email

David Cook wears our jewelry

American Idol David Cook wears My Empowered Flower jewelry

David Cook wears our jewelry

UJA Federation "Cocktails for a Cause" honored Andrea in October 2009

Net proceeds were presented to Agnes by Andrea for the Sakutiek Center.

Andrea presenting check

Andrea presenting Agnes a check with funds raised at an event in her honor
November 2009

Please Give

MY EMPOWERED FLOWER has formed an alliance with an organization known as Americans for UNFPA. This nationally recognized 501c3 nonprofit is dedicated to promoting the health and rights of women in over 150 countries. They have enthusiastically agreed to help me allocate my proceeds and ANY donations I solicit to Agnes Pareyio and her second center, the Sakutiek Rescue House.

To make a 100 % tax deductable contribution  simply click here.

Please click here to let me know that you made a donation directly. I would love to know that my site is making a difference.

 

V-Report from Kenya: 10 Year Old Girl Dies from FGM


V-Day supporter Kim Rosen was recently working at the V-Day Safe House in Narok Kenya, and sent us this first hand report of tragic death that we wanted to share with you. V-Day is committed to continuing to work to end Female Genital Mutilation. This story reminds us all that there is more work to be done.


On August 18, in the tiny village of Narosura in the Rift Valley, a 10 year-old girl died from Female Genital Mutilation. At 5 that morning she was cut. By 10, she had bled to death.
Her family wrapped the body in a sheet and secretly buried it a few yards from their huts. By that afternoon, there was no evidence of the crime.


If it were not for the network of conscience that Agnes Pareyio has woven into the Maasai community, this child's death would have gone unnoticed. But an anonymous "informer" called her on the morning of the ceremony, in time for her to send one of her collaborators and an officer of the law to the hasty funeral.


As a result, for the first time in Maasai history, a circumciser has been arrested.
This child's death is reminder that the work is far from done. Girls are still being cut in the Rift Valley and many other places in the world. Some are dying. All are scarred for life. Agnes Pareyio is one of the leading activists of the V-Day movement. Please join us in continuing to support her work to change the fate of Maasai girls and stop FGM worldwide.


Click here for a full report >

Breaking News: President Obama states his support for UNFPA

President Barack Obama today pledged to implement policies that help raise the status of women around the world, including the restoration of a U.S. contribution to UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund.

"I look forward to working with Congress to restore U.S. financial support for the U.N. Population Fund. By resuming funding to UNFPA, the U.S. will be joining 180 other donor nations working collaboratively to reduce poverty, improve the health of women and children, prevent HIV/AIDS and provide family planning assistance to women in 154 countries,” said President Obama.

Anika Rahman, President of Americans for UNFPA responded: “The Obama Administration allows all Americans to again hold our heads high. We can be proud to be part of a nation that is, once again, ready to lead the world in promoting the health and rights of women.”

Over 7 years the Bush Administration blocked the release of a total of $ 244 million to UNFPA.

President Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton clearly understand the critical nature of women’s issues and that they are integral to U.S. foreign policy.

But to restore funding, President Obama first needs Congress to allocate funds for UNFPA in the 2009 budget. We need your help.
The House Foreign Operations Appropriation bill includes $ 60 million for UNFPA but the Senate has not agreed. Please email your Senators and tell them to support the $ 60 million allocation when the final bill comes up for a vote in the Senate.

We are thrilled that the new Administration has signaled the importance of women everywhere by supporting the need for funds that will save women’s lives. Please add your support to the President’s with a donation.

Senator Joseph Lieberman supports the fight against FGM

Thank you for contacting me to express your concerns regarding female genital mutilation (FGM), an abhorrent form of persecution, which, unfortunately, still occurs in parts of the developing world.
I agree with you wholeheartedly in condemning this horrific violation of human rights. I also support entirely provisions of U.S. law that classify FGM as a form of persecution that can provide the basis for refugee status. The United States has a moral responsibility
to lead efforts to stamp out this terrible practice and to do everything we can to aid its victims.
As you may know, Representative Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX) has introduced a resolution in the U.S. House of Representatives denouncing female genital mutilation, domestic violence, honor killings, acid burnings, dowry deaths, and other gender-based forms of persecution (H.J.Res. 10). While no companion legislation has yet been introduced in the Senate during this 111th Congress, please be assured that I will support such a measure if and when it is brought up for debate by the full Senate. To keep track of any future actions on this legislation, you can go to the "Bill Tracking" service at http://lieberman.senate.gov/issues/resources.
Thank you again for sharing your views and concerns with me. I hope you will continue to visit my website at http://lieberman.senate.gov for updated news about my work on behalf of Connecticut and the nation. Please contact me if you have any additional questions or comments about our work in Congress.


Sincerely,
Joseph I. Lieberman
UNITED STATES SENATOR
JIL:bjm