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This special world conference has been created to honor and celebrate collaborative approaches and positive directions to implement gender equality through awareness, advocacy, and action.

You are invited to join women, men and young people worldwide to share successful initiatives that improve social conditions to help humanity become globally and locally a peaceful, prosperous and sustainable world.

Sophia 2010 Women and Wisdom, Sofia, Bulgaria, May 25-29, 2010, welcomes women, men and young people from international and regional organizations, including the United Nations, states, non-governmental organizations, social entrepreneurs, arts and culture and educators from all continents to participate.

The Sofia plenary meetings, programs, workshops and celebrations will be presented interactively through multi media sources in the seven geographical/cultural global regions, as defined by the UN:

Sophia 2010 Women and Wisdom, through global and local connections and partnerships, focuses on the far-reaching UN work, to further the equality and empowerment of women to help all humanity:

The Arts and Culture Festival will illuminate and celebrate the visual and performing arts, and will highlight the creative works of artists, worldwide, who are dedicated to bring balance and harmony among all continents and cultures.

Sophia 2010 Women and Wisdom Goes Global

Conceived by egalitarian women and men of the world in March 2007, the vision of the Sophia 2010 Women and Wisdom became a reality in one year. Committed women, men and young people are striving to establish and sustain a peaceful, prosperous and positive world towards the advancement of human rights, fundamental freedoms and social development, in alignment with the United Nations.

The Sophia Shift

Site: Sofia, Bulgaria ~ May 25-29, 2010
Theme: Women and Wisdom
Purpose: Illumination and Implementation of UN “Living Documents”
Goals: Awareness ~ Advocacy ~ Action

Ideas ~ Issues ~ Implementation:

Symbol: Universal Rose ~ Living Life through Love
Inspiration: Sophia, Goddess of Wisdom and her three daughters:
Faith ~ Hope ~ Love
Approach: Illumination ~ Education ~ Collaboration
Integration ~ Implementation ~ Celebration
Program: Opening ~ Keynote Speakers ~ Panels ~ Workshops
Interactive Events ~ Open Space ~ Festivities ~ Closing
Arts and Culture Festival: Creative and Co-Creative
Visual ~ Vocal ~ Narrative ~ Dance ~ Film ~ Instrumental ~ Theatre
Public Relations & Communications: World Internet and Multimedia Venues

Participation Sophia 2010:
Invited Participants
International and Regional Organizations including the United Nations
States ~ Non Governmental Organizations ~ Grassroots Groups
Arts and Culture ~ Social Entrepreneurs ~ Educators

Organization of International Headquarters Council:
Executive Chair ~ International Council of Bulgaria
International Connections ~ Arts and Culture Festival
International Advisory Council ~ Funding ~ Program
Young Global Leadership ~ Social Entrepreneurship
Public Relations and Communications

International Executive Board:
Dr. Linda Stillman ~ Penny McManigal ~ Ann Smith

Organization of International Headquarters Council:
Executive Chair ~ International Council of Bulgaria
International Connections ~ Arts and Culture Festival
International Advisory Council ~ Funding ~ Program
Young Global Leadership ~ Social Entrepreneurship
Public Relations and Communications

Sophia 2010
Women and Wisdom
Organizational Design

McManigal 2007

Sophia 2010 Women and Wisdom Financing and Funding

The Sophia 2010 financial experts have established an operational budget. The cost of Sophia 2010 is estimated at $US 5 million, subject to alignment with the Euro Dollar. As more detailed cost estimates are obtained from providers of the various services, facilities, etc., such costs may differ from current estimates.

Sophia 2010 Expenses:

International Headquarters Council$500,000
Financing and Funding$200,000
Program$1,000,000
International Council of Bulgaria$500,000
Arts and Culture Festival$2,000,000
International Connections$250,000
International Advisory Council$25,000
Public Relations and Communications$400,000
Young Global Leaders$100,000
Social Entrepreneurship$25,000
Total Estimated Expenses$5,000,000

Sophia 2010 Women and Wisdom Outcomes

United Nations Living Documents

It is not in the United Nations that the Millennium Development Goals {Platform for Action, CEDAW and Bali Outcome} will be achieved. They must be achieved in every country by the joint efforts of governments and the people. ~ Kofi Annan

UN Beijing Platform for Action: Twelve Critical Areas of Concern

Convention on Elimination of Discrimination Against Women

The Convention of the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against Women, CEDAW, adopted in 1979 by the UN General Assembly, is often described as an international bill of rights for women. Consisting of a preamble and 30 articles, it defines what constitutes discrimination against women and sets up an agenda for national action to end such discrimination. The Convention defines discrimination against women as "...any distinction, exclusion or restriction made on the basis of sex which has the effect or purpose of impairing or nullifying the recognition, enjoyment or exercise by women, irrespective of their marital status, on a basis of equality of men and women, of human rights and fundamental freedoms in the political, economic, social, cultural, civil or any other field.

United Nations Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)

UN Bali Conference Outcome Agreement and Climate Change

The following statement was issued by the Spokesperson for UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon at the adoption of the decision of the Thirteenth Conference of Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in Bali, Indonesia, 15 December 2007:

The Secretary-General strongly welcomes the outcome of the UN Climate Change Conference in Bali. At the outset of the Conference he laid out three fundamental benchmarks for success: launching negotiations on a global climate change agreement; agreeing to an agenda for the negotiations; and agreeing to complete them by 2009. The Bali Roadmap that has been adopted achieves all three of these objectives.

He is also greatly encouraged that agreements were reached that will help the international community to begin to address key challenges immediately, particularly with regard to enhanced action on adaptation measures, the dissemination of technology, and combating deforestation. While these will all be long-term challenges, he is particularly pleased that work in each of these areas received a boost in Bali and that accelerated work can begin now.

The Secretary-General believes that the Bali Roadmap that has been agreed is a pivotal first step towards an agreement that can address the threat of climate change, the defining challenge of our time. The Secretary-General appreciates the spirit of cooperation shown by all parties to achieve an outcome that stands to benefit all humanity.

This special women's world conference has been created to honor and celebrate collaborative approaches and positive directions to implement gender equality through awareness, advocacy, and action.

You are invited to join women, men and young people worldwide to share successful initiatives that improve social conditions and help humanity become a peaceful, prosperous and sustainable world.

Sophia 2010 Women and Wisdom, Sofia, Bulgaria, May 25-29, 2010, welcomes women, men and young people from international and regional organizations, including the United Nations, states, non-governmental organizations, social entrepreneurs, arts and culture and educators from all continents to participate.

The Sofia plenary meetings, programs, workshops and celebrations will be presented interactively through multi media sources and at concurrent regional gatherings in the seven geographical/cultural global regions, as defined by the UN:

Sophia 2010 Women and Wisdom, through global and local connections and partnerships, focuses on the far-reaching UN work, to further the equality and empowerment of women to help all humanity:

The Arts and Culture Festival will illuminate and celebrate the visual and performing arts, and highlight the creative works of artists, worldwide, who are dedicated to bring balance and harmony among all continents and cultures.

Sophia 2010 Women and Wisdom Goes Global

Conceived by egalitarian women of the world in March 2007, the vision of the Sophia 2010 Women and Wisdom became a reality in one year. Committed women, men and young people are striving to establish and sustain a peaceful, prosperous and positive world towards the advancement of human rights, fundamental freedoms and social development, in alignment with the United Nations.

Site: Sofia, Bulgaria ~ May 25-29, 2010

Theme: Women and Wisdom

Purpose: Illumination and Implementation of UN "Living Documents"

Goals: Awareness ~ Advocacy ~ Action

Topics of the Times: Ideas ~ Issues ~ Implementation:

Symbol: Universal Rose ~ Living Life through Love

Inspiration: Sophia, Goddess of Wisdom and her three daughters:

Faith ~ Hope ~ Love

Approach:
Illumination ~ Education ~ Collaboration ~ Integration ~ Implementation ~Celebration

Program:
Opening ~ Keynote Speakers ~ Panels ~ Workshops
Interactive Events ~ Open Space ~ Festivities ~ Closing

Arts and Culture Festival:
Creative and Co-Creative
Visual ~ Vocal ~ Narrative ~ Dance ~ Film ~ Instrumental ~ Theatre

Public Relations and Communications:
World Internet and Multimedia Venues

Participation Sophia 2010: Invited Participants
International and Regional Organizations including the United Nations
States ~ Non Governmental Organizations ~ Grassroots Groups
Arts and Culture ~ Social Entrepreneurs ~ Educators

International Executive Board:
Dr. Linda Stillman ~ Penny McManigal ~ Ann Smith

Organization of International Headquarters Council:
Executive Chair ~ International Council of Bulgaria
International Connections ~ Arts and Culture Festival
International Advisory Council ~ Funding ~ Program
Young Global Leadership ~ Social Entrepreneurship
Public Relations and Communications

Sophia 2010 Women and Wisdom Financing and Funding

The Sophia 2010 financial experts have established an operational budget. The cost of Sophia 2010 is estimated at $US 5 million, subject to alignment with the Euro Dollar. As more detailed cost estimates are obtained from providers of the various services, facilities, etc., such costs may differ from current estimates.

Sophia 2010 Expenses:

International Headquarters Council$500,000
Financing and Funding$200,000
Program$1,000,000
International Council of Bulgaria$500,000
Arts and Culture Festival$2,000,000
International Connections$250,000
International Advisory Council$25,000
Public Relations and Communications$400,000
Young Global Leaders$100,000
Social Entrepreneurship$25,000
Total Estimated Expenses$5,000,000

Sophia 2010 Women and Wisdom Outcomes

United Nations Living Documents

It is not in the United Nations that the Millennium Development Goals {Platform for Action, CEDAW and Bali Outcome} will be achieved. They must be achieved in every country by the joint efforts of governments and the people. ~ Kofi Annan

UN Beijing Platform for Action: Twelve Critical Areas of Concern

Convention on Elimination of Discrimination Against Women

The Convention of the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against Women, CEDAW, adopted in 1979 by the UN General Assembly, is often described as an international bill of rights for women. Consisting of a preamble and 30 articles, it defines what constitutes discrimination against women and sets up an agenda for national action to end such discrimination. The Convention defines discrimination against women as "...any distinction, exclusion or restriction made on the basis of sex which has the effect or purpose of impairing or nullifying the recognition, enjoyment or exercise by women, irrespective of their marital status, on a basis of equality of men and women, of human rights and fundamental freedoms in the political, economic, social, cultural, civil or any other field.

United Nations Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)

UN Bali Conference Outcome Agreement and Climate Change

The following statement was issued by the Spokesperson for UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon at the adoption of the decision of the Thirteenth Conference of Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in Bali, Indonesia, 15 December 2007:

The Secretary-General strongly welcomes the outcome of the UN Climate Change Conference in Bali. At the outset of the Conference he laid out three fundamental benchmarks for success: launching negotiations on a global climate change agreement; agreeing to an agenda for the negotiations; and agreeing to complete them by 2009. The Bali Roadmap that has been adopted achieves all three of these objectives.

He is also greatly encouraged that agreements were reached that will help the international community to begin to address key challenges immediately, particularly with regard to enhanced action on adaptation measures, the dissemination of technology, and combating deforestation. While these will all be long-term challenges, he is particularly pleased that work in each of these areas received a boost in Bali and that accelerated work can begin now.

The Secretary-General believes that the Bali Roadmap that has been agreed is a pivotal first step towards an agreement that can address the threat of climate change, the defining challenge of our time. The Secretary-General appreciates the spirit of cooperation shown by all parties to achieve an outcome that stands to benefit all humanity.

Join the Journey to Bulgaria and Beyond