Issue 18 (Winter 2007)

Malena de Montis is founder and board member of WLP’s affiliate partner in Nicaragua, Fondo para el Desarrollo de la Mujer (Fodem)/Centro para la Participación Democrática y el Desarrollo (Cenzontle). Fodem/Cenzontle is a non-governmental organization which seeks to support the economic and political empowerment of women with scarce resources through financial, business, and citizenship programs which have earned them the Central American award for Best Practice from INTERCAMBIO.

Malena is also founder and member of the National Women’s Coalition in Nicaragua, and served as Latin American Coordinator of the Women’s Political Network (1995-2000) which was launched at the Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing. At present she is actively involved in the structural organization of the Women´s Autonomous Movement in Nicaragua.

Program Associate Siobhán Hayes spoke with Malena de Montis about women’s economic position in Nicaragua and Fodem/Cenzontle’s microcredit programs for women’s empowerment.

From November 15-17, New York City saw the largest gathering of world women leaders ever held in the United States: the International Women Leaders Global Security Summit. Co-hosts Mary Robinson, former president of Ireland, and Kim Campbell, former prime minister of Canada, joined a diverse group of high level UN and government officials, former and current heads of state from over 40 countries, and leaders of nongovernmental organizations. Mahnaz Afkhami, WLP founder and president; Sima Samar of Afghanistan, special rapporteur of the United Nations Human Rights Council on the situation of human rights in the Sudan; and Wijdan Salim, Minister of Human Rights in Iraq were among the participants from the MENA region.

Issues of global security— climate change, terrorism, economic insecurity, and humanitarian intervention and peace building— topped the agenda. The Summit sought to amplify public awareness and support for women’s leadership on these issues. Participants also agreed on the need to strengthen women’s information-communication-media networks to improve women’s visibility and capacity to influence policy processes.

'Tis the Season!

The WLP team along with the twenty autonomous women's organizations who make up the partnership worldwide invite you to get to know our organization and the work we do. We hope that by reading this eNewsletter you become more familiar with the leadership and ICT trainings and economic empowerment projects being implemented by the partnership. We want you to know how your money is being spent and who is directly benefiting from your generosity this holiday season. Join us in helping to promote social justice through contributing to expanding women's rights.

Gifts with a Purpose | Gifts that Empower | Gifts of Hope

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