associate dean of global partnerships at its Graduate College, said more research is needed to understand why women do not continue in Stem work, what experiences prompted such perceptions and factors that can help retain women in Stem fields of study and work. Prof Kline said: "The findings offer a possible point of intervention - women are training in Stem fields, but they are not staying on." She added: "Society is made up of equal parts men and women, and so we don't want just men making discoveries and innovation for all of society. "We need men and women speaking to these great challenges that we face right now, helping to come up with the most creative and diverse solutions to the problems." In her speech, President Halimah said it is important for women to define the future direction of engineering, science and technology, particularly in the recovery following the Covid-19 pandemic. "A gender-balanced research team is more likely to consider certain variables that are influenced by a difference in socio-economic circumstances or biological sex. For instance, women have historically been excluded from medical research," she said. "Much of what we know of health and medicine has been informed by studies on men. However, scientific research has shown us that diseases can affect men and women differently, and may require different treatments." Another example, she added, can be found in engineering, where the first-generation airbags in cars caused serious injuries and even deaths of women and children because they were designed for the adult male by predominantly male engineers. "Having woman engineer, scientist or technologist means that more women will lead important discoveries, develop new technology and medicine, which, in turn, drives our economy, creating jobs and building a better world for everyone," she said. More on this topic Related Story Getting more women into tech sector starts with finding something you love to do: Gan Siow Huang Related Story Tech firm exec hopes more can be done to combat gender biases

3 3 月, 2021

International Women’s Day Summit 2021: Amplifying Her Voice

BERMUDA, Mar 3, 2021 - (ACN Newswire via SEAPRWire.com) - This year's International Women's Day Summit Agenda has been announced that includes more than 200 speakers, representing over 75 countries. Topics for this year's event, which will be held from March 8-10, include: Blockchain, Digital Assets, Fintech, AI, Women in Space, Global Women's Entrepreneurship & Leadership, Podcasts and Healing and Wellness.Global investment into women led companies has reached an all-time low during 2020. We are seeing many innovative ideas come out of developing nations across the globe that deserve more visibility and connectivity with qualified investors and partners who can help them grow and scale. Amplifying Her Voice will serve as a global platform that will bring such stakeholders together from within Bermuda economic development ecosystem to a broader global community of women entrepreneurs, investors, technologies, and industry professionals to accelerate both communication and unprecedented digital connectivity.This Roundtable will be the beginning of a series of conversations where professionals from within Bermuda's innovation ecosystem may listen, learn, and share best practices with the global women's entrepreneurship ecosystem where our global network of women investors and philanthropists will be invited. Your will have the opportunity to share your CALL's to Action from local, regional, and global standpoints that will hopefully be a starting for deeper conversations and partnerships leading to change, investment, impact, and transformation.A worldwide pandemic, uncertainty, and troubles big and small over this past year have brought increasing challenges and anxiety--but they have also brought together women leaders and innovators around the globe: to share their ideas and innovations, to inspire and lift up one another, and to support women and change the world. Join us as we amplify their voices, celebrate their accomplishments, learn from their vision, and work together to invest in women.- Listen to innovators, entrepreneurs, investors, and women on the front-lines who have developed solutions to global issues at scale addressing UN Sustainable Development Goals shaping the global economy, education, food security, climate change, space exploration, and more.- Participate in main stage content and breakout workshops on global women's entrepreneurship, healing and wellness, and the latest in blockchain and cryptocurrency investing.- Bring your curiosity and connect with our global community in our breakout sessions and networking receptions.Register Here: https://hopin.com/events/sheqonomiAbout The State of Women Institute The State of Women Institute is a U.S. 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to amplifying the voices of women and girls through programs and initiatives that support the creation of various forms of digital media (including podcasts, video documentary, social media related, print, AR and VR). The State of Women Podcast Network, launching Spring 2021 on Google Play, Android, and KaiOS, encompassing 300 women podcasters from across five continents. The State of Women Institute will be partnering with Women Investing in Women DIGITAL, SHEQONOMI, and a long list of reputable global non-profits and change makers across 50+ countries worldwide in leading "Amplifying Her Voice" Global Virtual Summit on International Women's Day 2021.Source: ANU Bhardwaj. State of Women Institute. Anu@womeninvesting.in Copyright 2021 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. (via SEAPRWire)

26 2 月, 2021

More help urged for caregivers, most of whom are women

MPs yesterday called for more support for caregivers, the majority of whom are women who have made sacrifices to look after children, the elderly and people with disabilities. On the second day of the Budget debate, various suggestions were put forward to help this group, including providing career counselling for caregivers to start and return to work, tapping community resources to reduce caregivers' workload, and giving them more mental health support. Figures from the Report on Labour Force in Singapore 2019 showed that about 133,500 people in the resident population cited caregiving responsibilities as the main reason for having to leave the workforce, noted Ms Ng Ling Ling (Ang Mo Kio GRC). Nine in 10 of them were women, and the majority of the women were aged between 40 and 59 years. Almost seven in 10 were out of the workforce for more than five years. "Some of the most common problems that women caregivers experienced is a setback in their own health and career," said Ms Ng, who added that female caregivers also struggle with uncertainty about their future and financial adequacy in their old age. She welcomed Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat's announcement that a new Singapore Together Alliance for Action for caregivers of those with disabilities will be formed, and called for this to be expanded to female caregivers. The alliance will co-create solutions to improve support for caregivers. Career counselling and training support should also be given to caregivers who would like to return to work or start work, including taking on part-time or flexi-work arrangements, said Ms Joan Pereira (Tanjong Pagar GRC). "Earned incomes contribute to household finances and retirement adequacies, and improve the quality of life for families," she said. Ms Pereira also called for more mental health professionals to be trained to help those facing mental health issues, and to help maintain caregivers' mental health. Caregiving services can also be made more accessible to families, said Ms Cheryl Chan (East Coast GRC). For instance, those who can provide part-time caregiving services can be connected to families living near them, which can help workers to balance family care duties while supplementing their income at the same time. Minister for Social and Family Development Masagos Zulkifli said yesterday that the authorities are studying the possibility of piloting night-time childcare at a Community Link (ComLink) site for low-income families who need help with caregiving arrangements. He was responding to Mr Louis Ng (Nee Soon GRC) in a written parliamentary reply. Correction note: An earlier version of this story attributed the data on those in the resident population who cited caregiving responsibilities as the main reason for having to leave the workforce to a 2020 report. It should be a 2019 report instead. 133,500 Number of people in the resident population who cited caregiving responsibilities as the main reason for having to leave the workforce, according to figures from the Report on Labour Force in Singapore 2020, noted Ms Ng Ling Ling (Ang Mo Kio GRC). The ComLink initiative, started in 2019, coordinates help for families across multiple agencies.