Success! Eileen Chamberlain Donahoe Confirmed!

Yesterday afternoon Eileen Chamberlain Donahoe was confirmed as the first ever United States Ambassador to the Council.

We want to thank Citizens for Global Solutions activists who sent over 1200 letters to 94% of the Senate demanding that Eileen Chamberlain Donahoe be confirmed as the United States Ambassador to the United Nations Human Rights Council.

Eileen Chamberlain Donahoe is an Affiliated Scholar at the Center for International Security and Cooperation at Stanford University.  Her research has focused on norms on use of force, UN reform, and the international rule of law.  Previously, Ms. Donahoe was a litigation associate at Fenwick & West in Silicon Valley. Prior to that, she was a teaching fellow at Stanford Law School and law clerk to the Honorable William H. Orrick.  Ms. Donahoe has also worked with various human rights organizations.

The U.S. recognises the controversial history of the Human Rights Council, but hopes to see the Council follow its goals of protecting human rights.  Under Secretary for Democracy and Global Affairs Maria Otero stated on Monday that: "the Human Rights Council was established to strengthen the promotion and protection of human rights around the globe. Our expectations should be nothing less and the United States will continue to strongly advocate that the Council meet these expectations."

International Women's Day is next Monday (March 8th); here are some events for those of you in the DC area:

The International Center for Research on Women is hosting the 2010 Champions for Change: Innovation Empowers Women Awards Cocktail Reception. For more information CLICK HERE

The Sewall-Belmont House and Museum is hosting a partnership evening event with Women's Information Network (WIN) and Emerge Global, featuring a short program, networking reception, and artisan bazaar. For more information CLICK HERE

The Washington D.C. Independent Film Festival is showing a series of films by or about women. For more information CLICK HERE

Enough is organizing a peace march across the Arlington Bridge to support Congo's women in particular as they continue to face violence related to the conflict mineral trade. For more information CLICK HERE

An event will be held at Café Citron from 4-8 p.m. on Thursday March 11.  This event is cosponsored by AIUSA (Amnesty International USA Mid-Atlantic Region) and UNA-NCA (United Nations Association of the National Capital Area). RSVP to Brittany Jacoby at 330-310-4937 or bmjacoby@gmail.com

For those of you in New York:

CEDAW and the Beijing Platform for Action - Empowering Women March 11, 2010 will be held at 777 UN Plaza from 2:00-3:30 PM. RSVP to Jessica Hartl, 202-462-3446 x12 or jhartl@unausa.org

International Association of Women Judges and the National Association of Women will host a reception, and screening of the film "Courting Justice". For more information CLICK HERE