Latest News

Arab Regional Conference Ten Years After Beijing

Members of WLP’s network participated in the Arab Regional Conference Ten Years After Beijing organized by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (UN ESCWA) July 8-10, 2004 in Beirut, Lebanon. Under the theme "Call for Peace," the aim of the conference was to assess the gains made for the advancement of Arab women since the implementation of the Beijing Platform of Action, and to strategize on how to overcome the major obstacles to achieving equality in light of the instability and armed conflict that continues to threaten human security in the region. Among the accomplishments highlighted at the conference were the establishment of the Arab Organization for Women, the implementation of quota systems for women parliamentarians, and the ratification of CEDAW by 12 Arab countries. WLP President, Mahnaz Afkhami, chaired the session on civil society in which NGO leaders and government ministers discussed the role of women in civic, political, social, and economic development. WLP International Advisory Council Members, Zahira Kamal, Minister of Women’s Affairs (Palestine), Asma Khader, Minister of State and Government Spokesperson (Jordan), and Bouthaina Shaaban, Minister of Expatriates (Syrian Arab Republic), led delegations from their respective countries at the conference. WLP board member Afaf Mahfouz participated in the drafting committee for the conference's concluding document. Get facts and figures about women’s political participation in the Arab region.

WLP Partner Awarded 2004 Women’s Rights Prize

WLP Partner and President of Afghan Institute of Learning (AIL), Sakena Yacoobi, was awarded the 2004 Women’s Rights Prize of the Peter Gruber Foundation for her courageous efforts to advance women’s rights and opportunities for girls in Afghanistan and in refugee camps in Pakistan. Under the Taliban regime, AIL ran underground schools and hospitals for women and girls. Today, AIL provides training to thousands of women and girls in literacy, ICTs, health, and human rights, and runs many mobile health clinics throughout the region. Congratulations Sakena!

New: Hausa Edition of WLP’s Leadership Handbook

This month WLP published the Hausa edition (Jagoranci Zuwa Zabi) of WLP’s leadership training manual Leading to Choices: A Leadership Training Handbook for Women, for use in Nigeria and other areas of East Africa. The manual was translated, adapted, and tested by WLP's partner in Nigeria, BAOAB for Women's Human Rights, in a series of training workshops that focused on conflict prevention, consensus building, and inter-communal cooperation. For more information, or to order your copy of the Hausa Leading to Choices visit WLP’s online store.

"Clash or Consensus" Human Security Conference Papers Now Online

Papers presented at WLP’s international conference "Clash or Consensus: Gender and Human Security in a Globalized World," held in Washington, DC in October, are now available online. The papers discuss human security in relation to development, human rights, religious fundamentalisms, democratic governance, and post-conflict reconstruction. Presentations include the opening address by Mary Robinson, opening remarks by WLP President, Mahnaz Afkhami, and papers by Amneh Badran, Nadereh Chamlou, Marian Wright Edelman, Najma Heptulla, Mishka Mourani, Kumi Naidoo, Kathleen Peratis, Jacqueline Pitanguy, Attiya Inayatullah, Aruna Rao, and Madhavi Sunder. Read papers or listen to the proceedings online.

Job Opportunity: WLP Program Associate Women’s Learning Partnership

(WLP) is seeking a Program Associate who will be responsible for assisting with administrating WLP’s projects and print material development. The Program Associate is responsible for liaising with WLP’s partner organizations in Afghanistan, Cameroon, India, Indonesia, Jordan, Lebanon, Malaysia, Morocco, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Palestine, the Philippines, Turkey, Uzbekistan, and Zimbabwe; assisting with the production of leadership training handbooks and other training tools; and gathering program results and preparing reports, among other duties. Qualifications include a dedication to women’s empowerment and at least two years professional experience in international development or human rights. Foreign language skills in Arabic and/or French are preferred. The position is based at WLP headquarters in Bethesda, Maryland (in the Washington DC metro area). For a full job description or to view application procedures click here.