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ORGANIZATION OF WOMEN OF THE AMERICAS
MAKES DONATION TO BROWARD COUNTY CHARITY

  June 6, 2005

FORT LAUDERDALE, Florida -- The Organization of Women of the Americas, comprised of the spouses of the heads of diplomatic delegations attending the General Assembly of the Organization of American States (OAS), today presented a donation of $5,000 to “Women in Distress of Broward County,” a local nongovernmental organization.

Zulay de Valero of Venezuela, representing the Organization of Women of the Americas, presented the check to this charitable organization at Fort Lauderdale’s historic Stranahan House. Ms. Valero lauded the commendable work of “Women in Distress of Broward County” and the sensitive care it has extended to battered women and the victims of domestic violence.

She referred to two principal OAS initiatives, the Inter-American Convention on the Prevention, Punishment and Eradication of Violence against Women and the rapporteurship created by the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights to protect the rights of women and children, and pointed out that it is organizations like “Women in Distress” that help achieve the objectives of those inter-American agreements.

Accepting the check, the President of “Women in Distress of Broward County,” Andrea Bradley, expressed her gratitude for the donation and the spirit of solidarity in which it was given. Noting that women throughout the Americas and the rest of the world face the problem of domestic violence, she reaffirmed the commitment of her organization to providing shelter to local women from violence.

Mayor Kristin Jacobs reiterated her welcome to the Organization of Women of the Americas and to the thousands of diplomats, delegates and OAS staff members attending the OAS General Assembly in Fort Lauderdale.

Reference: E-113/05