The deaths of pregnant women do not interest the press

Last Sunday, May 2, was the Spanish Mother's Day. Using this date as a reivindication, Save the Children published the eleventh report on the Global State of the Mothers. This publication has highlighted some figures, which are not covered by the media.

The purpose of this report is "to analyze the best and worst places in the world to be a mother." The indicators studied are health, education or economic conditions of both mothers and children. Some data are not always very flattering.

In fact, very alarming figures were collected: 343,000 women die each year from complications during pregnancy or childbirth; each year nearly 9 million children do not reach their fifth birthday. It is also important to note that 50 million women in developing countries give birth without the attention of minimally qualified staff.

On the other hand, it also indicates that the best country to have a child is Norway, while the worst is Afghanistan. Spain stands at number 13, after dropping two spots on the list. Given these data, it is important to analyze the treatment the media have given to the report.

Spanish headlines looms as Spain and Norway are among countries optimal for childbearing. The Público journal reports "Spain, a good place to be a mother", El País, "Norway is the best country in the world to be a mother”; and ABC, “The world's best place to be born." In the three of them the priority information is about Spain and the best places to give birth to kids.

News agencies highlight the best and worst place to have a child. The Spanish news agency EFE entitled "Norway and Australia, the best countries to be a mother, and the worst is Afghanistan”; and France's AFP: "Norway is the best country to be mother and the worst is Afghanistan." Other papers emphasize the fall in the list of Spain: El Mundo says that "Spain is worse in the ranking of countries to be a mother" or La Vanguardia, "Spain drops two places in the ranking of the best countries to be mother."

No paper opens with the headline referring to the 343,000 women that die each year from complications during pregnancy or childbirth. Although, it was the headline appearing in the press release sent by Save the Children to the media. Why are we so afraid to recognize these victims? If we observe the presence of this information is in the news, we find that these data do not appear or simply is summarized in several sentences.

From Save the Children they say that they are satisfied because "most of the media carried the report data." However, they point out that "prioritizing the information that affects the western world is not going to achieve awareness in the international society on the South."

Different approaches to the information cause different views. On this occasion they have. The information published in the media does not correspond to what Save the Children has pointed out. Perhaps these media need to learn some lessons from NGOs with the aim to take the South ona higher place on the agendas of the communication.

The hijab is avoided in certain school classes

During the last two weeks the controversy of the hijab has dominated the media. Since Najwa took the decision to wear the veil, the doors of her school in Pozuelo de Alarcón (Madrid, Spain) are closed.

Inconsistent regulations and a difficult integration. The government takes no position, every political leader of the PSOE remains a different opinion. Spanish society does not have an idea either. Some people just want to meet standards, others argue that the hijab does not have the same meaning as a cap.

While Najwa is trying to adapt to another school, the different cultures who settle in Spain evolve together. And it is that, through mutual understanding, these adaptations will be much easier.

The theme is open to dispute. A confrontation that has calmed down now, but soon another storm will re-emerge.

"Ellas crean 2010" (Girls Compose 2010) ... but boys write the music

Ellas Crean Festival (a femenine compositors festival) this year has surprised the lovers of classical music with an unusual lineup. Despite its name and what it suggests, especially against what seems to support, the songs of this year were written in the handwriting of characters as diverse as unfeminine. During the course of classical music, the audience have heard works of Franz Schubert, Antonio Vivaldi or Claudio Monteverdi, among others.

Following the lack of women composers in these concerts, whose goal is neither more nor less than that of professing equality between men and women at the time of writing on a blank score, the Association of Women in Music, with its President Mercedes Zavala to the head, sent an open letter to Zapatero on this issue.

It ensures that works are used by male composers "instead of (interpreted) to the contemporary composers, songwriters are obvious to the current and maximum generated confusion about the concept of musical authorship."

But the issue goes much further, because the artists that will be ordered to give life to the writings of these composers on stage will be foreign. Not only is this a loss of visibility of women composers, but also of the interpreters of our country.

What is the first impression of the Association of Women in Music when it knows that there will be only male composers in the Ellas Crean Festival 2010? And what does the President of this association think?
In general, there is no surprise among those who already knew the festival. Past editions ignored women composers, with the sole exception of 2008, when there was a concert dedicated to current creators from Spain. We then opened a door, but it was not either in 2009 or in 2010, where it was again reversed.

For many women, myself included, it is wrong that the authorities think that as an event dedicated to women that carry the banner of equality is all great and wonderful. We believe that if it comes to value, it is just because it shows how important our job is to do things professionally and avoids trivialization precisely. Otherwise it becomes a mere use of feminism in terms of other interests.

In the beginning this festival showed classical music in general, not only in this current side, it was basically a festival of popular and commercial music. Even today putting the focus, interestingly, musical events in which the musical authorship is weak or diluted, is limited to text, or is directly male but is hidden by highlighting the singer performer. In the music business is a common practice to hide the author, composers and other performers, etc., and emphasize only the figure on stage. To prove this you just need to see the programs of concerts, which lack any information on authorship and works to be interpreted.

A deep malaise is what we feel when the Festival expands its borders and forms including classical music, hiring foreign female performers who bring well-known repertoire of male composers of the seventeenth, eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, rather than the composers of those corresponding centuries.

This issue, together with the amount of resources used on this occasion, and the folly of pretending that displayed female musical creation, is what broke the idea.

How is it possible that in an event of such magnitude, calling for equality, women composers could be forgotten ?
Frankly, I think it is in part due to a profound ignorance. Which is no excuse, because when you have so many public resources, and the President of the Government of Spain, along with two ministries, presents the festival and increases accountability, both to find the right people to lead the event, as appropriate assistance. They should also had to be careful with the social and cultural impact of the activities carried out, and not just its immediate popularity and political advantage.

In Spain it is commonly understood that anyone believes that music, even without training, while in other plots, such as medicine, plumbing or computer, to give three colorful examples, would be assumed that we must resort to specialists. In the case of composers, mostly from the historical, more importantly, because they are generally unaware of his existence. But something that is unknown does not mean it does not exist.

Do you think there is any interest for this to take place?
This country is under an inertia that are submerged cultural policy, which seeks to promote what commercial profitability or media and hence political, even at the cost to manipulate, steal and spoil the concept of culture. The Minister of Culture hetself continually repeated the tagline that culture is "consumed", or speaks of their "consumers." This makes it clear that the industry is concerned, not culture, the latter is acquired, transmitted, is taught or cultivated, and what should occupy a Ministry of Culture, in my opinion, is how it encourages and protects it, because otherwise existing businesses and markets, which will surely be responsible for searching for business opportunities. However it is increasingly common since the agencies supposedly devoted to the cultural are working in the wrong direction.

More than 130 people have joined her protest, is it enough?
It is never enough, but despite this, the protest has been very well received among the people who are dedicated to music, and others who are not. This issue not only affects those who live on this, but it is something that affects all of society.

We seem to be sufficient given that the chain was made in a week using our mailing only, then we have not done anything to expand it, because we wanted to be sure that was an opinion shared enough. Once we had the first companies and support e-mails stopped, because the intention was to make known to the authorities involved and make them aware of our displeasure, in case they were unaware, the barbarity that is appealing to women making music without it . We choose not to send it to the press, because as an Association we just make a constructive criticism that goes directly to the bodies that have sponsored.

What responses have been achieved?
At the moment only we have an answer, in my personal mail, from the Festival Director, Concha Hernandez, which I appreciate. In her letter it was apparent that she had not understood our protest, believing, among other things that we wanted was to be programmed ourselves, which obviously is not the issue. But at least, she gave us the opportunity to respond to her letter and clarify the arguments developed which is our point of view about fundamental flaws in the approach to the Festival.

We are also still have to talk with people from the Ministry of Equality, which have sent us their concern about this issue.

On the label ELLAS CREAN in our blog, which can be found in http://mujeresenlamusica.blogspot.com/, there is the Association's open letter, the list of accessions and my answer to the director of the Festival.

If you want to share an experience or anecdote with us, it is your moment.
The sad anecdotes consists of people who share the message of the open letter, but indicated that they do not include their name for fear of retaliation or because it was not for his dealings with the ministerial authorities. It seems sad, more in a country that has only recently gained freedom of expression, so we should not give up so easily. For my part I have been under pressure and some surprisingly anonymous people sent me messages assuming creeping dark political interests in acting, but beyond these anecdotal cases the response has been enthusiastic, both women and men, of course, which is sensible, at least I think that the preservation of culture and knowledge unites us all, and we improved.


This means, in her view, "a step backwards with regard to the 2008 edition, the year that included a concert dedicated to current Spanish composers, which was certainly a successful attendance. We consider a scheduling blunder gone by well known composers rather than to value the work of historical women composers whose repertoire is still difficult to know ".

So far, more than 130 people have signed this petition. It is easy to think that their claims are well founded and entirely logical, but despite both the Ministry of Equality and Culture went ahead with the festival's program. All this is framed as a cultural activity of cultural events prepared on the occasion of the Spanish Presidency of the European Union.

Since this statement is released by a question that has not yet had a response in the world of music: "Can you imagine a claim of "creative cinema" that shows films of male directors, promoting the action of known actresses?"

Note on Women in Music:
The Association wWomen in Music, is a Spanish national association and within the Institute for Women, has over 20 years working in the recovery of the repertoire of composers and historical care and dissemination. Its main objective is to promote, publicize and promote the role of women in music creation, especially in traditionally underserved areas. Among its members are also composers, performers, conductors, musicologists and managers, as well as music lovers, and some partners who share our interest in achieving these objectives.

Arise of the number of child soldiers in Somalia

UNICEF has warned of a growing number of child recruitments by armed groups in Somalia. Some of them have only nine years, and many are beaten or executed when captured.

The use and manipulation of life of these children that benefit gangs or armed forces should be considered, according to the United Nations Fund for Children, as a war crime. They are early taught to sow panic and have no mercy. The organization's director, Anthony Lake, said that they suffer psychological and physical damage, which sometimes leads them to become like their bosses when they grow up.

UNICEF has requested the unanimous condemnation of these acts by the international community and the demobilization of child soldiers. They call for "a childhood free of horrors" for these children, who must regain their childhood and reintegrate in their communities.

The rain forgets Sahel

Photo: C. Moreno Vazquez from IO

These are the lands Sahel, in Africa. There is a drought causing that over 10 million people are at risk of a major food crisis. Niger is the country whit the highest risk, with 8 million people in the areas affected by the lack of rain, but the threat extends to other countries in the region such as Chad, Mali, Burkina Faso, Mauritania and Nigeria.

The erratic rains last year resulted in a lack of water and a significant shortfall in the pasture, resulting in poor harvests. In Niger, crops were reduced by 26% compared to last year, and in some regions, notably in Diffa in eastern and western Tillabéry, there was nothing to be harvest. In Chad, the harvest was 34% less than the year before. It is expected that the regions of Hadjer Lamis, Batha, Bahr El Ghaza, and Guera Kanem and eastern Chad are seriously affected, especially from the month of April 2010.

According to Oxfam, the grain prices are high and rising in the region. In Niger, prices of millet increased by 25% and sorghum by 50% compared to 2009. No rain is expected by June and it is expected to steadily increase prices until the next harvest in September.

Faced with this shortage and lack of resources, open pits that people share with animals become a major focus of infection and can cause epidemics.

The NGO Oxfam has enabled links to encourage donations for projects in these countries. Several other NGOs such as SOS Aldeas Infantiles also follow developments from around the famine that threatens these countries.

Mens sana ... in healthy Móstoles

A course that helps us in our day to day and also provide us with more knowledge does not have to cost money. Education goes beyond the conventional institutions and is already installed in the councils of many municipalities to provide free training to its citizens. A good example is the School Health Department of Móstoles (Madrid).

Back in 1998 was created the Municipal School of Health in Móstoles. In this town of Madrid, education activities were practiced for health but were converted guidelines and objectives according to the Jakarta Declaration on health promotion in the twenty-first century held in July 1997.

In the 2009-2010 school year, there were taught 15 courses, two workshops and a roundtable for "mostoleños" to learn to eat, sleep, interact with family members and managing stress. Each course is targeted to those population groups who need to know the objectives to be addressed. There are courses for all the general population, but there are also targeting women as the course "Women and Health" or for people over 65 years as a course of "Training of Memory." Even students in local institutes have also attended these training sessions.

Marisa Relaño is one of the health workers who provide these courses.

What type are the groups to which you give that many talks?
Most groups are made up of women over 50 years, that is the largest bulk of the population to which we are headed. As age advances, over 60 or 65 more men come here because they get retired and can better assist to classes in the morning. Then there is another group of young men of the institutes.

Marisa thinks women have always been more interested in the issues of character formation and recognize these kinds of activities, and that men can't always assist in the delivery shifts they are working. However, when these courses are taught in the partnerships, shifts later, the number of women and men is very similar.

Where do you see the interest of students in each course? Do you think you they come to be entertained, to learn more, to meet other people ...?
They mostly come to improve. The first few times they came without knowing o see what they could give, to spend a little time; but now after 10 years of existence of the School, it has run too loud. Now people come because they know that they can improve, that every person can be the protagonist of his life and improve their health. They come to learn and choose. They are no longer blind now choose because others have recommended us.

Each course is scheduled on specific dates that are shared with the brochures, but we can also find information about them on the web.

At first, those who have enrolled in a course can not return to study at another different because it would prevent other interested citizens to enjoy them. But they can ask for permission to enroll in several of the courses that are offered in the School Health. But this has led to demands of some students in some classes. Relaño says that "those who did the course Health Gaining and Positive Emotions" came later to ask for a second course to deepen the level. But we would like to limit the amount of people that we are heading because we have a privileged group and the School claims to reach as many people as possible and from there locate individual resources and the ways to deepen it to move forward. "

What is the course of prior learning?
The course of emotions, not knowing well what it was. They never start from zero level, because you always know something. Also, stress and sexuality workshops, because they came with many concepts or misconceptions. Feeding or menopause does more things to know before going through the course.

How would you explain the methodology?
What is important is that people learn from their own concepts. The first session of presentation and collection of expectations helps us to know what people expect and what they bring. We work on their own concepts, we continue to add new ideas, but we work on what people know. Then we promote the group and it is enriched. Perhaps you do not know something in theory but it is practicing, so we tried that out. It creates a very nice atmosphere in the group with a good climate of complicity and laugh a lot. In these classes we do not take notes. We deliver a dossier to students explaining what is involved in the classroom and to access and read literature. We carry a prepared script because there are things that are essential and should be taught.

Why do you recommend these courses?
Because they are super (laughs). Because people need to know how to be better or have a better health, not only having to go to the doctor is teverything we can do about our health, I can do something to improve myself and my relationships, for better meal to feed me and my family.... I can do something. That's why I recommend it wholeheartedly.

These courses do not support a large number of participants as this would hinder the delivery of these and participation with questions or experiences of the participants. The health workers of this school are just five for the various courses and the demand of citizens is growing.

What do you think the (local) Administration should improve with these workshops?
Well, they should improve the recruiting rules, to let us take at least twice as many people because the demand is great and we, the team, we are five, and no more. Then five to reach the entire population, most high schools, plus exhibitions of Móstoles, the conferences, round tables ... we should get doubled.

And what would the participants improve ?
They improve a lot but they can always be more involved. They could also take a second step which is also to become health workers, what some people actually do. In some associations, such as AFINSYFACRO (Association of fibromyalgia), we took a memory training course, sexuality and emotions workshops and has been a group of three or four people who have set up training sessions for people without this type of training. In some cases they have worked as health workers and that would be the next step.

How do the students leave after this conference?
Surprised. They are accustomed, perhaps, to receive other training. We use very plain language that everyone understands and people leave with the feeling that you can do something.

But not only the students leave with a learning, health workers also learn for free with these courses. Having known these courses and the students who come to them, Marisa Relaño's experience as an instructor leaves a good taste.

What do you like most about the work you do?
What I like is giving me the opportunity to learn from the people. We learn a lot: from what we read, study and continuing education required by the school, but we learn a lot of groups. People teaches you where to go, what to fix, what you have to put more emphasis and work with people is amazingly good.

Health form is not a question of investing large amounts of money but of their own volition and knowledge that can help find resources for it. The solution may be in our own environment.

Did someone say Nunca Mais (Never Again)?

Associated Press image provided by the United States Navy.

A controlled burn near Mexico deploys a cloud of smoke worthy of a volcano in Iceland. Meanwhile, oil from the BP plant officially stated that "the containment of the spill is out of control." BP has successfully sealed the three leaks, but still has taken out to sea some 800,000 liters of fuel more, representing about 5,000 barrels (77,000 tons Prestige let the beaches of Galicia in 2002).

But it is not so much economic loss than environmental. Action to stop this big patch of oil, silently approaching toward Louisiana, are increasingly controversial. Several environmental groups have complained about the use of chemical dispersants on the spot, which may also affect marine species and the entire ecosystem in general, maybe even more so than the actual discharge.

Thousands of volunteers are waiting for the arrival of oil on the beaches, while BP tries to repair the ecological destruction caused, by the construction of a bell to suck the oil at 1,500 meters below sea level. This action has never been tested at sea. In the coming days we will see whether in this case occurs, as they say, that the remedy is worse than the disease.

The eight Development Failures of the Millennium

Little more than four years. This is the time remaining on the UN to put an end to term was marked in 2002 to achieve its Millennium Development Goals. To get to carry out such a range of pastoral ideas that have not been taken too seriously by the international community.

On environmental issues, Goal 7 is very clear when pointing towards sustainable development and resource savings. But not only world leaders turned their backs on this precept in Copenhagen, but that today are permitted to plant sea oil is pulling thousands of gallons of crude and no one remedy. Drinking water remains a dream for millions of Africans who are forced to drink orange streams. The gap between rich and poor worsens, so that the conditions of the slums is still the same as years ago.

Goal 8 has no deadline for execution, but not the least important. You could say that is so crucial that takes place should have been already launched. In a globalized world is inadmissible as visible disparities exist between countries, but it is very nice say things like "will provide access to essential medicines in developing countries at affordable prices." Phrases like this silenced the conscience of the developed countries, who see every day the children who had the misfortune to be born in other continents dying from lack of vaccines that they have surplus. They are also too proud to cut the debts of years ago with developing countries. A debt can not be sustainable for those places where the population does not even have to eat. And at least for countries like Haiti, where they have lost everything.

The fixing some goals must not leave anyone indifferent, least of all the States who hold the reins of our lives. It should provide a clear commitment and no excuses. Because the world's future depends on decisions taken now, and if today the proposal of the UN is not met, what guidelines will be met tomorrow?

Despair at the apparent failure

Ten years have passed since the Millennium Summit convened in New York in which 192 member countries of the United Nations set eight goals. For the first time, the international development agenda put a date to achieve concrete agreements and measurable. Five years after the end of the period, it is provided no glimpse of hope that the objectives are achieved.

With the introduction of target 5 was proposed to reduce, between 1990 and 2015, maternal mortality by three quarters. We just celebrated Mother's Day while we knew that 343 000 women die each year from complications during pregnancy or childbirth. Deaths occur mainly in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia.

To better understand the situation, we must note that in 7 women who are pregnant in Niger one dies in childbirth, while in Spain dies one per 16 400 women giving birth. Given these figures we can understand the gaps in health services of developing countries. The paradox is that this data is repeated every year, causing as a result that is the objective of this millennium that less progress.

Other objectives are better in terms of funding. Goal 6 covers the arrest and reducing the spread of HIV / AIDS, malaria and other diseases. To this end, governments and official development assistance have increased their budgets in recent years. Yet despite this aid, three million people die each year from illness related to AIDS. More than one million, from malaria. Too many lives lost.

These figures are alarming. Faced with such negative information is envisioned that no progress in health in developing countries. The international community should demonstrate with NGOs to demand that our governments do not laugh at the most disadvantaged and meet their targets for 2015.

So long ... and a few aims to get there

With five years to reach the deadline set by the United Nations, known as "millennium goals" remain to be unfulfilled. Recently, Ban Ki-Moon has called a summit in New York from 20 to 22 September to give the necessary impetus to these issues, something that was needed.

The protection of women and children is paramount within eight points that the UN considers key to global development. To eliminate discrimination on grounds of sex, the organization has three goals: to eliminate disparities in access to different levels of education, increase the number of women in wage employment and increase the proportion of seats they hold in national parliaments.

However, as our blog has been reporting from the beginning, there remains a large number of women in African and Asian countries that are forced to leave school and marry before reaching adulthood. Others do not have the necessary resources and must work to help their families.

This is not the only point with a limp. In advanced countries like ours, many women continue to earn less for the same job as a man and the number of females in senior positions remains very low. The only place where change is in politics, because it gives more votes to sell support for women, provides more jobs. Parity only looks at the number, not the person is competent to hold office, which is discriminatory to both men and women.

Furthermore, the millennium goals wanted to reduce child mortality raised for children under five years between 1990 and 2015 in two-thirds. According to the report, 30,000 children die per day that have not reached this age. The lack of medicines and malnutrition are often the main causes of this very high mortality. Obviously, spending on hospitals and improving hygienic conditions is still remarkable. However, while poor people remain the most difficult to reach with this progress, thousands of children continue to die every day.

There are now five years, long time yet to really achieve results if governments and international organizations fail to commit to things and begin to fulfill them.

The failures of the Millennium Development Goals

There are only five years to reach the UN deadline set in the Millennium Development Goals and we feel the failure to be able to overcome any of the eight.

The first objective is to eradicate extreme poverty and hunger. At first, it makes it impossible especially taking into account the period of crisis in which we are immersed. We can not excuse ourselves. From 2000 to 2008 - the year in which the crisis began, the GDP (Gross Domestic Product) growth processes experienced a global high. United States went from having a GDP in 2000 from 9.765 trillion to 14.1 trillion in 2008. During the same period China increased from 1.193 trillion to 4.327 trillion, South Africa 276.4 billion to 132.9 billion, Australia 1.017 trillion 399.6 billion to 580.7 billion and Spain to 1.604 trillion. There was a boom worldwide.

In 1980 the UN General Assembly finalized the ODA at 0.7% of GDP, however, only Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden met this goal. The rest of the developed countries have maintained its official development assistance by about 0.3%.

The work of the NGOs is not getting easy either. The cancellation of the debt to developing countries has not been effective gone and has only provided its cancellation in special cases, such as Haiti. On 2 April, the Parliamentary Assembly ACP-EU (African, Caribbean and Pacific States and the European Union) passed a resolution in favor of eliminating the debt and accelerate the reconstruction of Haiti.

We can’t wait for disasters to warn us of the needs that poor countries spend, nor provide timely financial assistance. We must help them so they can be independent and can avail loans without requiring countries to make them more debt. With the proper use of all resources of these countries by the Indians will be ready. However, with a debt that a country has had for decades is hard to be independent.

It's easy now to only think of saving ourselves from the crisis and return to the previous boom period, but we must look back at those who live in a permanent crisis and survive on less than a euro or a dollar a day.

The second objective is literacy and education: achieving universal primary education. Although there is no yardstick to measure literacy rates in the world, or to encrypt an age or level of quality of writing and reading, most of the sources takes the age of 15 as the deadline for having achieved a basic education.

In 1998, the UN decided to create the figure, for a period of three years a Special Rapporteur whose mandate will focus on the right to education, as stated in Article 26 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Currently, the SRP is Vernor Muñoz Villalobos. He is the representative of the struggle against illiteracy and makes reports to analyze this right in case studies.

Knowing that the UN has a specific mandate for literacy is clear that much remains to be done. Not only are children, but also many women and elderly who have not had access to literacy and also falls on them this right.

For example, the Global Humanitaria NGOs have projects to deliver school supplies, classroom construction and teacher training in countries like Guatemala and Nepal. In addition, you do not leave Spain to hear cases of illiteracy (although data are not as flashy) and marginal groups is that there are still cases of children not in school.

It is important to set ourselves apart from a few goals at international level we know to fulfill them. We must realize that a personal level collaboration, such as volunteering for an NGO can make a little help to achieve these objectives which were set to be met in 15 years and that, for now, seem impossible.

Paula Gómez-Angulo: "We can’t expect others to change"

Paula Gómez-Angulo is the president of the Youth Section Women in Equality, an organization dedicated to the defense of women in every way, from the inequality of wages to abuse. She has a degree in journalism is also a Member of the Assembly of Madrid and Coordinator General of New Generation Communication of the Partido Popular.

In this interview, explains the purpose of that NGO and what are the projects that she is currently engaged in.

What are the main objectives for which the organization is currently struggling?
Women in Equality is an organization that strives for real equality between men and women. We manage four shelters for women victims of abuse and a centre for immigrant women (Cosmi) that is in the District of Vallecas.

What is the daily work in Women in Equality?
We are currently renovating the organizational structure in Spain and implanted into provinces where it did not exist, so we are traveling a lot. In addition to managing the shelters, which require total involvement.

We also produce various information campaigns and protest on issues related to current events and problems facing women in our society, such as working hours.

We are also increasingly present in the internet, and in addition to the website, we have a profile on Facebook, Twitter and our own channel on YouTube, NIUNAMÁS, which is for anyone who wants to express their opinions against abuse.

What do you think are the problems that women have to face today in a modern society like the Spanish?
The main problem is the responsibility, not the reconciliation, between her life and work.

Today, women are forced to choose between having a family or a career, and that must be changed. It is not a problem for women, but of society. Only involved women and men can eradicate it.
This goes engaged with working hours, wage differentials ...

You have a section aimed at young women. What kind of matters is dedicating this part of Women's Equality?
The youth section, which is what I led directly, seeks to engage young women in society and work, contributing their views to solve the problems we encounter today.

Young women have been born in democracy and we cultivate equality with men, we had the same opportunities.

The problem arises when, at the time of entering the labor market, differences still exist at the time of hiring, wages ... and this can change by putting each one our grain of sand from different areas of society. It is a matter of implication, we can not expect others to change things, we all have to contribute.

What are the results so far of rural training and new technologies that you are teaching? Do you plan to further develop such activities in the near future?
The courses are offered each year here, and it depends on the subsidies that we expand or not. The result has always been very positive and an increasing number of women have received them.

The Institute for Women has supported your "Manual for the prevention of gender violence." They are interesting such partnerships to achieve the objectives. Have you done any other work with other organizations?
We currently have a partnership with an association of prostitutes, to eradicate trafficking from the countries of origin. You have to inform women before they come to Spain of what they will find here.

Thank you, Paula, for your opinions and let us know the interesting projects of this organization.

Gender-based violence extends among adolescents

The perpetrators and victims of abuse are becoming younger each time. The girls who have not yet reached the age of majority are already facing such cases. In a few years now, the phenomenon is beginning to worry. The figures are not very anecdotic.

Gabriel Alconchel, Injuve CEO, explains that "gender violence is based on the feeling of belonging from the man over a woman and unfortunately, many teenagers have that feeling too."

According to Eva Corrales, National Policewoman from Palma, they have registered an increase in complaints by very young girls who suffer abuse, humiliation and physical abuse by their boyfriends. In Córdoba there has also been observed in recent years that women have complaints of mistreatment of an ever-younger age.

In Tarragona, these cases increased by 33% in 2009. Luis Morales, head of the Domestic Violence Court in this city, says that today the complainants are of all ages. He indicates that many young people have suffered attacks in their first romantic relationship with 15 or 16 years, and that they have been hiding it from their parents.

This is the data of a few provinces, but enough to get an idea of the shocking increase in cases among adolescents. Where is the root of the problem? What values have today's youth?

In the light of a study by the Center for Adult Education, Juan Jose Llorente says that it is checked that 15% of boys between 16 and 25 years believe that when a woman is abused, it is because she deserves it. According to surveys, there is a reversal in the thinking of the girls between 16 and 25, as they are not so clearly informed about gender equality than women over 26. It is worrying that in the same age group, 5% of girls agree that if the man abused of a woman is because he has reasons to do it.

It should be noted, for example, that 50% of respondents felt that a family is better when there is a father who exercises authority in the home, and between 20 and 35% say that in these times, we must prioritize access of men to work because they have more capacity. As you can see, there are still many women who are mentally under the man and see him as the dominant male.

According to the "Journal of Youth Studies", 17.7% of men under 30 believe that the aggressive man is more attractive to women, and 4.5% of women supported the same theory. However, young people must begin to understand that there are ways of being men, as this publication explains, "that begin to be not correctly valued in society".

We all must tackle the problem of this kinds of aggression from the root, trying to teach in children and adolescents the right ideas to grow up believing in equality. If we all make an effort, the change in mentality is possible. We must eliminate from our minds the idea of male superiority in order to convey to younger values which we consider necessary in a society of the 21st century.

The Spanish government continues to export arms to countries at war

Spain remains to be one of the countries that export arms. During 2009, these practices increased by 64.5% over the first half of last year. Therefore, the NGOs Amnesty International, Foundation for Peace, Oxfam and Greenpeace have denounced in a joint statement that the Spanish Government does not comply with the Law 53/2007, regulating the arms trade with foreign countries.

These organizations have accused Spain of "selling defense equipment in 2009 to countries where human rights are no respected as Colombia, Morocco, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Guinea."

They also assert that Spain "has continued to produce exports to worrying destinations such as Morocco, with 29.5 million, Colombia with 31 million, Saudi Arabia, with almost 5 million, and others like Pakistan, Sri Lanka or Thailand." According to data from the Ministry of Commerce, "Spain exported defense equipment valued at 411.1 million Euros."

This law was passed in 2007 and is still unimplemented, "does not authorize transfers to places where these weapons might be used to violate human rights or the international humanitarian law, or where there is risk of diversion to other countries."
In addition, these four NGOs called on the Government of Zapatero "to explain whether it has authorized or will authorize the sale of technology and engineering to unmanned Israeli company Goldtech Technologies, by the Spanish company Aries, and Systems Engineering, with which the Executive signed an agreement in 2009. "

Journalists and NGOs will evaluate tomorrow the media coverage of Haiti

On January 12th, Haiti, the poorest country in the Americas, was hit by an earthquake that ended the lives of thousands of people. Haitians lived a cruel nightmare that was published by all media of the planet.

In order to analyze media coverage of this tragedy, the Casa Encendida (Madrid) welcomes tomorrow, May 4, from 10:30 am the day "Count (with) Haiti."

The NGO Solidaridad Internacional has claimed that most of the analysis published in the media reflected local actors as "ineffective and passive victims or violent and uncontrolled." Also goes on to say "the joint reaction of civil society and calls for solidarity with Haiti made by some NGOs did not see his reflection in the media."

"Count (with) Haiti" will address the media aspect and the reconstruction. The day will begin with a workshop with journalists and special correspondents, like Antonio Parreño (TVE), Edurne Arbeloa (CNN), Thilo Schafer (Público), o Nicolás Castellanos (Cadena Ser). In the afternoon, there will be a talk between members of NGOs and other institutions.

This day was organized by the NGO International Solidarity, La Casa Encendida, the research institute on conflict and humanitarian action and the Press Association of Madrid.

16,000 women taking the fight against cancer in Madrid

Ready, set ... go! This morning at 9 the VII Women's Race began for the fight against cancer.

The event, organized by the magazine "Runner's World" and "Sports Life," seeks to raise money for the Spanish Association against Cancer, which will receive one euro for each dorsal sold. This year, nine Spanish cities have joined the initiative. Today it was up to Madrid.

After a minute of silence for Juan Antonio Samaranch, 16,000 women and some men in a wig have moved ahead from the Paseo de Coches del Retiro. Passing Menéndez Pelayo, some people, mostly men, were waiting to give them encouragement. It could also be seen in the decline to several TV cameras to which the girls that greeted with joy.

They had to cross the Plaza de Mariano de Cavia, Paseo Infanta Isabel, Calle Alfonso XII, the Plaza de la Independencia and Calle Alcalá. The tour ended in the same place that it started. Around 9:25 AM the fastest began to cross the finish line.

Penelope Baths, winner of this year, has taken a time of 20 minutes and 48 seconds. Ana Gayarre and Amaya Sanfabio were the following women to reach the finish. Others have preferred to go for a quiet ride and even some mothers have taken their children, which were with their hand or with baby carriages.

In the Paseo de Coches, you can purchase different items and gifts, among the various sponsoring brands that had a stand, to include Central Dairy Asturiana, GoGirl, Cosmopolitan, Asics or Buckler. Attendees were able to enjoy, in addition, the presence of Paula Vazquez and Dafne Fernandez, and also Anne Igartiburu, sponsor of this race, and some professional athletes.

At the end of the sporting event, there has been an aerobics and fitness show, Indian dances and a concert by Sergio Rivero.

The next meeting will be the day 23 in Santiago de Compostela. The matritians this year have stayed at home, and they can start thinking about the race of 2011. We do not ask competitiveness or professionalism, but wanted to play sports and help each other with a gesture that costs very little, but make them happy for many.

Nuria Olmos: "Every day four pieces of news are published in Madrid about the Red Cross"

The media have allowed us to receive messages at all hours of the day. Today, we live saturated with information. NGOs know that, and therefore they strive to be remembered by the recipients. With this goal they have established communication departments. To learn how the press office of an NGO works and is organized, we have interviewed Nuria Olmos, from the Red Cross in Madrid.

- How many people make up the press office of Madrid Red Cross?
- Currently we are four people: the communications director and three other people. Although we are four permanent workers, we can’t forget the work done by volunteers.

- What tasks do you carry it out?
- Well, it depends on the person (laughs). The communications director is coordinating the team. He prepares budgets, among other functions. The others have specific tasks, one has the press office and works in public relations issues. Another is responsible for the web, intranet and collaborates in the work of the press office. And the third is entrusted in the area of internal communication and image issues.

- Currently, what projects are you developing?
- The communications department has not marked projects. We are a cross-department that supports the various activities organized by other departments. For example, in Education for Development, they are developing a project that want to spread, from communication to advise them about the message we have to bring the public, the type of act to be performed by either a press conference, send a statement or to arrange media interviews, mostly by helping them to segment the population that should be addressed. In Red Cross we touch a huge number of issues, so that we can’t overwhelm people with a barrage of information about this NGO.

- How do you detect information appearing in the media about Red Cross Madrid?
- Central Red Cross has hired a company that is responsible for tracking the news about Red Cross listed in the national press. However, we note that the absence of a provincial press in Madrid, our information just has no place in Madrid supplements of national newspapers. Therefore, our firm analyzes this impact through Google alerts, since most of the newspapers in Madrid are digital.

- What is the impact on the media generated by the Red Cross?
- According to the latest impact of the information generated by the Red Cross Madrid, every day in the local press they are published about four stories. In addition, the issues that matter most are the actions we have undertaken by the current economic crisis we live in, and the advices we offer about health.

- What kind of publications do you have?
- Many (laughs). Because depending on whom we direct we use one or another. The media arrived through press releases to members via the digital newsletters and all citizens through the Web and a blog. On the domestic side of the organization we inform through the Intranet and supplements as CREACTIVE or Health Newsletter. We utilize the Internet as a means of dissemination as we have implemented a policy of 0 paper.

- As press office, how have you adapted to the Internet?
- The first thing we did was to publish most of our content via the Internet, causing more widespread due to a lower cost. In addition, we have improved our communications with donors we have in the territorial delegations that are dispersed throughout the world. Before, we had to establish a communication via satellite phones, now we are communicated through Skype.

After analyzing the work of a press office, if I ask, “What do you remember of Red Cross?”, you sure will think of enough information about this NGO. These memories are the result of the work of members of the press office who are struggling because the message of this NGO prevails in the minds of all citizens. This is part of the specialization of the reporters, that every day is gaining more prominence as NGOs, companies and other interested institutions for the public to remember anymore.

Nearly 5 million children work in Mexico

4.9 million Mexican children between six and fourteen years old are forced to work. Of these, 1.3 million receive no pay and many work in appalling conditions, as the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has declared in the country.

The agency complains that, despite national and international law upholds the rights of children, these kids continue to be exploited. Children who work as laborers in the countryside, for example, often begin this work at six years old and work for eight to fourteen hours each day.
In addition, they are exposed to adverse weather conditions and certain goods which could be toxic, such as pesticides.

According to the National Human Rights Commission, chaired by Raúl Plascencia Villanueva, Mexican minor children suffer from exploitation, abuse and violence. For them, it is important to end this situation because it can affect the "physical, mental and moral of the children”.

In the report, the Commission calls on the authorities to monitor more effectively these situations and to work towards the recognition and respect for human rights as any child to food, health care, education and healthy recreation.

No aid for AIDS in Madrid

At half past seven yesterday in the Puerta del Sol (Madrid, Spain), drums and whistles echoed through the square for citizens who wandered through the center of Madrid to put a little bit of attention.

The claim came from NGOs engaged in AIDS or HIV. Their cries of war and their banners were directed against the President of the Community of Madrid, Esperanza Aguirre. "AIDS moves with Hope", "No Hope for HIV" (Esperanza’s name is translated in English as Hope) was the phrase most often heard during the demonstration.

But what is exactly the Community of Madrid doing to NGOs that deal with the issue of AIDS? According to the NGOs manifesto, they "are withdrawing support for associations that have programs to prevent HIV / AIDS in the Community of Madrid."

In fact, NGOs are concerned with the helplessness in which the people of Madrid are in the prevention of AIDS because "HIV prevalence rate in the general population in the Community of Madrid, according to recent studies, is 0.7% in normal people, and up to 25% in the most vulnerable groups " They also stated that in the autonomous community that is less affected is Catalonia, which this year is spending in preventing HIV transmission through NGOs 1,5 million of Euros this year.

At the top of the banner were Pedro Zerolo, secretary of Social Movements and Relations with NGOs of the PSOE and the Attachment to the Ministry of Social Policy and Equality of CC.OO. Madrid, Horacio Márquez. "The Community of Madrid is only active in the distribution of condoms and lubricants, insufficient measures to prevent HIV," Marquez said during the protest.

Protesters finished with batuka dances. If Esperanza ignores their proposals one more time, they will lead to the Casa de Correos, the current headquarters of the Presidency of the Community of Madrid.

Amnesty International denounces aggressions against those who cross Mexico to migrate to U.S.

The NGO Amnesty International has published a report stating that Mexico is engaged in the violence against those Central Americans crossing its territory to try to reach the United States in search of a better life.

According to this document, along the Mexican state several criminal gangs await for passing migrants. When they come to their area, they attack them with violence. There have been reports of kidnappings, rapes and murders. The report highlights that six out of ten women and girls suffer sexual violence, "what makes some traffickers require women to take a contraceptive injection before the trip to avoid getting pregnant after a rape." Meanwhile, Mexican officials "ignore the facts or even participate in them."

These facts are not unknown by the international community. Thus, it is known that gangster bands attack very often on freight trains from the south of the country. The most important train that travels the country from south to north is known as "The Beast", which starts from Oaxaca. In it, migrants travel on both sides and on the roof. Before reaching its destination, the United States, they are subjected to all sorts of harassment.

One of the most notorious cases occurred on 23th January. Several policemen stopped the train that crosses the State of Chiapas and was carrying about 100 people. According to the statements of a person who was at the scene, Veronica (not her real name) said that federal police forced her to get off the train along with other migrants and lie face down on the ground, then stole their belongings and threatened to kill them if they did not continue their journey on foot along the tracks. After walking for hours, the group was attacked by armed men who raped Veronica and killed at least one of the migrants. Days later two suspects were arrested after a local activist assisted the migrants to file a complaint in the local police station, but no action was taken against the Federal Police, although migrants identified two officers allegedly involved in the action."

Amnesty International, along with other human rights defender organizations, have been asking for several years the cessation of these practices and a direct action by the Mexican authorities.