WFWP Europe Project

Part 1

What is true womanhood?

Educational seminars throughout Germany : from North to South

The starting point2002At a meeting of the Hannover local WFWP chapter a Christian teacher expressed her indignation about the new law to be passed by the German government accepting prostitution as a service providing profession.

Through the law the sexuality of woman is regarded as a service provided for men. Therefore a woman’s sexuality and her body are seen as merchandise for sale. Therefore we started a campaign for the dignity of womanhood, asking people to protest against sexualised advertisement and distributing information material on the subject “dignity of womanhood”

Logo created by artist Mr. Otto Waldner : Dignity of Woman is untouchable

2002 Hanover –the beginning

Düsseldorf- Campaign for the Dignity of Women Summer 2003

After the first campaigns in northern Germany we started seminars all over Germany on the topic “Dignity of Womanhood”.

These seminars included presentations on the definition and meaning of dignity, the history of women in Europe and a talk on how to live our dignity.  

Signature Campaigns•Against the rapes in Bosnia

•Against sex and violence in TV•For the Dignity of Women

Sexualised advertisement, pornography, rape, forced veiling, forced prostitution, trafficking, female genital mutilation, honour killings, all this happens here in Europe, in front of our doors.

At no other time in history has there existed such a proliferation of pornography in books, magazines, videos, films and television.

With the help of the media, a billion dollar industry conveys the message that the brutalizing, torture, enslavement, mutilation,contempt and humiliation of the female sex is equivalent to sexual pleasure. 

trafficking

Prostitution

Forced childprostitutution

Sexual harrasment at work

Pornography

Widow burning

Domestic violence

Sexualized advertisement

Forcedveiling

Considering the amazing God-given human potential in each woman this state of affairs is unforgivableThe view of woman is distorted and she is

degraded merely to the role of sexual object. If we continue to tolerate this type of misuse of

the female body then we open the door to violence against women and offend the very dignity of woman.

This has nothing to do with how the equality of women has been touted in our society.

Also this is de - sanctification of the true original femininity and therefore defilement of God’s Femininity

Dignity of man and woman

Not respecting the dignity of woman, is at the same time not respecting the dignity of man.

Vice versa, respecting the dignity of womanhood includes respecting the dignity of manhood as well as respect for God as the creator and origin of man and woman.

Let us bring back to full, human awareness the original value and the original beauty of the woman!

Part 2

Definition of „ Dignity of the human being“

The first to have formulated the term ‘dignity of the human being’ was the renaissance-philosopher Pico della Mirandola. In his speech ‘De hominis dignitate’ (Meaning from Latin “About the

dignity of the human being”1486/87), he shows that man is free to determine his nature in accordance with his own will.

“What an enormous and admirable happiness of the human being to whom it is given to have what he desires and to be what he wishes to be”

Dignity dwells within each person

According to the German philosopher Immanuel Kant every person has dignity, it dwells within, independant of his abilities, social position or other characteristics like gender, race or age.

„So God created man in His own image, in the image of God he created him,male and female He created them."

The very first Declaration of Human Rights is found in the Old Testament,  

Genesis 1, 26,27.God explains, that every human being,

man and woman,has been created in His image, without any restriction of gender, race, intelligence or faith.  

This Bibel passage has been nominated by Michael Horowitz, a leading US

Human Rights Lawyer, as the greatest revolutionary statement ever made.

Dignity is a human right

Declaration of Human Rights

Excerts of the Preamble Whereas recognition of the inherent

dignity and of the equal inalienable rights of all members of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world,...

Whereas the peoples of the United Nations have in the Charter reaffirmed their faith in fundamental human rights, in the dignity and worth of the human person and in the equal rights of men and women and have determined to promote social progress and better standards of life in larger freedom,..

Man and woman are created in the image of God

Ethical autonomy of peopleMan’s responsibility

Ethical autonomy of peopleMan’s responsibility

For the individual Directed to the societyAll human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. ´(HRD) The control of urges through moral

strength is freedom of spirit, and the expression of this phenomenon is called Dignity. Dignity has various degrees, where she approaches grace and beauty, it is called Noble and where it borders with awe, it will be called Sovereign. The highest degree of grace is "magical", and the highest degree of dignity is Majesty.(Friedrich Schiller about Grace and Dignity-1793)

The dignity of human beings is inviolable. It is the duty of all governmental institutions, to respect and protect it.(Article 1 UD of HR)

as feature as commission

Dignity

How to relate to our dignity?We need to reflect upon

our unique and precious personality. Now is the time to learn to cherish ourselves, to realise that we possess unique values, capabilities and talents which our society so desperately needs. The world today is seeking for feminine values.

Becoming aware of our specific feminine qualities, will strengthen self-respect and understanding that, without women, as well as the feminine qualities in men respectively; there can be no peace and no further development in the society and the world. As soon as we deeply engraft these wonderful abilities in our consciousness, we will find our dignity.

Dignity as a cornerstone of the culture of heart and peace

Milestones In the seminars on dignity,

first of all, we elaborate on different ways how to discover our dignity, creating the awareness of women being daughters of God.

And then, how to live our dignity, in other words, how to live true womanhood.

Throughout the seminar we set milestones:

Finding our inner queen Recognize our mask Becoming aware of our specific

feminine qualities Be authentic Let go of fears and sally forth Accept ourselves and our life Let go of feelings of guilt Keep our sense of dignity Remind ourselves of our divinity Recognize our years of activity Look at time as a gift of creation Articulate the aim of our soul Desires and visions are our

internal fire Let our fire burn Feminine power is the power of

creation and realization Occupy the position in the

universe intended for us Our life is our work of art

Only if women live with dignity, society can change the image of women

Seminars and presentations on the „Dignity of Women“

A Historical Chance

The power of femininity within me

The Culture of Peace

Feminine Qualities of leadership

The dignity of womanhood throughout the ages

Living our dignity

Is peace possible?

Bridge of peace, a new way to heal wounds

Becoming a pillar in the Bridge of Peace

Unseen spiritual power of women

Empowering Women From Within

Reconciliation as a basis for creating a sustainable culture of peace

Creating awareness of human dignity

Milestones

God Mother, the feminine aspect of God

Women in leadership positions

2005 April 16/17. Giessen May 21./22. Düsseldorf July 23./ 24. Munich Oct. 1./2. Nienburg Nov. 19./20. Stuttgart

2006 Feb 11/12. Nürnberg March 25./ 26. Frankfurt June 9/11 Braunfels

2007 Salzgitter, September 15.th Düsseldorf Sept. 22nd

2008 Stuttgart Jan. 12th Düsseldorf Feb. 23rd Giessen March 8th. Bonn March 9th Frankfurt May 7th Nürnberg June 21st 2009 Stuttgart, February 28th Nienburg 18th to 20th April

BooktablesHanover, Düsseldorf, Bonn, Giessen

Committee Meetings

Website www.diewuerdederfrau.de

Calenders, postcards, invitations, bookmarks, pens, recorded presentations , slides, presentation folders and many other materials to create awareness of the dignity of women in society

Part 3

2007The European Board members with Mrs. Martina Coombs as WFWPI Vice President for Europe decided to present the Dignity Project on the European level.

EU – Launching The Dignity of Women June, 8 – 10 2007 Seebenstein, AustriaEU – Launching The Dignity of Women June, 8 – 10 2007 Seebenstein, Austria

WFWP EUROPE 2008 26

German French Seminar on Dignity with Sisterhood

Straßburg, September 2007

Dignity goes to Slovenia, 18-20th October 2008

Mrs. Kristina Bacovnik, WFWP Slovenia President, invited Mrs. Ingrid Lindemann and Mrs. Christine Sato to present the „Dignity of Women“ at several events and to discuss with journalists in Maribor, Celje and Ljubljana. The project was presented: • On a Live talk radio programme, • City Hall in Maribor, where we were welcomed by the Mayor and the local UN Human Rights Representative, and several NGO Representatives • WFWP Charity concert in Celje with the Bishop of the Catholic Church • In Ljubljana at a Family Federation Event

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„Dignity“ in relation to the Millennium Development Goals

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WFWP Europe 2008 Conference on Dignity

Empowering Women for Peace BuildingCommemorating the Decade for Peace and Non Violence for the Children of the World Promoting Human Dignity to prevent trafficking and addiction: 60 years of the UDHR (10th Dec.1948)

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Several Areas of work: * Education & Participation, Networking - UN committee on Drugs, Crime and Human Rights * Campaigns:

Advertising Prevention Trafficking of persons

•Activities:Supporting Mothers in their families Providing support for young women

The Dignity of Women

Organisations participating: UNICRI, Exit, Mayina, First step south

Paris – WFWP Europe Conference 2009

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Dignity Project International

WFWP USA : Mrs. Tina Coombs presented the project in

the USARussia: Mrs. Nina Izaak ( Russia President,

retired) visited Germany, to take the Dignity material to network with other NGOs

to assist in preventing trafficking

Dignity project on International Women conferences

Women´s World Conference Madrid, Spain, 2008

Presented by WFWP Spain President Marcia D Abreuv

WORLD CIVIC FORUMRole of Higher Education

for Civic Enhancement

“The Dignity of Women and Social Responsibility”

Presented by June Darby PerrinWFWP Germany

May 7, 2009 COEX Seoul, Korea

www.livingdignity.eu

Thankyou