Against All Odds: Women Partnering for Change in a Time of Crisis

March 8, 2007: On the occasion of International Women's Day, WLP premiered a new 25-minute documentary "Against All Odds: Women Partnering for Change in a Time of Crisis," which showcases the perspectives of activists from around the world including Afghanistan, Brazil, Egypt, Morocco, Lebanon, and Uzbekistan.

On the Occasion of International Women's Day

March 8, 2007

Presented by
WLP IN COOPERATION WITH
The Dialogue Project of the
School of Advanced International Studies, Johns Hopkins University

Panelists: Mahnaz Afkhami, Asma Khader, Sindi Medar-Gould, and Azar Nafisi (Moderator)

WHEN
Thursday, March 8, 2007
6:00 – 8:00pm
(Light refreshments will be provided.)

WHERE
Kenney Auditorium (map it)
Johns Hopkins University
School of Advanced International Studies
1740 Massachusetts Avenue, NW
Washington, DC

REGISTRATION IS FREE. REGISTER ONLINE

Women’s rights and activism across the world are being threatened by rising religious fundamentalism, war and conflict, and government restrictions, including legislation that limits activities of civic organizations. While women are disproportionately affected, they are also key agents of change, upholding communities and families, and engaging in peaceful forms of resistance.

This event will include the premier of a new 25-minute documentary "Against All Odds: Women Partnering for Change in a Time of Crisis," which showcases the perspectives of activists from around the world including Afghanistan, Brazil, Egypt, Morocco, Lebanon, and Uzbekistan. They discuss the ways and means of strengthening women’s movements by building alliances, sharing inter-generational experience and expertise, and developing culture-specific, grassroots-based approaches to empowering women and girls. Join us for a conversation on these topics with women activists from Iran, Jordan, and Nigeria.

SPEAKER BIOGRAPHIES

Mahnaz Afkhami (Iran/USA) is President and CEO of the Women's Learning Partnership and former Minister for Women’s Affairs in Iran. Ms. Afkhami has spent the last three decades as a leading advocate for women’s human rights internationally and has written and lectured extensively on women’s human rights issues. Her numerous publications have been widely translated and distributed internationally.

Asma Khader (Jordan), a leading advocate of the campaign to strengthen legislation outlawing honor killing, is a member of the Permanent Arab Court as Counsel on violence against women. She is the General Coordinator of Sisterhood is Global Institute/Jordan and Secretary General of the Jordanian National Commission for Women.

Sindi Medar-Gould (Nigeria) is a lifelong activist and feminist with a record of 30 years standing in women’s human rights work. She is the Executive Director of BAOBAB for Women’s Human Rights and Chairperson of the Nigeria Coalition on the International Criminal Court.

Azar Nafisi (Moderator), author of the best seller Reading Lolita in Tehran, is a visiting scholar at the SAIS Foreign Policy Institute and Director of the SAIS Dialogue Project at Johns Hopkins University. She has written and lectured widely on the political implications of literature and culture and on the human rights of women and girls.

REGISTER ONLINE