Source: Baha'i World News Service

http://news.bahai.org/story/431

On March 20, 2006 the Baha'i World News Service reported, "Mary Caetana Aune has long been a champion of human rights. She has worked in her native Brazil with UNICEF and the Geledes Instituto da Mulher Negra, a minority women's advocacy group, to launch a 'unity in diversity' website for educators there, and she also serves as an external affairs officer for the Baha'i community of Brazil. But after spending a week here at the UN's annual meeting of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW), she has returned to Brazil with a new energy and perspective. Inspired by the global participation of women and the unity of effort she witnessed at her first Commission meeting, she plans this year to encourage Brazilian Baha'i women to participate more actively in a national campaign against gender violence, among other things. 'We usually just support the campaign in Brazil, which is very beautifully conducted by other women's groups around the country,' she said, referring to the '16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence' campaign, an international effort observed each fall. 'This year we will probably do something more concrete.' Now celebrating its 50th anniversary, the Commission has become something of a global rallying point for women and men who care about the advancement of women. Held this year from 27 February -- 10 March, the Commission drew some 1,500 representatives from more than 400 organizations -- including 21 Baha'is representing the Baha'i International Community and some 10 national Baha'i communities."