Youth

Youth involvement was a key theme evident throughout most of the events scheduled to commemorate the 56^th annual session of the Commission on the Status of Women. The youth are no longer simply serving as a topic of discussion.  Instead, they are given the ability to facilitate these discussions and contribute based upon their own personal experiences.  Many of the atrocities that women face, begin early in their lives when they are just young girls.  Therefore, it is important to recognize these young victims and account for their voices when formulating strategies to confront these universal problems impacting women.

The youth played a vital role in the second panel discussion I attended.  The panel discussion titled, “Promoting Connection through Advocacy: The International Role of Youth in Empowering Rural Women” was hosted by the East StroudsburgSouth High School UN ASPIRE group.  This group of motivated, intelligent, young women and men is comprised of students from both the East Stroudsburg South High School and East Stroudsburg University.  They are participants in the United Nations: Academic Impactinitiative, which “aligns students from institutions of higher education with the United Nations in actively supporting ten universally accepted principles in the areas of human rights, literacy, sustainability and conflict resolution.”

Following a brief introduction by their teacher and advisor, Michael Healey, the students led the audience through a very engaging, educational experience. They engaged the audience in a discussion on the novel, Half The Sky by authors Nicholas Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn.  Half The Sky inspired these students to take action to change the conditions (prostitution, human trafficking, forced marriages, limited/no access to education) faced by millions of women on a daily basis.

During the panel discussion, the students would introduce one of the women highlighted in the novel by sharing their stories and how they fit into a larger issue.  Two of these larger issues are trafficking of women, who are forced into prostitution and female genital mutilation, which often results in fistulas.  The panel would then ask the audience to form smaller groups to discuss the reasons why women continue to face these horrible conditions in 2012.  Many audience members were surprised to hear about the conditions that continue to normalize these atrocities.  For example, many were not aware of the role that drugs and addiction play in the prostitution industry in developing countries.

These students created an outstanding presentation.  They showed that regardless of your age, one could play a pivotal role in addressing these global problems.  By educating young women and men about the horrible realities that exist in the world, we are motivating them to take a stand against these conditions by raising awareness.

"0 is the only acceptable number when it comes to Early, Forced Marriages"

The discussion titled, “The Impact of Early and Forced Marriage on Rural Girls,” which was one of the events organized as part of the 56^th session of the Commission on the Status of Women, was scheduled to begin at 12:30pm.  However, attendees ended their lunches early in order to rush back to the conference room in the United Nation’s Church Center to reserve a seat.  As the seats quickly filled, their urgency was then applied to the few open spots on the floor, as everyone searched for a comfortable place from which they could actively participate in the panel discussion.  This panel, brought together by Plan International, provided the audiences with a wide range of viewpoints.  These points were surrounding the topic of early, forced marriage and other social ills that are attached to this practice, which unfortunately is still a norm in certain societies.  In our western, American reality, the idea of early, forced marriage is a phenomenon.  This discussion was valuable because it is one resource that helps to overcome the awareness void.  This panel consisted of some extremely intelligent women, but its youngest members provided the audience with the panel’s most candid words of empowerment. These two young women are Fatmata, 17 year-old from Sierra Leone, and Maryam, a young lady from Pakistan.  These young ladies were a vital part of the conversation because it gave the other panelists and the audience an opportunity to speak with the youth, instead of just talking about them without accounting for their perspective.

According to the panel, countries like Sierra Leone and Pakistan have rooted traditions, customs, and necessities that support the practice of early forced marriage. Families, primarily the poorest families, felt that a husband could provide their daughters with financial security and safety.  Parents saw early marriage as a way for daughters to give back to their families because these potential husbands would pay parents or work for parents in order to earn a young girl’s hand in marriage regardless of her consent or willingness to engage in that practice.  According to Fatmata and Maryam, girls are seen as a commodity that can be traded between families.  These practices are prevalent in rural, remote communities, where the presence of government and civil society resources are either limited or nonexistent. According to the panelists, early, forced marriages often lead to acts of violence against these girls by their husbands or the family of their husbands.  These girls are at risk to early pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases because they are not old enough to make decisions about their sexuality and body. The current rates of maternal childbirth deaths resulting from early, forced marriage stand at unacceptable levels.

According to a panelist from Finland, “0 is the only acceptable number when it comes to early, forced marriages.”  The panelists highlighted several goals that need to be met in order to decrease and eventually eliminate the practice of early, forced marriages.  Legislation must be established in all countries that set 18 as the age when both girls and boys can marry.  This legislative law must have the support of both the government and civil society.  Otherwise, opponents will try to limit its effectiveness by continuing to implement certain traditions and customs. Panelists also stated that authorities need to ensure that children are properly registered at birth because girls are not often registered.  Since girls are not registered at the birth, their families can marry them off under the guise that they are older.  Early, forced marriages are a reality that many girls face in today’s world.  In order to restore rights to these young girls and change their realities, the global community must join with and motivate local leaders to provide alternatives to these families.  In addition, legal safeguards must be established against this terrible practice.

                                                  Fatmata, 17 year-old from Sierra Leone

Reflections on the 56th CSW

As I look back at the trips to NYC to visit the UN and participate in the CSW, I cannot help but think of the hardwork and the dedication of many people working to empower women throughout the world.  Many people who attended the briefings and spoke in front of others, were willing to tell their stories and make their experiences real for everybody willing to listen.  As difficult as the stories were for those involved, they knew informing others can be one of the only ways their voices will ever be heard.

One of the most unexpected and startling briefings I attended involved the sexual trafficking of Native American women in Minnesota.  The percentages of women and children involved in sexual trafficking were astronomical.  Yet, how many Americans have any idea that Native American women and children are suffering from this? And how many people understand that the men who are pimping them usually do not get more than a slap on the wrist from the law?  Problems such as this still exist within the United States and most Americans are unaware.  How can more people become aware and what can be done so this does not occur anymore?

While the CSW was filled with many heart-rending stories and experiences, people still found plenty of time to smile, laugh, and talk with new and old friends.  The March of 8th Celebration March allowed a special time for those involved in the 56th CSW to join hands, march together, and make their voices, songs, and dances seen and heard.  Following a march around a few NYC blocks, where women could be heard beating drums, chanting, and laughing, everybody joined together in a large group to sing the 56th CSW's theme song together.  This song focuses on never looking back to the past and continuing to empower women throughout the world.  I think if everyone could take something from the 56th CSW, it could be that we should not focus on past challenges and problems, but the problems of today and the new solutions that women and men all over the world are developing and using to empower women for the lives they will lead and the knowledge they will share.

Reflection

Reading through all the various blog posts and attending some of the events,  it is truly inspiring to see how much women have overcome and achieved thus far!  Even though there are still obstacles to overcome,  education and gender equality for women both seem to be improving more and more.  It makes me ask the question of what we can do to keep the equality of women going forward through everyday actions in our lives.  I feel that one of the most inspiring statements made from one of the sessions I had attended was that women,  just as men,  can have the power to play just as important of a role in their own lives and to change them for better.  This was a truly inspiring journey to take and has and will continue to make me think about what I can personally do to help make this positive change keep moving forward.

56th session of CSW: Panel 3 – National experiences in implementing the agreed conclusions of CSW 52

In the midst of the 56^th session of CSW, it was interesting to look back at some of the outcomes of one of the previous CSW sessions and think about how gender issues have progressed since then. Gender-mainstreaming seemed to be the theme of panel 3 as countries discussed the importance of making specific provisions and budgets for gender issues throughout all government ministries and departments.

The panelists from Austria, the US, Cambodia, Morocco, and Ecuador each provided unique strategies and accounts of prioritizing gender in government financing. The panelist from Austria made a particularly convincing appeal for governments to change their budgets from input-oriented to output-oriented ones. In his country, ministers are now required to detail five objectives for which the ministry’s money will be used. Of those 5, at least one has to be gender-related. In this way, ministers set goals and are held accountable to the Parliament at the end of the year for reaching these targets. This not only helps dedicate money for gender issues, but also ensures that those funds are used for what they are intended for.

Along the same lines, the panelist from Morocco noted that fighting inequality means fighting corruption. I think this point is rather poignant because it addresses the fact that dedicating money for a cause is not helpful if that money disappears into thin air with little to show from it. He went on to say that financing has to come from public and private spheres as well as civil society and that it has to be based on accountability and transparency. While I whole-heartedly agreed with what he said, I would have liked to see further discussion on ways of dealing with corruption.

The panelist from the US spoke about how social budgets could be grown through economic reform. Speaking about the dangers of macroeconomic policies, such as those advocated by the IMF, she noted that they often constrain growth, employment opportunities, and therefore, public revenues. She suggests, for example, that inflation is often related to low productivity as a result of a lack of access to social services. Investing in social programs, therefore, could help battle inflation without altering monetary policy.

The finance minister from Ecuador likewise spoke about ways of ensuring that funds are available when needed. She said that the key is planning… and not just creating year plans, but rather multi-year plans. Since economic crises do not just end after a year, having a multi-year plan can ensure that vulnerable sectors are sufficiently funded even in turbulent times.

When the floor was opened to the other countries and participants, I noticed that they were all so eager to talk about the poverty and gender plans that they had in place. It sounded to me like everyone had everything figured out and they were doing well on their own. I may be slightly exaggerating, but the point is that it felt like everyone was paying lip service to the issue at hand and the need to prove that they have made progress. What I would have rather heard is numbers of participants reached… and not just numbers, but percentages of eligible women taking advantages of the services that they offer. I would also like to hear about the challenges that they have been facing rather than what they have done. Interestingly enough, the panel chair sensed the robotic nature of it all and urged the participants not to read and to be more interactive so that everyone could benefit from a productive debate.

Դէպի Արդար Խաղաղութիւն. ՄԱԿի Ապահովական Խորհուրդի թիւ 1325 Բանացեւ, Խաղաղութիւն, Ուսումնասիրութիւն

Դէպի Արդար

Խաղաղութիւն. ՄԱԿի Ապահովական Խորհուրդի թիւ 1325 Բանացեւ, Խաղաղութիւն, Ուսումնասիրութիւն

Զրուցակիցներ`

Դեսպան Անուարուլ Գ. Չաուտրի, ՄԱԿի նախկին փոխ-քարտուղար եւ ներկայացուցիչ, «High Representative»ՄԱԿի Ապահովական Խորհուրդի Նախագահ, Մարտ 2000 եւ Յունիս 2001 Ժան Մարի

Ֆրիծ, Փրօֆէսօր, Չինչինաթիի Համալսարան

Եւա-Մարիա Լիմէց, Էսթոնիոյ Արտաքին Գործոց Նախարարութեան Ապահովութեան Բաժամունքի Համաշխարհային Հաստատութիւններու բաժնի տնօրէնուհի.

Ռոզմարի Պարպըրէթ, օգնական փրօֆեսօր, Համաշխարհային Ոճիռ եւ Արդարութիւն, Ճոն Ճէյ Գոլէճ

Ուրբաթ Մարտ 2, 2012ին տեղի ունեցաւ հետաքրքրական կլոր սեղան – բանավեճ մը “Դէպի Արդար Խաղաղութիւն. ՄԱԿ-ի Ապահովական Խորհուրդի թիւ 1325 Բանացեւ, Խաղաղութիւն, Ուսումնասիրութիւն” խորագրով: Բանավեճը մեկնաբանեց ՄԱԿ-ի Ապահովական Խորհուրդի թիւ 1325Բանացեւի ծնունդը, ինչպէս նաեւ անոր կարեւորութիւնը` ազգային գործունէութեան ծրագիրներու ծիրէն ներս ներգրաւուելու պարագային:

Բանավեճի սկիզբը խօսք առաւ Պանկլատէշի դեսպան` Պարոն Չաուտրի որ, ներկայացուց պատմական եղելութիւնները որոնց հետեւանքով որդեգրուեցաւ ՄԱԿի Ապահովութեան Խորհուրդի Բանացեւը: Ըստ Պարոն Դեսպանին, ազգային գործունէութեան ծրագիրներ պէտք է ընդունուին, որպէսզի անոնց հիման վրայ սկիզբ առնէ երկրի իշխանութեան հաշուետուութիւնը, որմէ ետք, քաղաքացիական ընկերութիւնը կը կարենայ իրագործել այդ ծրագիրները: Վերջացնելով իր խօսքը, դեսպան Չաուտրի ընդգծեց թէ ազգային գործնունէութեան ծրագիրը լաւագոյն միջոցն է:

Յաջորդաբար, խօսք առաւ Փրօֆէսօր Ֆրից ներկաներուն հետ բաժնելով իր վերջին աշխատանքի արդիւնքները` ազգային գործունէութեան ծրագիրներու վերաբերեալ: Ներկայացնելով “Կանայք,Խաղաղութիւն, Ապահովութիւն, եւ Ազգային Ծրագիրներ” վերնագրով աշխատանքը, Փրօֆ.Ֆրից առաջարկներ ներկայացուց անոնց համար որոնք կ’աշխատին զարգացնելու կամ վերատեսութեան ենթարկելու ՄԱԿի Ապահովական Խորհուրդի թիւ 1325, 1820, 1888, եւ 1889 Բանացեւերը:

Ապա, Տիկին Լիմէց ներկաներուն հետ բաժնեց Էսթոնիոյ Արտաքին Գործոց Նախարարութեան փորձառութիւնները ինչ կը վերաբերի ազգային ծրագիրներու քրեական արդարադատուքեան

զարգացման գործընթացին: Լիմէց խօսեցաւ այս գործընթացի դժուարութիւններուն մասին, յայտնելով թէ, ըստ իրեն, այս ծրագիրը գերազանց չէ եւ ան կը ցանկայ տեսնել յառաջիկայ զարգացումներ այս ծիրէն ներս:

Moving Toward a Just Peace: UNSCR 1325, Inclusive Peacebuilding, Relevant Research On Friday, 2nd March 2012

Panel Members:

Ambassador Anwarul K. Chowdhury, Former Under-Secretary-General and High Representative of the UN, President of the UN Security Council, March 2000 & June 2001Jan Marie Fritz, Professor, University of Cincinnati

Eva-Maria Liimets, Directtor of the Division of International Organizations, Security Policy Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Estonia.

Rosemary Barberet, Associate Professor and Director, Master of Arts Degree Program in International Crime and Justice, John Jay College of Criminal Justice, CUNY

An interesting session, entitled, "Moving Toward a Just Peace: UNSCR 1325, Inclusive Peacebuilding, Relevant Research" provided an analysis of how the UNSCR 1325 first began and why it is important to be adopted into national action plans. The session began with remarks from Ambassador Chowdhury who provided a timeline of the events leading up to the adoption of the Security Council Resolution. According to Ambassador Chowdhury, national action plans have to be approved in order to "...start the process of accountability, then civil society can respond to fulfillment or implementation of the plan." In his concluding remarks, Ambassador Chowdhury noted, "National action plan is the best tool." The next presenter, Professor Fritz, shared some of her recent work on national action plans. She provided the attendees her latest works including "Women, Peace, Security, and the National Action Plans" where she lists suggestions for those developing or revising plans to address the relevant points from UN Security Council Resolutions 1325, 1820, 1888, and 1889. Following her presentation, Ms. Liimets provided the experiences from the Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs as they are currently in the process of developing their national action plan. She shared with us some of the challenges of this process and claims that this plan is not excellent in her opinion and looks forward to continued progress on these developments.

Breaking Barriers as Change Makers and Peacekeepers: The Journey toward Equal Representation

The recent side event, “Change Makers and Peacekeepers: The Journey toward Equal Representation,” was an interesting discussion on the vital role women play in military service, security operations, and peacekeeping missions around the world. Sponsored by the UN Entity for Gender Equality, panelists highlighted efforts by the United Nations, international organizations, and national governments in the transformational role of women in securing peace and stability in various contexts worldwide. UN Women Assistant –Secretary-General and Executive Deputy Director Lakshmi Puri emphasized that women are one of the keys to establishing sustainable peacekeeping operations. In post-conflict affected societies, Puri also expressed the importance of gender components in UN missions and gender-sensitive training for all.

This event made me think of my work in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria and how women have played a crucial role in creating avenues for peace in an often volatile region. The panel mentioned the importance of giving women the opportunity for equal representation in key leadership positions. In the Niger Delta, women have become critical agents in resolving conflicts and sustaining peace. They have contributed greatly to the formation of civil society in Nigeria, actively pushing for corporate reforms in the oil industry and supporting the development of democratic institutions. One of the speakers of today’s panel said “leadership begins with what’s possible” and “when you break one barrier, you are poised to break others.” I think these statements reflect the work of both urban and rural women in the Niger Delta.

The panel left you with the message: An institutional environment of empowerment and equality must be created and sustained in various elements of our society. Admiral Ferguson, U.S. Chief of Naval Personnel, reiterated the significant position women currently play in the U.S military and the number of opportunities that have arisen over the past twenty-five years. Continuing to encourage and place women into strategic leadership positions will serve as a catalyst in this “journey” toward equal representation. It will be interesting to watch the rise of women leaders in both state and non-state organizations in the years ahead!

“Empower Rural Women-End Hunger and Poverty”

In this parallel session,  Marjon Kamara first addressed the importance of the celebration of women and the need for women’s advancement to be recognized and honored,  remembering how much women have achieved over the past few decades.  Going further into the session,  I was personally shocked by the alarming statistics Ms. Kamara sated regarding the lack of food around the world,  with 840 million people not having enough to eat and with 92% of this hunger being due to poverty.  Agriculture and increased food production through rural women is key to reducing this alarming rate.  The session also emphasized the importance and vital role in which women play within food production with women making up 43% of the agricultural force.  In order for rural women and food production to advance,  these women need to be given more advanced technological resources.

            The issue of gender equality was another topic which was discussed,  with many of the panelists regarding this issue as a societal responsibility.  A panelist from South Sudan spoke on the importance for all women to know that they too can also play a role in their own lives,  status,  and decision making.  Another panelist, also emphasized the importance of education and the power and difference it can make in the lives of all women.  Women’s self-help groups as well as change within domestic structures would also be beneficial resources.

纽约国际妇女节游行活动CELEBRATION MARCH ON INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY

周四，我们作为学生志愿者有幸参加了由CSW组织的国际妇女节游行活动，这是一次很难得的体验。来自世界各地的妇女同胞纷纷在缎带上用本国的语言写下自己对于女性权益的倡议，比如和平，妇女政治权利平等, 反对贩卖人口。参加的人年龄跨度颇大，有白发苍苍的耄耋老人，也有在校大学生。有趣的是，在游行的过程中，有很多路人也表现了浓厚的兴趣，纷纷参与到队伍中。当天还有位数不多的几位男性参加了此次的游行，体现了他们对妇女权益问题的关注。游行路线是从42街东开始到联合国大楼前的广场差不多十五分钟的路程，在游行队伍到达目的地后，大家开始载歌载舞，用手鼓做伴奏，喊出希望和平的口号，并且欢乐地跳起了舞蹈，在欢声笑语中庆祝一年一度的女性自己的节日。当天活动还吸引了多家媒体参与报道，很多参加活动的女性都在镜头前表达了自己对女性平等愿望的期盼和继续争取权益的决心。

但是可能是初次举办这类活动，经验稍显不足，所以还是有一些地方不太尽如人意，比如活动宣传力度不够，传播影响力比较小，而且因为要参加的人比较多，缎带不够，很多人表示有些失望。并且参加的女性大部分是美国本地人，国际面孔显得少了些，不能充分彰显国际妇女这个主题。但是总的来说还是一次欢乐成功的盛会。

Marcha de celebración

La experiencia que tuve el día jueves 8 de Marzo fue interesante, ya que es la primera vez que participo en una marcha, la cual puedo describir como experiencia única. Mi compañeros de clase y yo participamos como voluntarios en la marcha, a cada uno nos asignaron una tarea. Los participantes se congregaron frente a las Naciones Unidas para dar inicio a la marcha, a cada uno de los participantes se les entregó un pedazo de tela en donde podían escribir sobre alguna causa, algún pensamiento acerca de la mujer. Pude observar que había una gran variedad de mujeres de todas partes del mundo, lo cual hizo que esta marcha se uniera la voz de diferentes mujeres, que tienen diferentes perspectivas, vivencias y experiencias. 

Las mujeres estaban muy contentas de participar dentro de esta marcha, fue una marcha muy alegre, muy emotiva, en donde las mujeres y también hombres participaron.  Había algunas mujeres  que durante el recorrido tocaron el tambor o algún instrumento, dándole ritmo a esta celebración. Al final de la marcha se formaron pequeños grupos, que al final se disolvieron porque se formó un solo círculo, en donde disfrutaron del sonido de los instrumentos, así como de la canción principal del evento. Mujeres pasaron al centro del círculo para bailar al ritmo de los tambores, fue muy bonito observarlo porque esa alegría se contagiaba a los demás.

Me gustó participar en este evento, y sobre todo porque los que participaron en ella, realmente demostraron su pasión por sus causas, y porque se notó que estaban felices de participar en este evento. Lo más interesante fue saber que aunque había mujeres de todas partes del mundo, estaban reunidas ahí por una causa y esa causa es la mujer.  

Opportunities to Speak Up

One of my favorite things about the conferences was the willingness on the part of the speakers and moderators to open the floor to additional voices. I'm sure many readers have experienced the conference phenomenon where the floor is opened to questions and the audience is treated to a lecture in the form of a question. It's awkward and frustrating for the speakers, because they are left to respond to someone else's speechifying. I assume this occurs because the "question"-asker feels her or his voice is not being heard, so they resort to guerilla tactics.

So, the moderators at the CSW instead gave everyone in the room a chance to say their piece. At the session on rural women's development in the US, Ghana and Haiti people were encouraged to stand and share their own stories. At a panel featuring women who had served elected office, the moderator began the Q&A time by asking women to raise their hands if they had voted in a local election, participated in a election as part of a campaign team, or run for office. Finally, she asked those who had held office to raise their hands, and then brought them up to tell their stories. It was a wonderful leveling of the field, and especially appropriate in a panel discussing democratic ideals.

Girls and the Control of their Bodies

A recent side event on “Girls and the Control of their Bodies” captured my attention. Organized and sponsored by the delegation from France, this panel discussion highlighted many important issues concerning the rights of girls and their bodies. Topics such as early and forced marriage, ending gender discrimination, fighting harassment in schools, violence against women, educational equality, and combating the hyper-sexualization of young girls in society provided a meaningful and fascinating forum. Focusing on political, economic, and social empowerment and development, the panel illustrated the significance of protecting women and girls from all of forms of discrimination, abuse, and marginalization in society. In addition to laws and policies safeguarding girls and women’s rights, the discussion also emphasized the power of education (for both females and males) in making progress in these areas.

I was inspired by Sihem Badi’s testimony. As Minister for Women’s Affairs in Tunisia, Ms. Badi spoke about the progress made in gaining civil rights for women and the enactment of new laws targeting young girls (for example, changing the legal age of  marriage to 18). She also highlighted legislative policies that have increased gender parity in the political arena. These strategies have resulted in 25% of the National Assembly made up of women. A new legal framework has expanded family health and reproductive protections while acknowledging that many inequalities and challenges still persist in society. Wider access to contraception and efforts to enhance women’s rights in education, the work place, and politics has led to positive developments in many communities. Another speaker discussed the work of international organizations to expand access to family planning – a link to women’s empowerment and a stronger capacity for girls to engage in basic education and vocational training.

Encouraged by the panel’s efforts to bring awareness and concrete action to this important issue, I began to think about my recent work in Cambodia and Nigeria. I would like to find out more about the work being done in each of these countries to protect the rights of girls (specific policies and strategies aimed at ending the marginalization of young girls and women?). In my opinion, local and national policymakers, as well as international organizations, must take a strong stand in eliminating these forms of discrimination against women. I applaud the work of the panel in addressing the human rights of girls and women in this area and look forward to hearing about new initiatives in the future. It would also be interesting for my high school students to examine this issue from a global context and determine how they might play a role in supporting these efforts.

Supporting Women's Political and Economic Empowerment: The Fund for Gender Equality

The economic and political empowerment of women was the subject of a side event led by Michele Bachelet, the first Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director of UN Women (Ms. Bachelet was President of Chile from 2006-2010 and decided to save billions of dollars to support programs directly impacting the lives of women and children in her country). The panel discussion focused on the importance of advancing women’s economic and political rights in the context of adequate funding for local, national and international programs. Bachelet highlighted the significance of financial investments to support women’s access and control of resources, as well as commitments to enhance women’s participation in political office.

The Fund for Gender Equality is one of the largest supporters of women’s empowerment in the world and has contributed $43 million dollars to programs in 40 countries over the past 3 years. Bachelet made the comment “when you invest in women, it pays.” As a high school humanities teacher, I was thinking about how this statement would be an interesting source of discussion for my students. It’s another opportunity to engage young people in analyzing the vital role of women in political, economic, and social life in communities and nations throughout the world.

Bachelet provided examples of the fund’s impact in different contexts. For example, a “Market Fund” initiative in Liberia has resulted in the construction of 8 markets to extend women’s access to sustainable income, economic opportunity, day care, clean water, and electricity. Over 9,000 women have been benefited and a unique literacy component has allowed women to read and interpret legal contracts. In India, a “Gender at Work” program empowers and protects the rights of women in employment sectors. A Mexican project targeting women’s participation in the political arena has resulted in an increase of 7 new female mayors and a 25% growth in the election of women to legislative seats in 10 states. Mainstreaming gender into “municipal youth policies” has enhanced responsiveness to women’s issues and concerns.

I was particularly captivated by Patricia Munabi’s efforts n Uganda. As Director for the Fund of Gender Equality for Women in Democracy, she spoke about how women in Uganda are benefiting from increased access and equitable distribution of local and national resources. So far, 2.3 million women have been impacted by this program. As 90% of all rural women are engaged in agricultural work, the fund has supported a mobilization of women demanding land rights, control of resources, and education. It was interesting to hear Ms. Munabi discuss “village budget clubs” that are actively engaging women in the decision-making process of the local economy. She mentioned how inspiring it is to see women at the grassroots level securing real participation in economic and political affairs. Gender mainstreaming policies have recently passed as well and government officials are examining equity issues in areas such as education and business.

The key message from my perspective: put women at the center of the decision-making process, foster leadership opportunities, and support initiatives with adequate funding and partnerships. While the fund provides needed economic and other resources, its success seems to rest in giving ownership to local women in their respective nations and communities. In many ways, it made me think of the microcredit work I have seen in rural Nigeria. It is empowering to watch local women use their skills and entrepreneurial spirit to create businesses that directly affect the lives of their families. I am really looking forward to seeing how the Fund for Gender Equality will continue to expand and support the lives of rural women in the future!

Panel 5-“Engaging young women and men, girls and boys to advance gender equality”

There were two overarching themes of this very eye opening session. The first one being the importance and promotion of gender equality and the second one mentioning the ways in which we can promote today’s youth to help advance gender equality.  The first panelist to speak, Edna Akullo,  emphasized the importance of  promoting gender equality through education and social entrepreneurship.  She also mentioned that “many young people do not understand the true meaning of gender equality” and that this issue needs to be quickly resolved in order to move foreword since this is a social problem for everyone.  However,  gender quality is still seen by many as only being a woman’s problem but that is not the case,  it effects men just as well.

The second panelist,  Roberto Tapia,  spoke about the importance of mobilizing youth in order to promote gender equality.  He spoke about issues regarding to televised stereotypes and the emphasis of how this problem is primarily cultural.  He also mentioned that in Chile,  many men still hold the higher positions compared to women. However, he also mentioned some hopeful information he sees around college campuses.  There have been more and more student movements as well as greater awareness of students about this issue.

Shghr Chandra also mentioned elements of positive change.  He also mentions that he has noticed more movements taking place on college campuses and more students being socially aware. In India,  more and more young men are being supportive of the women in their lives such as supporting them to continue their education.  He mentioned the importance of men being a part of the solution to improve gender equality since they are also a part of the problem,  saying that this is a “human issue.”

La participation des femmes Africaines froncophones

Aujourd'hui j'ai rencontré plusieurs femmes de l'Afrique de l'ouest. Elles étaient en train de participer et elles exprimaient leurs sentiments positifs de La Commission (CSW/UN). On dirait que les femmes se sentaient très reconnaissantes pour les encouragements. Le manque de traduction et d'information n'était pas évident. On dirait que certaines informations passent entre elles.
Un groupe important est "FEMNET". Les membres donnent leurs soutient. C'est une collaboration qui met ensemble les différents pays et des ONG en Afrique pour mieux trouver des solutions. J'avais la joie de voir les femmes Congolaises, Sénégalaises, Camerounaises, Ivoiriennes, et les femmes de Burundi. Je cherchais en vain les femmes de Burkina Faso mais je ne les ai pas vus malgré qu'on m’ait dit qu'elles étaient la.
Je suis arrivé ce matin pour assister a une séance sur "Les femmes rurales africaines valurent la mise en œuvre deleurs droits" mais en arrivant je n'ai trouvé personnes. Mais pour les femmes qui j'avais vue, elles étaient toutes satisfaites et la solidarité que j'ai constaté parmi elles étaient déjà quelque chose de très importante.

Une femme de Congo a payé son propre billet pour venir. Elle s'appelle "Maggie" et elle retourne dans quelques jours pour aider les femmes locales s'organiser, aussi avec une vision plus large.

What Makes A Great Leader?

Change Makers and Peacekeepers/ Journey towards equal representation- title of the panel inside the UN Headquarters today at 1:15. Lieutenant Gerneral Babacar Gaye (military advisor for peacekeeping operations of UN troops in Congo) and Admiral Mark Ferguson (Vice Chief of U.S. Navy  III Operations) were among the distinguished panelists discussing the importance of gender equity in the military. Ms. Lakshmi Puri (Asst. Sec. General, UN Women) and Commissioner Ann-Marie Orler (UN Police Adviser) were among the women on the panel.

When asked what makes them a great leader these qualities emerged:
Integrity and Character/
Imperative to treat other as you would like to be treated/
Empower and lift others up/
Communicate a vision/
Be persistent and tough when needed/
A good listener/
Empathy/
Dedication/
Bring out the best in others/
Follow words with actions

In so many words we all saw that the gender of the person is NOT the deciding factor but his or her ability to lead.

Of the 300,000 enlisted in the U.S. Navy, 55,000 are women. The critical mass of 20% is exceeded. Opening almost all areas of the military service to women (excluding only the Navy Seals) and providing mentoring programs by Sr. Female Officers were example sited for ways that the U. S. Navy has tried to be intentional about communicating that women have their significant place.
"The behavior of men improves when the women officers are present. Women have gender qualities of sensitivity and a deep commitment to success" according to Admiral Ferguson.

This morning as I arrived at the Church Center for the morning briefing, Layla was the first person that I met coming into the elevator. What a privilege to meet someone so dedicated to the Human Rights of Women in Iraq. Layla had taken a picture with us on Sunday at the NGO/CSW event after she shared in front of more than 1000 women that she had spent 10 years in prison for her activism for Women's Rights in Iraq. She now is the International Relation Director for a foundation that works actively for the human rights of all women in Iraq without discrimination. She gave me permission to post our photo with these comments. She said that she would gladly come to Lehigh to share her story and her passion.

Отстаивая права женщин любить и выбирать супруга: История иранского писателя-беженца

       3 марта Иранский писатель Мехрйар Мехрафарин поделился с нами своей захватывающей историей жизни. Родившись в Иране он нашел свою страсть в литературе, и уже в раннем возрасте написал около 25 книг. Тем не менее, в Иране существует правило по которому каждый желающий писать должен получить разрешение от правительства на то, чтобы писать книги, и на то, чтобы в итоге опубликовать их. Книги Мехрйара имели слишком спорный характер для государства, поэтому в 2001 году правительство приняло решение приговорить его к смерти. Только по счастливому случаю ему удалось бежать из страны вместе с его сыном, и после долгих скитаний найти приют в США.

        Став живым свидетелем насилия в отношении женщин в Иране, он стал защитником прав женщин. В своей книге “Союз Мехрафарин”, которую он и представил публике, он демонстрирует новую философию любви, основанную независимо от вероисповедания, национальности и политических убеждений. В этой книге он поднимает важный вопрос о защите прав людей свободно выбирать свою любовь и избранника - право, которое указано в статье 16 Всеобщей декларации прав человека. Однако, как автор подчеркнул, это право и по сей день не соблюдается во многих странах мира. В 2011 году в Пакистане 15-летняя девушка была убита своими родителями, потому что она отказалась выйти замуж за ее 52 летнего двоюродного брата отца. В 2010 году в Индии девушка была сожжена и разрезана на части по схожей причине. В 2008 году в США отец убил свою 22-летную дочь, потому что она влюбилась в афро-американца, в то время как ее отец хотел, чтобы она вышла замуж за индуса.

     Поэтому Мехрйар критикует ООН в том, что они не защищают права человека свободно любить. "Почему у нас войны, когда у нас есть ООН? Почему у нас столько голодных людей, если у нас так много еды? Почему, почему и почему?”, вопрошал он.

     В итоге писатель обратился к ООН с просьбой взять книгу за основу создании декларации по защите прав любящих, а также он попросил ООН о создании Комитета по правам любящих, который должен носить имя-Комитет союза Мехрафарин.

Роль трудящихся женщин в развитии сельских районов Судана

       3 марта представители Ассоциации трудящихся женщин (WWA) рассказали о деятельности своей организации, которая была создана в 1991 году с целью улучшения профессиональной и интеллектуальной компетентности всех работающих женщин в государственном и частном секторах. Важно отметить, что WWA получили статус ЭКОСОС в 2011 году и это была их первая презентация в рамках ООН и Комиссии по положению женщин. Тем не менее, у меня создалось впечатление, что их отчет была подвергнут цензуре и был под контролем правительства.

         Во-первых, потому что они придерживались общих фраз как- "мы промотируем гендерное равенство, работаем над улучшением положении женщин в обществе, организуем семинары и тренинги", практически избегая конкретной информации о том, как и что именно они делают, и какова реальная ситуация работающих женщин в сельских районах Судана. Во-вторых, после того как они закончили свое выступление и обратились за комментариями из зала, одна женщина из Судана, которая представила себя в качестве представителя Министерства финансов, вышла на сцену и говорила около 10 минут о том, как все прекрасно в Судане, и о том сколько всего они уже достигли в сфере улучшения условий для трудящихся женщин .

        Затем, когда другая представительница НКО задала вопрос об бюджете Ассоциации, докладчики начали обсуждать этот вопрос на своем родном языке с представительницей из Министерства финансов, и их окончательный ответ был очень неясным.

      В заключение, можно сказать, что нам было адресовано послание, что WWA и правительство Судана уже многое сделали в сферах улучшении условий для трудящихся женщин и достижении гендорного равенства, но у меня до сих пор возникают сомнения насколько видение докладчиков совпадает с “настоящим голосом” женщин из сельских районов Судана.

Defending the Women's Right to Love and Marry: Told by Iranian Refugee Writer

    The Iranian writer Mehryar Mehrafarin shared with us with his fascinating life story this Saturday. Being born in Iran he found a passion in writing, and in his early ages he already wrote about 25 books. However, in Iran there is a policy that you should get permission from the government first, to write, and, second, to publish and distribute books. Mehryar's writings were too controversial and in 2001 government decided to sentence him to death. Only by fortunate chance he was able to escape from the country with his son and become a refugee in the United States.

     After experiencing and observing abuse against women in Iran he became a defender of women's right. In his Union Mehrafarin book that he presented to the audience he is showing a new philosophy of love regardless religion, nationality, and political affiliation. By this book he is raising an important issue of defending humans right to choose whom to love and marry--the right that is stated in Article 16 in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. However, as he emphasized this right is not protected in many countries. In 2011 in Pakistan 15 year old girl was killed by her parents, because she refused to marry her father's 52 year old cousin. In 2010 in India the girl was burned and cut into pieces. In 2008 in the US father killed his 22 year old daughter because she fell in love with African-American, while he wanted her to marry an Indian man.

     Mehryar is criticizing the United Nations for not protecting the human's right to love. "Why do we have war when we have the UN? Why do we have hungry people if we have so much food? Why, why and why?". Therefore, he appeals to the UN to take the book as the foundation in protecting rights of lovers, as well as he asks the UN to establish the committee of the rights of lovers which should be called the committee of Union Mehrafarin.  

The Role of WWA in Sudan

I decided to attend "The Role of the Working Women in the Development of Rural Societies in Sudan" panel event because Sudan was a country that I knew little about, specifically the role of women.  This event was presented by the Working Women Association (WWA), which is an international Non-Government Organization (NGO) that has consultive status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations.  To give more of a background on this organization, WWA is considered as one of the largest women civil society association working to enhance the standards of work, patriotism among working women.   It aims to improve the vocational and intellectual competence of its membership, which includes all working women in both public and private sectors. As an NGO, WWA has internal branches all of over Sudan, which includes the federal, states, municipalities and grassroots level.  Its main efforts is turn a Sudanese women into a working class female, being able to take care of her own and play a positive and constructive role in the labor market.  Some of the objectives that the organization has is the following: -Create a work environment and recommend national sense to assume responsibilities -Study and review the laws related to the situation of working women -Promote economic and social role of women workers -Corporate with organizations and social forces concerned with gender issues at the local, regional, and international level Ways in which this organization attempts to complete their objectives is to hold lectures, seminars, conferences and celebrations, workshops and training courses in a variety of topics and fields.  They also print and hand out materials such as books, pamphlets, establishment of research, translation and documentation centers.  As the organization continues to grow since its existence in 1991, they hold on to their values and the desire to continue to educate all women on their privileges and capabilities as a person, which is not limited.

The Role of the Working Women in the Development of Rural Societies in Sudan

Panelists:

       On Saturday, Working Women Association (WWA) presented a topic on working women in rural Sudan. Mainly the speakers were focusing on the activities of their organization that was established in 1991 with the aim "to improve vocational and intellectual competence of  all working women in both public and private sectors".  It is important to mention that WWA got an ECOSOC status in 2011; therefore, it was their first time presenting at CSW. Nevertheless, my overall impression was that their presentation was censored and controlled by the government.

      First,  because they were providing general statements like "we are promoting gender equality, improving conditions of women, organizing workshops, and seminars"; hence avoiding concrete information on how and what exactly they are doing and what is the real situation of working women in rural areas. Secondly, after they finished their presentation and asked for the comments a lady from Sudan, who introduced herself as a representative of the Ministry of Finance, took the stage and talked for about 10 minutes on how Sudan is doing great in improving conditions for working women. While she was very excited her colleagues from WWA seemed to be very serious and somehow sad.

     Next, when another lady from the auditorium asked the panelists a question about their budget there was a minute of hesitation among the presenters, as they started to discuss the question in their own language with the lady from the Ministry of Finance, and their final answer was very unclear.

     To conclude, the main message that was delivered by the WWA and Sudanese government is that they are doing great in empowering women. However, I really have a doubt if they  represented a "real voice" of women in rural areas of Sudan.     

A lady from Ministry of Finance is making her comments

Rural Development: Immigration and Farm Workers

One of the major issues that has been a great deal to the United States has been illegal immigrants, particularly from Latin America.  The highest grossing number of Latinos crossing into U.S. soil is from our neighboring country, Mexico.  At the United Nations CSW event that I attended there was a woman who was born and raised in Colombia but migrated to the United States.  Her name is Alina Diaz and she is currently working on a Catholic Charities farmworker project in Ontario, NY.   Alina's job consists of going to different farm sites throughout the state of New York, speaking to thousands of farm workers and listening to their working conditions and their living situations.  From visiting so many sites she has compiled a list of farm workers, the majority being women, and noticed that 88-90% of the workers are immigrants with 55% of them being from mexico and the rest from Central America.   As of late she noticed that farm workers are now coming from other countries in the Caribbean such as Haiti and Jamaica.  A surprising fact that she presented during her speech is that the main income in the state of New York is agricultre.  This was news to me since a state that is located near the northest part of the United States and in which it begins to snow as early as November in Upstate New York, agriculture is a main source of income. As her speech continues, she comments on how she learned that a good portion of farm workers are illegal immigrants.  Due to the influx of illegal immigrants continually to come into this labor market these workers are not being paid.  Once the first couple of weeks past and paychecks are due to these workers, the owners would contact US Border Control and report the illegal immigrants, which allows them to save money by not paying the workers, essentially having free labor. Another great issue that she discussed was the sexual abuse that the female farm workers would face on a day-to-day basis.  In efforts to make a difference Alina contacted Poverty Central in hopes that she would be able to provide farm workers to speak about their experiences that they have encountered for a project called Shame In Your Place.  She was able to provide 25 workers who talked about their living and working conditions, demonstrating how they are currently being taken advantage of by the farm owners.  Listening to such stories and the information that Alina gave was quite startling,  Issues that we see as a national level is currently happening in the backyards of the United Nations.  In hopes that the Shame In Your Place project would go public and make people realize the issues that are currently happening.  One thing that stood out to me that was said is that these workers are human beings, even though they are not legal immigrants, they should still be provided for and not taken advantage of.

How Do We Know if Aid Programs are Working? An Innovative Tool to Measure Women's Roles and Empowerment in Agriculture

I was intrigued by the panel discussion led by U.S. Ambasador for Women's Issues, Melanne Verveer. It focused on a new index to measure progress on women’s roles, empowerment, and gender parity in agriculture She mentioned how “Feed the Future,” one of President Obama’s key foreign policy programs, has served as a catalyst to explore food security and agricultural issues. Although women are a vital force in agricultural development around the world, significant challenges continue to affect productivity and gender parity in this crucial area. While women make up 40% of the agricultural labor force internationally (up to 70% in sub-Saharan Africa), they represent only 3% to 20% of the world’s landowners. Why?

This side event provided an interesting discussion of how “sophistication and science” can be used to more effectively gauge the progress of international aid projects targeting rural women in agricultural settings. Ambassador Verveer said “aid effectiveness is a top development priority” and is directly tied to the empowerment of women and girls. She reiterated the importance of getting women involved in the protection and decision-making process as it relates to peace and security issues, including food. New gender guidelines will be outlined and implemented for all of the United States’ development programs. USAID Administrator, Rajiv Shah, spoke about women’s access to markets, technology, capital, and tools tied to agricultural productivity. He mentioned that Secretary Clinton has said “political will” is important, but not sufficient in measuring the success of aid programs for women.

The rest of the panel presentations and discussion focused on how this innovative agricultural index can provide a more specific measure of aid effectiveness, women’s empowerment, and gender parity. The index, for example, helps aid programs monitor women’s access to income, credit, assets, and leadership opportunities. Dr. Agnes Quisumbing, Senior Research Fellow for Health and Nutrition at IFPRI, helped the audience conceptualize the 5 domains of women’s empowerment in agriculture: production, resources, leadership, income, and time. Each of these 5 areas has specific indicators to measure progress. As women often have less income, access to resources, education, or land, Dr. Quisumbing discussed how these characteristics contribute to the gap in gender parity. The use of a “systematic index” will help to evaluate results and mainstream gender into international aid projects. It will also assist in reducing food security issues and food dependency in many parts of the world. The key will be to take these conceptualized domains and facilitate practical implementation of the index.

The final portion of the side event examined pilot surveys done in three different contexts: Bangladesh, Guatemala, and Uganda. Dr. Sabina Alkire, Director of the Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative, asked the question: How are women empowered or disempowered? The index is meant to be applicable across nations and cultures, but adaptable to local contexts. By capturing levels of empowerment, aid organizations and national policymakers can find different ways to address women’s progress in the agricultural sector, as well as gender parity in various places. While the index is not necessarily the answer, it will enable groups to move in the right direction toward food security and women’s empowerment.

Representatives from each of the three countries discussed progress and challenges in their respective nations. In some areas, women had been empowered and reached gender parity with men, while in others, they lagged behind. The context of each place also indicated similarities and differences. It was interesting to think about how this specific index will enhance the work of national and international aid programs in the future. While working recently in Nigeria and Cambodia, it made me reflect on the critical role of rural women in agricultural production, food security, and global health, and how these indicators could lead to increased empowerment and gender parity. I am certainly looking forward to seeing how this innovative tool will be expanded and used in a wider context in the hope of empowering women and girls throughout the world!

There are still people facing hardships in the U.S.

I walked into the panel event today not knowing too much about rural development, particularly in the United States.  I had the impression that us Americans did not have any issues with this other than the natural disasters that affected us.  Theresa Isley from Family Violence and Rape Crisis center in Siler City, NC talked about the hardship that people in her community have been facing, particularly her family.

Theresa pointed out that she is currently the only one in her family that lives in the town, is working.  In the town jobs are limited and there is no public transportation, so if your family doesn’t possess a vehicle then getting to the grocery store becomes a mission.  When she was talking you can hear the disappointment with the economy and the country but yet the dreams of a better future.  She mentioned that the people in the town want to hold their head up with dignity, they did not ask to be “disenfranchise”.  Hearing such things opened my eyes because as I mentioned before I did not think that there were places like this, in which Americans are struggling as if it was a 3^rd world country.  America, a place a where people take pride in being a powerhouse country is still facing such issues that Theresa pointed out during the panel event. 

An interesting point that was mentioned while she was talking about the towns’ situation is that the kids who attend college end up leaving the town upon graduation and not returning home.   She pointed this out because as educated individuals the college graduates are capable of improving the community, but rather than doing so they are living in other communities.  The main issue that I grasp from her speech is unemployment, how much it is affecting the lives of those in her town and the hardships for the kids growing up.

Rural Development: Clearfork Community Institute

A couple of the panelists from Rural Development Leadership Network was from Tennessee and provided information in regard to the organization that they were representing.  Being from the Northeast I am not too familiar about states such as Tennessee so hearing Marie Cirillo and Carol Judy from Clearfork Community Institute talk was new and interesting to me.  They provided background information about their non-profit organization and what they have been doing and the issue that they face.  They offer support to families in the coal mining community which is located in the rural Appalachia area.   Some of the things that they have done is purchase and hold lands for local residents who might otherwise be landless.  The reason why Clearfork started was because a lot of corporations out of state and out of country purchase land in that region and families did not have places to live.   The institute is a place that teach those that do not know how to preserve the natural beauty of the mountains, they raise awareness and provide the necessary help.  The United States is known for being industrialized and these ladies wanted to remind people how important Mother Nature is and preserving the world.  They mentioned the importance of our natural resources since “people need a certain amount of water, air, and energy (food)”.  I agree with them and as global warming is becoming a greater issue people are beginning to Go Green in hopes that are natural resources do not diminish.

 

 Photo: Panelists from Clearfork

Photo: Clearfork

Challenges of Rural Women

My day started on the 11th floor of The Church Center for the United Nations, in a packed room full of women (and a few men) ready to discuss the challenges facing rural women in the United States, Africa, and Haiti. All of the speakers were passionate, and the audience participated by sharing their own stories during the question and answer period. It was great to see so many involved women that cared about the issues being presented.

The discussion started with a rousing presentation by Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro of the Third District in Connecticut. Along with Congresswoman Anna Eshoo, Representative DeLauro has co-sponsored the Equality for Women Farmers Act. She discussed systematic discrimination facing female famers in the United States, telling stories of loan applications denied and abuses of power by USDA officers. One woman, in applying for a small farm loan, was denied and told to return with her father or husband. In another case, a woman was asked to perform sexual favors in exchange for approval of her assistance application. Aside from the obvious erosion of dignity, these actions have led to woman holding smaller farms, and to women-run farms failing at a higher rate than the national average. Rep. DeLauro is calling for damages compensation similar to those announced for to African-American farmers in 2010. She noted that current compensation schemes in use by USDA for women farmers carry a higher burden of proof, and women are expected to file complaints with their local USDA office. Often this means filing with the same person that performed the abuse in the first place! The abuses of power and deep prejudice described by DeLauro was shocking, although judging from the audience reaction many of the women in the crowd could share similar stories.

The next speaker, Shirley Williams McClain, spoke on behalf of the Rural Development Leadership Network (RDLN), describing her own experiences growing up in poverty. According to their website, the RLDN is "a national multicultural social change organization founded in 1983, supports community-based development in poor rural areas through hands-on projects, education and skills building, leadership development and networking." McClain told of her own work in North Carolina, which involves legislative advocacy. Rural women are far from the centers of power, and many are even unaware that they have the right to attend local political meetings. She described African-American farmers being surprised that they could say their peace at a town council. One very cool activity performed by McClain and the RDLN is taking rural men and women to Washington D.C. to meet their Senators and Representatives face-to-face. Some of the participants have never spoken for themselves in public forum, and now they are expressing their grievances directly to their Federal representatives!

McClain, in discussing, the latest rounds of cuts to social programs said that rural women needed "A fair handshake, not a handout, but a hand up." In many ways this could serve as a theme for the entire NGO conference. (Here are some additional words written by McClain from last year's CSW.)

More on this session and other sessions later!

Rural Development and Cultural Imposition

I've noticed that absent in all of these panels and events is the issue of cultural difference. There certainly is discussion of culture, but it's used in a negative way to discuss the obstacles to progress. There seems to be a consensus that traditional roles are always forced on women and that it necessarily leads to their oppression. While I tend to believe that to be true myself in many circumstances, I also live in a country (Morocco) where I see traditional roles valued by both men and women for their ability to preserve families.

Even as I pursue development work myself, I sometimes wonder if we have a cultural superiority complex that looks only at the problems of poorer populations with a lens of despair. Why do we feel like we need to swoop in and save them? Are our lives that much better? When I get thinking like that, I look at the developed world and I think about the cost of individualization and self-advancement. We are often addicted to strive for success and independence, moving away from our families to "improve" our situations. We send our children off to day-care, work all day, and get very little vacation time in return. We are always working towards "bettering" ourselves, and wishing we had more time to spend with our families. Are many of our psychological and physiological problems a consequence of our "development"? Sometimes I even humor myself thinking about rural families forming international development agencies to teach first-world countries the value of communal living, sharing resources, and a solid family network.

Now I should point out that I don't necessarily think what I just said is the truth, but it is my cynical analysis when I'm in that mode of thinking. The fact is that I'm torn on the matter. My experience here in Morocco, and in particular, living in a large household complex that is made up of several nuclear families, has given me a glimpse into a living arrangement that was once the norm but that is virtually non-existent now in urban areas. What stands out to me most is that the family members with whom I live are very considerate towards each other, generous, and communally-oriented. Seeing how content they are makes me well aware of my need for privacy and my own personal space, which at times makes me feel spoiled dependent on independence.

Also, although the families function along traditional lines, the men and women show a lot of respect towards each other and seem just as happy or happier than many of the men and women in more modern arrangements in the US. I remember a conversation I had with one of our classmates with whose opinion I highly respect, and she expressed to me her belief that women make better caretakers. She suggested that some of our notions of feminism and women's rights have actually led to the breakdown of families. We can argue if that is true and if so, if that is a good sign (because it signals women standing up for themselves) or a bad sign (the implicated societal problems in that statement), but it still a very valid argument-- and one that was made by a very strong, educated women no less. I tended to disagree with her on a point by point basis, but I can see her point of view on the matter.

I know this seems like a tangent, but my point in all of this is that I think any conference that addresses rural development and women's rights has to be aware of its own cultural footprint. I am in no way denying the many obstacles and problems faced by women in the countryside, and in fact, have devoted much of my graduate work to reaching disadvantaged and vulnerable populations, including but not limited to girls and women. However, I do think we should be careful about how we approach the issue of culture and not inadvertently impose our own values on others. Development, I think, should start with access to services and extreme poverty social nets, ensuring that the basic needs of the community are met, and giving traditional women a door to new roles and opportunities for them to open if they choose to without pushing them forcefully through it.