[March 10, 2014]

American Mothers, Inc. to Host United Nations Panels on Issues Facing Mothers Worldwide

In their continuing efforts to promote awareness of issues facing mothers worldwide, American Mothers, Inc.® will host two panels at the upcoming session of the United Nations' 58th Commission on the Status of Women. "The Feminization of Poverty" and "Women and HIV" will take place at United Nations Headquarters in New York on March 11, 2014.

American Mothers, a nonprofit, nongovernmental organization seeking to honor mothers and represent mothers' issues, holds consultative status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations.

"American Mothers is in a unique position to serve as the voice for countless women across the world who may go unheard," says Joan Braitsch, American Mothers president. "We appreciate the platform to be heard, and the willingness of our world leaders to learn about the issues women and children are facing."

"Motherhood and the Feminization of Poverty" (8:30am, V-Hall of the Armenian Convention Center, 630 2nd Avenue) will examine the disproportionate amount of women suffering from poverty (some estimates say women comprise 70% of the world's poor). The panel will discuss the effects of sinle motherhood; wage inequality; and the lack of access to health care, nutrition, and education. Panelists include Dr. Gina Messina-Dysert, Dean of the School of Graduate and Professional Studies at Ursuline College; Michele Stopera Freyhauf, co-founder of the Gender Justice Dialogue Project and lecturer at John Carroll University; and Elizabeth Hepburn Walker, co-founder of the Walkburn Foundation, a private foundation focused on raising literacy in third-world countries. The panel will be moderated by Dianne Callister, founder of Project Give and President of the Singer Foundation.

"Women and HIV: A Virus Knows No Gender" (2:30pm, Church Center, second floor) will examine gender norms and various forms of violence against women in relation to the rising HIV rates for women around the world. The panel will consist of Diane Anderson Minshall, Editor at Large of Advocate Magazine and Editor in Chief of HIV Plus; Velva Dawson, Deputy Director, Central Jersey Family Health Consortium; and Susan Rodriguez, Founding Director of SMART. It will be moderated by Dr. Gina Messina-Dysert, Dean of the School of Graduate and Professional Studies at Ursuline College.

Both panels are open to the public for free.

Aside from working with the United Nations, American Mothers also works closely with other organizations around the globe who share the same goals. Click here to learn more and join their global coalition.

About American Mothers, Inc.®

American Mothers, Inc.® is a nonprofit organization for women and men who recognize the important role of motherhood. The organization supports mothers across the country through educational programs and community outreach. On an annual basis, American Mothers, Inc.® selects the National Mother of the Year®, Young Mother of the Year, and Mothers of Achievement from candidates across the United States, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. For more information about AMI, visit http://www.americanmothers.org or call 877-242-4264.

[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]