Identifying and Eliminating Barriers to Women’s Professional Advancement in Sport

This parallel event was sponsored by the International Women’s Group on Women and Sport, the Women’s Sport Foundation, and WomenSport International. Held in the Boss Room in the Church Center of the UN, it was designed to engage participants in discussion about the status of women in sport. The session began with brief introductions of the each of the discussion facilitators, who represented a wide variety of experiences in sport. The discussion leaders then broke the participants into 5 discussion groups.

One of the discussion groups, led by Katherine Starr, founder of Safe4Athletes, discussed sexual abuse in sport and what can be done to reduce and prevent it. All sports are vulnerable to sexual abuse, but sports that engage young athletes (like gymnastics) may be more vulnerable (or more visible) than those which engage older athletes (like cycling). Katherine explained the uniqueness of the coach-athlete relationship, and how detrimental it can be when the person responding to reports of abuse doesn't understand that relationship. She also emphasized how important it is that the person responding to issues of abuse be outside of the team dynamic, and not responsible for the team’s winning record or finances.

A second discussion group talked about about research, development, and education. Participants in this group shared their personal stories of empowerment through sport. One attendee shared how participating in tennis later in life served as a catalyst for her, and she emphasized the importance of promoting sports to women at all stages of life. Another athlete from Pakistan shared her experiences as a successful young athlete who went largely unrecognized by her country’s media. She spoke about the importance of using media, especially social media, to draw attention to the value of sport in women’s empowerment and women’s rights.

Advocating at Intersection of Women’s Rights and the Environment

Held at 10:30am in the Church Center of the UN, this panel session was sponsored by the Women’s Environment and and Development Organization (WEDO). WEDO is an international advocacy organization that works to ensure that women’s voices are heard in decisions made about sustainable development. The panel was conducted by 4 WEDO staff, including the organizations co-directors.

The panel began by providing an overview of the intersection of environmental advocacy and women’s advocacy. For some this is a newer idea, and advocates are trying to define what it means to work at the intersection of these two issues. For WEDO, this is not a new issue, and it has been working at the intersection of women’s and environmental issues since the early 1990s. In 1991, the Women’s Congress for a Healthy Planet set the stage for international dialogue about the role of women in environmental decisions. This was followed by the Women’s Action Agenda 21, which has served as the basis of WEDO's advocacy work.

WEDO staff then presented the 3 primary activities they are engaged in to support advocacy for women in environmental and development decisions. Recognizing that women’s voices can’t be heard if they are not present at the table, WEDO’s Women’s Delegate Fund serves as a funding source and travel agency for women representing their national governments at international negotiations. 40% of the women the Women’s Delegate Fund has funded have been the only female representatives sent by their nations. WEDO conducts trainings for women engaged in negotiations and advocacy work, and they also prepare reports and research on the status of women and the environment. WEDO's Gender Climate Tracker app (genderclimatetracker.org) provides information on 3 topics: the participation rates of women on national delegations, gender mandates across international policy decisions, and NDC (nationally-determined contributions) analysis. They will soon be launching a website that will provide additional information, and as an open-source site, the public and civil society will be able to enter information about national and local conditions that may not be visible to those working at the international level.

WEDO supports the perspective that “silos are sexist”, saying that working in silos unnecessarily divides us and prevents us from seeing the big picture. Working on gender and climate issues separately makes it more likely that the work done on one issue harms the other. For example, work to improve the economic empowerment of women can harm the environment, if the action taken promotes environmentally extractive practices. Therefore, it is absolutely necessary to work at the intersection of these issues.

New Book on Peaceful Solutions for Women's Advancement Across Cultures

On Friday, March 17 in the Salvation Army Auditorium, African Views promoted 100 Peaceful Solutions for Women's Advancement Across Cultures, a new book and global call to action which has been in the works for over eighteen months. Curator Wade Idris Aijbade was present, along with other authors and families of authors who contributed to the book. The soft launch and panel was moderated by Padmini Murthy, MD, and Regina Askia Williams, RN. 

The event began with keynote speaker Madame Innocence Ntap Ndiaye, President of the High Council on Social Dialogue by Decree and international lecturer from Senegal; her French presentation was translated by an interpreter. She discussed Senegal's Constitution of 2001 which includes a set of principles to promote women's rights and access. Her country has also ratified international policies on the subject, including CEDAW, and a national strategy for social justice and gender equality SNEEG. Women are concentrated in the informal economy, meaning unpaid work that remains invisible in statistics and discussions. Highlighting the context of vulnerability generated by inequality, she stressed the importance of education and social dialogue as "a means of producing social justice through consensus of main actors and democratic means of involvement." 

The first panelist, Ora Welch, M. Ed., President and CEO of Hopes CAP, Inc. (HOPES), focused on respect and early education. She stated that all people need to learn how to respect themselves and each other from a young age, so that we stop mistaking abuse for love. Abuse is tied to education, and poverty will not go away until we fix education. Young people, and particularly girls, need safe spaces for dialogue and support to become well-rounded and self-sustainable. Too many young girls are searching for approval; they need good mentors to help them understand what they are feeling.

The second and final panelist, Terry D. Ince, a human rights activist with expertise in women's economic and political empowerment from Trinidad and Tobago, reminded participants that "change starts with us." She described an incident in her country during Carnival last year where a young women's movement made their voices heard, successfully removing a man from office following his distasteful comments about a young girl's death. Women should be able to walk down the street wearing whatever they choose without being harassed, attacked, or having their space invaded, and these women exemplify the power of civil society in demanding equality and rights. 

Ince also cited CEDAW in the expectation of women and girls to be protected by the government and called for participants to put pressure on their governments to uphold the treaty in practice. For countries that have not ratified CEDAW, including the United States, Murthy encouraged participants to look into Cities for CEDAW, which aims to "Make the Global Local" by passing legislation establishing the principles of CEDAW in cities and towns across the United States. 

During the Q&A portion, the following topics were discussed: 

• Williams said, "These men didn't come from Mars, we raised them." How can we correct inequalities caused by our parents (ex. gendered ways of sitting)? 
• In order to overcome institutionalized inequalities, we must gain the respect of those (parents) we are trying to inform. By carrying yourself with respect and projecting the change you want to implement, you can talk to people one-on-one about the development and growth of their children and make a difference.
• Self-empowerment first, then social engagement. 
• Growing up, girls are encouraged to be affectionate and to be drawn to affection. Caregivers are often the source of this affection, so what advice can be given to victims of molestation by these caregivers? 
• We need protectors in the community that victims can talk to and we need to stop victim blaming. We cannot let silent suffering go on any longer. Safe spaces for dialogue and support will open the door of trust and raise awareness, enabling victims to build networks between mentors and other young people. 

Female Entrepreneurship & Economic Empowerment in Ukraine

"Women's Empowerment through Entrepreneurship with a View to Contexts of Displacement: A Focus on Ukraine" was held on Saturday, March 18 on the 10th Floor of the Church Center of the United Nations. The panel was sponsored by the World Federation of Ukrainian Women's Organizations (WFUWO) and was moderated by Dora Chomlak, Board Member of Razom. The panel included Lyudmyla Porokhnyak-Hanovska, President of the Nation Council of Women of Ukraine, Karyn Gershon, Executive Director of Project Kesher, Iuliia Shykalova, Business Development Executive at Hideez Technology, Oleksandra Rohachova, CEO and co-founder of Inkhunter, and Larysa Polansky, Director of Textiles, Fashion & Women's Education at Ukraine Global Trade and Investment. 

Over the past three years Ukraine has experienced military aggression and up to 1.8 million people - mostly women and their dependents - have been internally displaced. Women in Ukraine are a disadvantaged sector: they are paid 25% less than men, mainly because they tend to hold lower-ranking positions, and 1/3 of Ukraine's women are rural residents. Although rural women own 60% of all land shares, little of their land is economically viable. Urban women that have small businesses trade in the Ukranian hryvnia, the local currency, and thus lack the benefit of the banking system, affecting their ability to accumulate capital.

The success stories of female entrepreneurs, such as the women on this panel, provide insight into new possibilities for displaced Ukrainian women along with the concept of acting locally and connecting globally. 

Gershon talked about the creation of ORT KesherNet Vocational computer centers which train women to become economically self-sufficient, particularly older women who are displaced due to their inability to gain new skill sets needed in their jobs. She views the issue as largely generational, as there is a lack of resources to retrain older employees with the shift to digitization. 

Shykalova provided insight into the growing IT industry in Ukraine, which she called "fresh" and has made the country more global and open, stimulating its economy. In just a six year period, more women are becoming employed in this industry, proving that there is a generational shift as software and IT attracts more young people. She noted that the "Soviet patriarchal society" criticizes women for either being too "pushy" or for being too "soft", and finds that it is easier for women to work with other women, as opposed to men. Ultimately, she is optimistic that things are changing in Ukraine as female enrollment rises and there are more women leaders in business. 

Rohachova shared her experiences as a young, female entrepreneur in the country. Having completed her undergraduate degree in 2014 and attained her Masters degree in 2015, she co-founded the company Inkhunter, an app that allows users to test out tattoos in real-time, with two of her female peers the same year. Rohachova said she was surprised to hear about gender discrimination in the workplace because she doesn't see a distinction between genders as much in her generation. She believes this type of discrimination is rooted more in "Soviet Union mindsets," although she discussed the fact that when her all-female team participated in a hackathon no one believed they would succeed (they won!). 

Finally, Polansky discussed concepts of entrepreneurship and empowerment as inspired by her six month period of work with Indego Africa. The cooperative aims to empower women by showcasing their handicrafts and introducing them to online markets to expand distribution. Polansky affirmed that when women are employed and empowered in developing countries, there is a "ripple effect" of reinvestment back into the community. Her desire is to take that framework and bring it to crafting in Ukraine, by educating entrepreneurs to participate in the global market and tying the physical work of crafting to the IT industry. 

"We are not aliens. We are humans trying to rebuild our lives."

Women Graduates-USA brought together four diverse women to discuss the challenges to economic empowerment faced by refugee and migrant women on Saturday, March 18 on the 10th Floor of the Church Center of the United Nations.

Immigrant Women & Precarious Work, Rosetta Adera, DM, New Jersey, Refugee from Rwanda

Precarious work is characterized by variable levels and degrees of objective (legal) and subjective (feeling) insecurity and has four dimensions: temporal (low job security), organizational (lack of control over conditions, pay, health & safety, etc.), economic (poor pay, wage robbery), and social (lack of collective voice and legal protection). This type of work is the reality for many refugees and migrants, and the effects are increased poverty and a lack of voice. Women are silenced, left powerless to change their condition due to the threat of losing their job if they speak up. Lack of documentation, which is a barrier to attaining better, stable employment, is particularly a problem for refugees - "When your country goes up in flames, you don't look for papers. You pick up and run." 

Psychological Aspects of Adjustments, Cynthia Grguric, PhD, New York 

Refugees and migrants go through three stages of resettling. Most psychological treatment is focused on the "pre-, contemplative" stage (are they supported, what pressures are pushing or pulling them) and "during" the period of travel (physical, emotional, and psychological traumas); however, "post stressors" remain prevalent for the first two years and only begin to decrease after five years.  The struggle between acculturation and assimilation is relevant as they gain a sense of grounding in their new settings. Economic dependency can cause guilt and pressure from back home, while feelings of loneliness and powerlessness make establishing a sense of belonging incredibly difficult, which can sometimes lead to violence. Particular pressures are put on children, who have to act as interpreters for their parents while trying to fit in at school. Culture is the glue that holds people and communities together - individual perceptions of national identity play an important role in the process. In order for refugees and migrants to successfully adjust, local communities must make the effort to reach out, practice cultural sensitivity, and provide connection and support for newcomers. 

Ramifications of Addiction, Jeanette Westbrook, Social Worker, Kentucky 

Refugees and migrants are particularly profiled and targeted by the criminal (in)justice system through DUIs, which can be used as grounds to prevent citizenship for five years and remains on record for life. Two DUI offenses are grounds for deportation, however refugees are being deported for just one offense. The main problem is that refugee settlements are doing a poor job of educating refugees about DUI laws. They may not have had DUI laws back home and often lack experience with alcohol. "The lack of access to that education and information is an institutionalized barrier." The pressure to "be American, have a beer" is thus used to criminalize and deport refugees and immigrants. 

A Personal Story, Martine Tchitchihe, UPenn, Refugee from Cameroon

After receiving threats from Boko Haram, an extremist terrorist group, Martine came to the United States in October 2014. Luckily, she was told to bring all of her documentation prior to leaving her country, which has made circumstances slightly easier. Immigration websites claim that it takes 45 days to get asylum, however Martine knows women who have waited for 11 years. Moreover, each time a refugee has to retell her story, she is forced to relive it, which has psychological effects, and if she forgets or mistakes one detail of her story, she will not be granted asylum. Martine profusely thanked her friends from Peace Corps Cameroon and UPenn, many of whom where in the audience. She cites them as her support system; they made her refugee journey to the United States possible, and keep her going every day. However, one word remains stuck in her head - "alien," a xenophobic term often used to refer to refugees and migrants. She states, "We are not aliens. We are humans trying to rebuild our lives." Martine, along with the other panelists, extended a call to action for participants to befriend at least one refugee or migrant, act as their mentor and advocate, and promote understanding in their community. 

Empty Words or Meaningful Actions?

On Friday, March 17 the UK NGO CSW Alliance held a discussion in the Hardin Room of the Church Center for the UN on how to ensure that Sustainable Development Goals 1 and 8 ensure the economic empowerment of women and girls. UN Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 1, "No Poverty", aims to eradicate all forms of poverty everywhere, while SDG 8, "Decent Work and Economic Growth", serves to promote sustained, inclusive, and sustainable economic growth, along with full and productive employment and decent work for all. 

One panelist spoke on the experience of older women, a group that is consistently excluded from global data and discussions despite the statistic that women over the age of 50 are 1/4 of the world's population. She reminded listeners that aging is a gendered experience. Women tend to live longer than men and, due to cultural norms and the gendered division of labor, will end up caring for multiple generations at the same time. They will take on more household and care-taking responsibilities (unpaid work) to allow the younger generation of women to enter the workforce. With the additional stresses of being disadvantaged throughout their lifetimes, poverty can hit older women especially hard. She asserted that SDG 8 must begin to measure unpaid work in order for public services and infrastructure to recognize the contributions of this group and provide support for older women and subsequently those they care for. 

The next panelist began by asking the audience "Who is civil society?" The answer: we are all civil society, and we have a responsibility to act and address human rights, women's rights, and the 2030 agenda outlined by the SDGs. We are the instruments and resources for economic empowerment and it is not only a goal, but smart economics, to serve as a critical voice for women and girls to influence the implementation of the SDGs. Civil society has played a significant role in raising awareness of gender equality and rights particularly by influencing the language used to talk about these issues. For example, they introduced "the girl child" to texts (previously, statistics of children under 18 clumped boys and girls together, failing to recognize their gendered experiences) and got the word "harmful" added before "traditional practices," making a difference in how people conceptualize the impacts of culture. 

The panel ended with an even stronger call to action. The final speaker referenced the byline of the SDGs - "Leaving No One Behind" - which promises the success of these goals and of achieving gender parity. "But I am calling for an end to empty words and a push to meaningful actions," she said. The continuous lack of disaggregated data alongside cultural practices which subordinate women have to be addressed; "Respecting culture is important, but human rights must come first." We also need to recognize that poverty starts at home. Additionally, poverty is not just economic - it is about a lack of capabilities, of empowerment and agency in an individual's life. The trivialization of issues such as enforced dress codes (a woman was recently fired for refusing to wear heels to work), the stereotyping of assertive women and girls as "bossy" or "pushy", and the low enrollment and employment of females in STEM subjects must also come to an end. In order to get to the roots of gender inequality, we need to look more closely at cultural practices and build an understanding. Only then, will we truly be able to "leave no one behind." 

Participants were then asked to break into small groups to discuss their thoughts, experiences, and questions on the panel. Some of the points brought up during the Q & A session were: 

• It has been estimated that $39 billion would be needed to ensure safe education for all. What would that type of funding look like and how would it be monitored? 
• Menstruation and lack of sanitary resources is a significant reason why some girls stop attending school. It is impossible to talk about gender equality in education when half of the population is not there. What are some ways to push governments to provide and support sanitation issues? 
• What do the SDGs look like and mean in individual communities? The concept of regionalizing the CSW was brought up to better reach rural women and those who lack the funding to attend the CSW. 
• One panelist noted that the CSW is a platform for advocacy and best practices. Perhaps the question should be how participants can bring key takeaways back home and implement them in their individual communities. 

"Inequality is the cause of our time"

“Making a Difference: Innovation and Women in Power” was held during the late afternoon on March 17, in the auditorium of the Salvation Army building, and was sponsored by The International Women’s Forum of Connecticut. Though this session was not as well attended as some of the earlier sessions in the day, those that were there were treated to a panel of internationally renowned women leaders. Moderated by Valerie Gelb, CEO of Gelb Global Business Growth Advisors, the panelist were Dr. Musimbi Kanyoro, President and CEO of Global Fund for Women, Christine McConnell, Executive Coach and founder and president of The McConnell Group, Carolyn Miles, president and CEO of Save the Children, and Kavita Ramdas, former president and CEO of The Global Fund for Women. As moderator, Ms. Gelb asked each panelist a variety of questions regarding how women in leadership positions can affect social change, though each question was tailored to the particular expertise and experience of the panelist being asked.

Overall, the panel addressed 3 main themes: the role of technology in women's empowerment, the major issues/challenges facing those who are working towards gender equality, and how women can be leaders for change.

Technology

Technology was primarily presented by the panelists as a resource that can be uniquely suited to support women’s empowerment. Carolyn Miles shared examples of how technology can be used to reach women and children who are often missed by traditional healthcare system, including innovative uses of mobile diagnostic devices that can be used to diagnose and treat children in rural areas and deep urban slums, as well as ways that technology can bring training resources to non-traditional healthcare workers so that they can better serve needy populations. Kavita Ramdas shared examples of how technology can be used to give girls and women a public voice, even when they are not physically allowed in public spaces. This has been seen recently in both Saudi Arabia and in India. Musimbi Kanyoro explained how mobile technologies have allowed disadvantaged populations access to information and resources they have been historically be excluded from, though she also noted situations in which technology can be damaging, especially for girls and women whose images are shared publicly though social media without their consent.

Major Issues

A variety of significant issues were discussed by panelists. One of the most cited was the assumption that economic empowerment is the solution to gender inequality. As Kavita Ramdas explained, there are many places in the world where women has achieved high rates of educational and economic parity, but still lack political or cultural power to make change because of historical cultural norms. Education was frequently described as one of the single largest factors in changing the lives of women and girls. From Carolyn Miles' perspective, education improves the future not only of girls, but also their future generations. Because of this, her organization approaches education not only as an empowerment solution, but also a protective solution.

Leading Change

The panelists provided many examples of the lessons they have learned about how to lead change, and advice for women who want to be leaders in working towards gender equality. Chris McConnell emphasized how important it is for women leaders to focus on their own leadership skills, and ways in which they can empower others by empowering themselves. She also discussed the perceived differences between women who lead in the corporate world and those who lead in the non-profit world, encouraging the world to work together to achieve shared goals. Musimbi Kanyoro called for women leaders to embrace the diversity of the world that we live in and to avoid addressing issues related to equality as single-subject issues. Kavita Ramdas provided 3 practical strategies: give to women’s rights organizations, make friends who are different from you, and use your networks as safe places to have tough conversations.

Word Choice

As the panel came to a close, two important questions of word choice came up. First, Kavita Ramdas shared that she doesn’t like to use the word “empowerment”. As she explained it, power it not given, it is taken. Marginalized populations have to reclaim their rights – they aren’t given new rights by those in power – and by doing so they change the balance of power. She also talked about the often-heard statement “women’s rights are human rights” and spoke passionately about this for several minutes. As echoed by other panelists, gender equality improves not only women, but all members of society. The use of the phrase “women’s rights are human rights” calls attention to the idea that women have not been treated as fully human, when instead we should be calling attention to the fact that all humans need the same rights, regardless of gender, sexuality, ethnicity, and other factors.

100 Solutions for Peaceful Advancement of Women Across Cultures

Held in the late afternoon of March 17 at the Salvation Army building, “100 Solutions for Peaceful Advancement of Women Across Cultures” served a a soft launch of the brand-new book by the same name. Available online and soon available in print, this interdisciplinary book provides solutions for the advancement of women. Authors and other involved in the development of the book were engaged in this panel session.

The session began with the singing of the national anthem by one of the author’s family members. Upon the conclusion of the anthem, the panel moderators, Padmini Murthy and Regina Askia Williams, introduced the keynote speaker. Mrs. Innocence Ntap Ndiaye, who currently the President of the High Council of Social Dialogue by Decree and has held multiple ministerial positions in Senegal, spoke about the steps that Senegal has taken to promote gender equality. Feeling more comfortable in her native language, she gave her talk in French, with another member of the panel translating. At the conclusion of her brief talk, she was presented with an SDG pin, in honor of her work on gender quality and as an inspiration to continue fighting.

Ora Welch, CEO of HOPES CAP and the first black woman elected to the United States Congress, spoke next about the importance of education in breaking patterns of gender inequality and violence. With particular attention to early education and the education of young people, she described the role that education plays in breaking cycles of violence. Specifically, Mrs. Welch explained that women need education to become self-sustaining, and that the respect they receive (and feel for themselves) once they are economically empowered, will lead to a reduction in violence. She also discussed the importance of women’s education addressing love, noting that girls must be taught that love should feel good and not hurtful, and that they must be supported by their community when they choose to leave domestic relationships in which violence is used as a proxy for love.

Next, Dr. Murthy and Regina Williams introduced the audience to the inspiration behind 100 Solutions, and discussed their perspectives on what can be done across cultures to promote women’s empowerment. Regina draw attention to the role that caregivers, especially women, play in breaking cultural patterns that maintain gender inequality, while Dr. Murthy took an opportunity to thank the feminist men in the audience who are also working towards gender equality.

Finally, Mrs. Terry Ince, a human rights activist and entrepreneur, spoke about women in peace and peaceful ways to get there. Using the recent example of a woman’s death during Carnivale in Trinidad and Tobago, she described how women’s empowerment starts with women. Women coming together to make their voices heard can lead to change, as it has in Trinidad and Tobago. However, international conventions also make a difference, and women in Trinidad and Tobago have been able to point to CEDAW to hold their government accountable when women aren’t getting the protection that they need.

The audience then had an opportunity to ask the panelists questions. The questions were wide-ranging, covering topic such as how communities can come together to make sure that girls have safe places to go when they are experiencing violence to how the recent changes in US governance will impact the worldwide women’s empowerment movement. To conclude the session, all of the book’s authors present (and their families) were called to the stage, where they were presented with flowers. Two authors’ children read poetry, and a third led the audience in singing Bob Marley's “Three Little Birds” to end the session on an inspiring note.

"Believe in yourself. You have nothing to lose and everything to gain"

Sponsored by Sigma Theta Tau International (the Honor Society for Nursing), “Economic Empowerment: Developing Leadership Skills for Decision-Making, Governance and Policy”was held on March 17 in at the Salvation Army building. Attended by approximately 30 participants, it was conducted by 3 panelists, an Sigma Theta Tau representative, and an UN Women representative. In general, it was geared towards women in the nursing and healthcare profession, though all content shared could be easily applied to women in all professions.

The session began with an overview of data that demonstrates the value of women membership on corporate and non-profit governance boards. The panelists shared data and stories from around the world about the benefits that women bring to boards. Of particular note, based on audience reaction, was the story of Iceland’s bankruptcy 2009, where the major companies that failed were run by men and the major companies that remained successful through the bankruptcy were led by women, and the statistic that female membership on boards results in an increase on return on investment of 8-13%.

After providing evidence of the importance of women leaders on boards, the panelists shared practical strategies and advice to women interested in developing the skills necessary for board leadership. Nine necessary skills for effective performance on a board (communication skills, ability to lead, ability to govern, program expertise, strategic thinking, marketing skills, fundraising ability, financial management, and legal expertise) were defined and practical skills for several were demonstrated using audience volunteers. Of the skills demonstrated, the audience was particularly interested in the demonstration of business card presentation, especially how a person can use their presentation of their business card to establish a relationship with someone, and cultural differences in business card practices.

The next topic was advice for women pursuing board positions. To have a successful experience pursuing a board position, one should have an open mind, understand their own motivations and goals, evaluate one’s readiness for the role, talk to mentors, assess the organization itself, and never underestimate the value that one’s decision will provide to the board. Finally, the panelists shared a variety of resources that can be used by women interested in leadership on boards. These includes international resources such as the International Women’s Forum, Global Board Ready Women, and Broadrooms, national organizations, and local organizations such as Chambers of Commerce.

The session concluded with a discussion and question and answer session. One audience member asked for advice establishing succession plans for leadership structures, and another asked for the panelists’ thoughts about why women are more represented on NGO boards as compared to corporate boards. Another, who was new to her profession, asked how she could start the trajectory towards leadership in her field even though she’s not ready for it yet. To this, a panelist responded: take risks, get involved, and accept mentors who meet your needs.

What Economic Empowerment Looks Like For Neglected Widows

There are 258 million widows in the world today.

A good majority of them face constant neglect and abuse, where they are stripped of their rights, dignity and identity simply because their husbands have passed. Nyaradzayi Gumbonzvanda, the CEO of Rozaria Memorial Trust, said, “Death is not an event but a lifelong experience for a widow,” especially in countries like Nigeria, Zimbabwe, and India as well as many more. Women are seen as property to men and if/when the men that “own” them pass away, the women’s identities die with them. Women are lead to believe that they are socially and economically tied to their husbands, where they cannot possibly fend for themselves. They move from their father’s or brother’s hands to their husband’s and have little idea of their rights as a wife and a woman. As a result, their land, home and children are often taken away from them as a consequence of their husbands death and are left as socially ostracized members of society. 

However, grassroots organizations in affected countries like Nigeria, are looking to specifically empower these women by providing them with economic stability. One NGO in particular looks to cultivate entrepreneurial skills for these women. It allots micro-credits to a group of widowed women so that they may build and run their own enterprise. Not only can this provide these women and their families with sustainable funding but they are also able to raise their status within the community as they are seen as contributors rather than burdens to the larger community.

These initiatives are too small in size and scope, however, where widowhood is a large and affected population. It is not only important to empower women with economic incentives but to also provide them with information, knowledge that they may use to their advantage. Education is as the key to unlocking these disempowered women so that they may feel liberated to refuse these social norms that perpetuate their abuse.

As Dr. Eleanor Nwadinobi, manager to the Nigeria Stability and Reconciliation Program, stated “Let empowerment be a true empowerment, let it be an enablement.” 

https://www.flickr.com/photos/khym54/ . CC BY 2.0

The Barriers Preventing the Empowerment of Refugee Women and Children

“We must face this head on,” Lisa Szarkowski, a representative from UNICEF, spoke of the impending consequences of ignoring the Syrian refugee crisis. She continued to state that leaders of the world must come together to address this issue as a collective. Without significant and genuine efforts from countries in a position to help, refugees will continue to feel displaced and remain vulnerable to exploitation.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/dfid/ . CC BY 2.0

Lebanon and Greece, among a group of countries that have experienced a vast influx of refugees, are attempting to pull together resources and solutions to support this growing population. In Lebanon, faith-based actors and institutions are specifically reaching out to support incoming refugees, often times without the approval from the surrounding community or government. In Greece, the government is looking to integrate refugees within the formal education system. Dr. Vasileia Digidiki, a psychologist from Harvard University, said, “education should be a priority… as it is a protective factor for [refugee children].” But even these countries efforts, whether they are grassroots initiatives or government mandates, are not fully providing for and empowering the vulnerable refugee population, which is especially true for women and children.

Considering refugees are forced to leave their homes, Szarkowski asked, “where would you have them go?” No one country can handle the resources and support it takes to care for this many refugees yet countries that have the capacity to step in are not doing so. The biggest issue is that both receiving countries and refugees themselves are not facing the reality of the situation. Both parties see this as a temporary displacement where refugees will soon return back home. But Szarkowski made it clear that is it vital we face this as a permanent issue that must be addressed with long-term solutions.