Join UNAI/Lehigh University virtual panel "Promoting Women's Rights through Higher Education"

On March 3 from 12:15 - 2 p.m. (NYC time) Lehigh's Comparative and International Education program and the LU/UN Partnership, in cooperation with United Nations Academic Impact (UNAI), will host a virtual panel "Promoting Women's Rights through Higher Education: The Interdisciplinary Vision of the United Nations Academic Impact" as a part of parallel events of the 55^th session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women (CSW). Inspired by the Academic Impact Launch and the CSW commitment of gender equality and the advancement of women, the panel was organized by Dr. Iveta Silova (Lehigh University Professor of Comparative and International Education) and Michele Vella (Lehigh University Ph.D. student and UNAI intern).

Through the co-sponsorship of Lehigh University's United Nations Partnership, the virtual panelists will speak about the role of academia and higher educational institutions, in catalyzing activities, solving problems, and initiating policies that advance women worldwide. Virtual panelists' specializations include: the arts, political science, psychology, sports, and international education. Using video-conferencing technology, UNAI supporters and members, including high-school students, university students, teachers, professors, and researchers, are encouraged to share their unique voices in this cross-national dialogue. Participants include:

Sharon E. Girard, Ph.D.

Professor of Musicology, Graduate Theological Union, Berkeley, California Countess of Count Federico Sangirardi Quinto of Wardal

Michael Church, Ph.D.

Professor of Psychology at King’s College in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania

Suzanne Grant Lewis, Ph.D.

Philanthropic consultant on African Education and former coordinator of Partnership for Higher Education in Africa

Sophie Denis

Good Will Ambassador for the Nepal Tourism 2011, Mountain Climber, Banker, Representative of the “G-Movement” (a partnership between Gatorade and Action Against Hunger)

The CSW/UNAI virtual conference will be held on March 3, 2011 from 12:15-1:45 United States Eastern Standard Time. To attend the session, use the following link:

https://sas.elluminate.com/m.jnlp?password=M.D615376234B39EE365FB77063E28A3&sid=609

You will be able to see and hear the conference presenters. There is a text chat feature in Elluminate that you can use to pose a question or comment for the speakers.

The link above is currently active, so please test the link as soon as you can to determine if your computer is correctly configured to participate. If you have any technical questions, please call the Office of Distance Education at 610-758-4211.

Interfaith Dialogue at the CSW

In this post, I wanted to further build on Fauzia Nouristani’s post on the CSW’s panel discussion, “Religion, women and armed conflict: Faith agency to end violence and secure maternal health.” I was struck by the importance of interfaith dialogue, a concept which was suggested by Jasmin Nario Golace from Mariam College in the Phillipines. This concept seemed to resonate with members of the audience, who comprised of many different religious believers.

Ms. Golace came from Mariam College, a Catholic school in the Phillipines. Her students are taught peace building in their classrooms due to the extreme number of deaths that arise from military violence, as well as structural violence( hunger, poverty, etc.) . She, like many of the other speakers, also believed that religion is often used as a weapon rather than a positive tool, and began an interfaith dialogue program with a Muslim high school to combat this. Additionally, Mariam College’s theology department taught the students about numerous other religions, to have a better understanding of the many religions that exist, and to see both their similarities and differences.

Through the Twin School Project, the Catholic students of Mariam College, and the Muslim students of a local high school became pen pals. At the end of the school year, the penpals had the opportunity to meet one another. To the surprise of the students, they were shocked by how much they had in common with one another, and how easily they got along. They were all Filipinos, and could bond on various cultural norms that exist outside of religion. They were able to free themselves of religious stereotypes and preconceptions; something that I wish American schools would encourage and teach as well.

Tzu Chi…not Sushi!

第一天的CSW是由TZu Chi佛教基金会主办的。10点开始，2楼的教堂中心室满员。斋饭已经准备好了。所有人都拿到了免费的可回收水杯。“我们教导人们付出的同时接受。当我们给别人援助之手的时候，我们给予他们力量，同时激励他们。”基金会乐观的理念由此而见。

整个讨论会由两位南非女士的演讲推向高潮。他们在谈论TZu Chi佛教基金会给他们的帮助。第一位女性说“TZu Chi教会我们如何照顾艾滋病患者！TZu Chi教会我们织补！TZu Chi告诉我们穿裤子。 在我们的文化里面，我们不能穿裤子。”第二位女性有七十二岁，可她的年龄看来只有三十过头。她称赞TZu Chi说道“应为TZu Chi教会我种菜，所以我才可以养活我的孩子。” 一段录像体现了TZu Chi在南非的活动。这段录像记录了一个中国支援者，应为工作移民南非，之后回报那片土地。“被祖鲁人的悲惨境遇打动，一位华裔人迈入了黑人社会。”1995年他成立了教妇女如何织补的职业中心。

此次讨论会的话题十分混杂，还有专为女性准备的PlanUSA的手机技术，联合国难民署对马来西亚难民的讨论和一个百万富翁讨论在海地的草根运动。联合国难民署发表了一个激动人心的演讲。主题是来自缅甸的难民。因为他们没有在马来西亚的难民许可，而被认为成非法居留。他们被迫过着躲避外界的生活。他们的孩子由于没有地方玩耍，身体机能形成了一些病患。

这个讨论会整体的气氛给了我一个很奇怪的感觉。可能应为所有发言者的演讲过于强调TZu Chi的好处但隐藏可能出现的问题。我在这个讨论会上所想听到的不仅是它完美的一面，并且还有这个资金会的更长久的计划。

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CSWの初日は仏教徒Tzu Chi法人によって午前10時に、公開討論会の形で始まった。２階の教会中央部屋は、人でいっぱいだった。ベジタリアンのための食事が可能な上、来場者には無料で再利用可能なコップが配布された。仏教徒Tzu Chi法人の前向きな精神は、このように表現された。“私たちは、人々に受け取ることと同様に、与えることも教える、、、私たちが誰かに手を差し伸べるとき、私たちは彼らに力を与え、そして希望をも与えているのだ”。

　　　討論会では、二人の南アフリカ女性が注目を浴びた。彼女たちはTzu Chiによる援助について話した。一人目の発表者は、このように言った。“Tzu Chiは私たちにHIV患者の世話の仕方を教えてくれた!Tzu Chiは私たちに裁縫を教えてくれた!Tzu Chiは私たちにパンツを履くことを教えてくれた!私たちの文化では、パンツを身に着けることは許されないのだ。”二人目の発表者は72歳であったが、30過ぎにしか見えなかった。そして、彼女もTzu Chiについて、“Tzu Chiが私に野菜の栽培を教えてくれたお陰で、子供たちを養うことが出来た。”と賞賛した。

　　　Tzu Chiの南アフリカへの関与はビデオによって紹介された。そのビデオは、Tzu Chiに属する、一人の中国ボランティアが、職の為にどのようにして南アフリカに移民し、そして彼の住んでいるところに貢献したかについて描いたものであった。ビデオの中には、このようなフレーズがあった。「ズールーの人々の苦境に感銘を受け、少数民族の男は黒人社会に入った」そして、1995年に彼は、女性に裁縫を教えるための職業センターを設立した。討論会の内容は南アフリカ問題から、Plan USAによる女性の社会的地位向上の為の携帯電話技術、マレーシアでの難民問題、そしてハイチでの“草の根” プロジェクトについて語る十億ドル経営管理人にまで至った。

今回の討論会の中で、一人の国連難民高等弁務官事務所議員は、ビルマンからのロヒンガ難民について語った。彼によると、マレーシアではビルマンからのロヒンガ難民は、難民の身分にすらなれない。その為、不法居留外国人と考えられている。そこで彼らは、隠れた生活を強いられ、子供たちは遊び場がなく、身体的病気にかかるケースが非常に多い。何故なら、彼らは外を走り回ることすら出来ないからなのだ。

　　　このようなNGO団体が行っていることは、非常に重要ではある。しかし今回の討論会に対して、私は違和感を覚えた。それはおそらく、発表者が何か不完全なものを隠すように、Tzu Chiという名を必要以上に繰り返してきた為であろう。私個人としては、完璧な活動ではなく、組織の不完全な点や、これからの課題についての討論も期待していた。

Panelists

Alvaro Pereira (Food For the Poor)
Ellen Marree Al Daqqa (United Nations High Scommissioner for Refugees)
Linda Raftree (Plan USA)
Sheila Gladys Ngema & Tolakele Maria Mkhize (Commisioners, Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation, S. Africa)

Moderator

Debra Boudreaux (CEO, Busshist Tzu Chi Medical Foundation)

여성들을위한 재정적인 독립

저는 구세군의 메인 홀에서 오후 4시 세션으로 열린 여성지위위원회(CSW)의 비정부기관(NGO)행사의 첫날을 마쳤습니다. 샌프란시스코 여성지위부(San Francisco Department on the Status of Women)에서 오신 Murase박사의 사회로 진행된 “지방의 파나마에서 부터 캘리포니아 오클랜드의 학교, 그리고 한국의 공장들에 이르기까지 어떻게 여성들이 돈버는 법을 배우는가”라는 제목의 세션이였습니다. 저는 아이티출신의 패널리스트뿐만 아니라 각지에서 오신 패널리스트들에 대하여 듣고 들떠있었습니다. 파나마에서 오신 첫 두분의 발표자분들은 클린턴 미 국무부장관의 “번영의 길(Pathways to Prosperity)” 멘토/멘티(Mentor/Mentee) 프로그램에 긍정적인 영향을 받은 분들이였습니다. 생물학자이자 프로그램의 멘티(mentee)이신 Yaribeth씨는 지속 가능한 농사일에 70명의 시골 여성들이 참여한 그녀의 친환경 사업 Nativaes에 대하여 그녀의 모국어인 스페인어로 열정적으로 발표하였습니다. 아이티 여자 농부들의 네트워크와 함께한 Tamara Apollon씨의 연구는 그들이 미국식품의약청(FDA) 승인을 받도록 도와주었습니다. 11월 1일, 아이티로부터 수출된 유기농제품의 첫 수송이 JFK공항에 도착하였다는 말에 참석자중 일부는 힘껏 박수를 보냈습니다. 마지막 세분의 발표자분들은 모두 캘리포니아의 저소득 지역에 초점을 두었습니다. EBALD와 함께한 Lee씨의 연구는 IDA 프로그램의 예와 같이 보조금을 이용하여 가정들이 집 사는 것을 도와주었고, Calderon씨는 일찍이 저축의 가치를 심어주기 위하여 모든 개인 유치원생을 위한 샌프란시스코의 예금계좌 개설 계획을 언급하였습니다. 한국의 여성가족부 (미국에서 이런 부서가 있을 수 있다는걸 상상할 수 있겠습니까?)에서 근무하시는 Sookja Kim씨는 그녀의 여성의 일과 삶에서의 균형정책에 초점을 두었습니다. 50%의 이혼율와 함께 여성의 경제적 독립은 매우 중요한 관심사입니다. 그분들의 연구에 대하여 많은 부분을 공유한 6명의 발표자분들과 함께하는 소그룹 토론을 위한 시간은 없었습니다. 하지만, 제가 여러분께 질문하겠습니다: 저소득 싱글맘들의 일과 삶의 균형에는 어떤일이 일어날 수 있을 까요? 아마도 두명의 부모가 있는 저소득 가정들과는 다를 수 있는 이들에게 영향을 미칠 수 있는 문제는 무엇일까요?

Shocking Statistics on Breast Ironing

The most shocking information that I walked away on Friday with was on statistics on breast ironing in the country of Cameroon. Are we really talking about the 21st century? Let me share some with you:
24% of adolescents have had their breast ironed
50% of them are below the age of 9 years
38% are between 9 and 11 years of age
24% at the age of 12 years when breasts are mostly developed
14% at 13 and 14years of age
All this emotional and physical pain and suffering is inflicted on pubescent girls by close family members in the name of protection - protecting the girls from sexual harassment, early marriage and/or rape which would allow them to continue their education. Limited research on the subject tells us that such practices can lead to long term physical and psychological damage to young girls. The government has passed legislation against the practice but immediate and rigorous enforcement is required. Communities need to be informed, organized and mobilized against this horrible practice. Why should we not be stopping the perpetrators rather than penalize the victims? A new approach to this issue is necessary if we want to put an end to this practice for good.
Check out several graphic footage of the practice if you have the stomach for it.

Religions for Peace!

Religion has often been used as a source of division and violent conflict, but the panelists today discussed ways people of various religions can come together to promote peace and end gender violence. The first speaker was Layla Alkhafaji of the Al-Hakim Foundation, an organization that has participated in an effort to eradicate violence against women in Iraq. Al-Hakim has designated the first day of Safar (in the Arabic calendar) to be an Islamic Day For Anti Violence Against Women. Recently, the foundation conducted a national survey of representational Iraqi families from ten different provinces regarding the types of violence to which they were exposed. The results were troubling. Ms. Alkhafaji related that the majority of women polled were exposed to one form of violence or another, whether it be physical, verbal, or emotional—though the majority refused to report this to the authorities (such as they are in American-occupied Iraq). As a partial solution she argued for the need to increase awareness in the community, especially calling on respected religious leaders to categorically condemn violence against women.

The other panelists who spoke were; Facia Harris from Liberia, Jasmin Nario Golace from Philippines, Leonida Kwamboka from Kenya, and Delores Scott Brathwaite from the United States and some of the highlights from these panelists were :
--War, structural violence, socio-cultural violence, sexual violence were faced by many women around the globe.
-- Religion plays a vital role in most communities around the world and we need the voices of religious leaders to teach peace and gender equality.
--There is a need for inter-faith dialogue and coming together with shared beliefs.
--Other subjects that were touched upon were security, work, education, laws that protect the rights of women, prosecution of victimizers.

Physical Barriers to Education

The session entitled “Physical Barriers to Education” was organized by International Alliance for Women, an organization that stands for Equal Rights-Equal Responsibilities.
The panel discussion was organized to provide participants with context of educational barriers, role of education and awareness and strategies to mobilize support for legislative action. While the first panelist identified 8 main barriers (detailed description in another post in this blog) to education of girls in many parts of the world, the 2nd shocked the audience by informing about the practice of ‘breast ironing’ in the country of Cameroon. The 3rd panelist focused on ‘comprehensive sexuality education’ the need for education and information asserting that “information is the solution”. The session ended with the last presenter outlining lobbying strategies that have worked in the past to influence policy.
IAW was formed in 1904 in Berlin to advocate for women’s issues. The organization has consultative status with ECOSOC and participatory status with Council for Europe. Its members actively engage in lobbying for women’s issues in the EU and the countries that were colonized by the EU in the 19th and 20th century. The government has allocated funds to collaborate with the grass roots NGOs to help remove barriers that stand in the way of girl’s education in many African countries. For more details on the organization, visit the website: www.womenalliance.org

Put the Move Back in the Movement!

PUT THE MOVE BACK IN THE MOVEMENT
Norma Ramos, Executive Director of the Coalition Against Trafficking in women (CATW), gave an excellent presentation where she said she had enough of analyzing and meeting about sex trafficking and decided to do something. She decided to fight Craigslist to remove its Adult Services and WON!! She began a letter writing campaign then involved the media and congregated 85 human rights representatives to picket at Craigslist door steps with creative signs such as “I got my sofa and a girl at Craigslist.” Craigslist being a mainstream business decided not to be at odds with the human rights groups and their community and ceased hosting adult services, first in the US then internationally!


STOP THE DEMAND
Jean Enriquez, Executive Director of CATW Asia, spoke about corporate responsibility and the internet sex trafficking.
She stated that most professional “Johns” no longer lean out of their cars to pick up prostitutes, that the victims have become more accessible through the internet.
The term “Sex worker” should be rejected and not normalized. It is a term used by the industry to legitimize this form of discrimination against women.
Films like Pretty Woman and an HBO show called “Cat House” romanticize prostitution. We need to find more abolitionist men who find their voices and take on the men who are feeding the sex trafficking.
Educate young men to change sexual attitudes and practice. Critique gender roles and deepen men’s understanding of the harm in prostitution.

Տեխնոլոգիայի Ֆեմինիստական Փոխանակում: Վերապատրաստել կանանց ՏՀՏ–ների օգտագործմանը ֆեմինիստական տեսանկյունից (English version follows)

Քննարկումը նվիրված էր տեխնոլոգիայի վերասահմանմանը կանանց հզորացման և իրենց իրավունքների խթանման համար։ Այն գլխավորում էին երկու հկ–ներ ` ՏեխնոլոգիայիՖեմինիստական Փոխանակում (FTX) (http://ftx.apcwomen.org) և Isis-WICCE(http://www.isis.or.ug). FTX–ը կազմակերպում է դասընթացներ Աֆրիկայի, Կամբոջայի,Խաղաղ օվկիանոսյան Ասիայի և Լատինական Ամերիկայի կանանց համար՝ ուշադրությանկենտրոնում ուենալով ինտերնետային եւ սոցիալական հաղորդակցման հաստատումը։ Հկ–ինպատակն է ամրապնդել կանանց իրավունքները պաշտպանող կազմակերպությունների ուժերը՝հասնելու օրենսդրական և քաղաքական ձեռքբերումների, երաշխավորել, որ կանայք շահում են ՏՀՏ–ից և ապահովել կանանց համար ոչ ռիսկային միջավայր սոցիալական ցանցերում։
Isis-WICCE–ն (http://www.isis.or.ug) աշխատում է Սուդանում, Ուգանդայում և Նեպալում,որտեղ կանայք մեկուսացված են միմյանցից և փակված իրենց տներում։ Հկ–ն ներդրում էտեխնոլոգիայի՝ հիմնականում բջջային հեռախոսների ձեռք բերման գործում, բաժանում է դրանքկանանց՝ խրախուսելով ձայնագրել կամ զանգահարել կհ–ի կենտրոն և պատմել իրենց դեմ գործադրված բռնության մասին։ Կազմակերպությունը ոգևորում է կանանց պատմել իրենցպատմությունները ռադիոյում և պատրաստում է հեռուստադրամաներ հիմնված այդ պատմությունների վրա՝ որպես գենդերային բռնության դեմ պայքարի միջոց։ Հկ–ն նաևպատրաստել է համաժամանակյա թարգմանության սարքավորում՝ անգլիախոս և ֆրանսիախոսկանաց միմյանց հետ հաղորդակցվելու համար։
Քննարկումը նաև ներկայացրեց տեխնոլոգիայի միջոցով բռնության տարածման դեմ կազմակերպված իրենց նոր արշավը (http://takebackthetech.net)։

Կարծում եմ, գենդերային բռնության դեմ պայքարի և կանանց՝ իրենց իրավունքների և դրանց հանդեպ սեփականատիրության գիտակցության զարգացման հույժ կարևոր առաքելությունից բացի, նշված հկ–ները բարձրացնում են նաև զարգացած եւ զարգացող երկրների միջևտեխնոլոգիական անհավասարության հարցը.։ Երկու հկ–ներն էլ աշխատում են աղքատերկրներում բնակվող կանանց համար, որտեղ ֆինանսական եւ ենթակառուցվածքայինարգելքները սահմանափակում են տեխնոլոգիայի հասանելիությունը։ Isis-WICCE–ի ներկայացուցիչը նշեց, որ տեխնոլոգիաների զարգացման առաջատար երկրները պետք է հաշվի առնեն աղքատ երկրների օգտվողներին գների և տեխնոլոգիական ծրագրային արագընթաց փոփոխությունների հարցում։ Հկ–ների գործունեությունը խոսում է նաև կանանցտեխնոլոգիաների օգտագործման դեմ առկա սոցիալ մշակութային կողմնակալության մասին։ Իպատասխան այն հարցին «Արդյոք կանանց նկատմամբ բռնությունն ավելացել կամ նվազել է այներկրներում, որտեղ սկսել են օգտագործել տեխնոլոգիաները» քննարկման ղեկավարներից մեկընշեց, որ տղամարդիկ հիմնականում կամ կնոջ ձեռքից վերցնում են հկ–ի կողմից տրված հեռախոսը, կամ ոչնչացնում են այն։

Feminist Tech Exchange: Training women for ICT strategic use with a feminist perspective.

The panel was devoted to reclaiming technology for women’s empowerment and promotion of their rights. It was led by two NGOs: Feminist Tech Exchange (FTX) (http://ftx.apcwomen.org) and Isis-WICCE (http://www.isis.or.ug). FTX organises trainings for women in Africa, Cambodia, Pacific-Asia and Latin America which focus on using the internet and social networking. They aim at strengthening the capacity of women’s rights organisation to reach policy and political achievement; guaranteeing that women benefit from ICT; and safeguarding non-risky environment for women in social networking sights.

Isis-WICCE (http://www.isis.or.ug) works for women in Sudan, Uganda and Nepal who are confined to their homes and are isolated from other women. The NGO invests in technology, chiefly in mobile phones, gives them to women and encourages recording or calling to the NGO centre and tell when violence is used against them. They encourage women to go to tell their stories to the radio and develop video dramas as means to combat gender violence. The NGO also developed simultaneous translation equipment for Anglophone and Francophone women to be able to communicate with each other.

The panel also concentrated on the launch of a campaign to stop the spread of violence through technology(http://takebackthetech.net).

With the most important mission of combating against gender violence and raising women’s consciousness and ownership of their rights, I think, the NGOs also raise the question of technological inequality among developed and developing countries. Both of the NGOs work for women in poor countries where financial and infrastructure barriers limit the availability of technology. The panel leader from Isis-WICCE mentioned that countries leading technological development should also consider the users of poor countries in terms of prices and upgrading technology software. The activities of the NGOs also highlight socio-cultural bias for women use of technology. While answering to the question “Is the violence against women increasing or decreasing in the countries that started using technologies?”, the panellist mentioned that partners generally compromise or destroy the phones given by the NGO.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DCwK8Y1Unr4&feature=player_embedded