Fighting the Good Fight: Women’s Rights Activism in a Time of Crisis

March 6, 2007: 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. Women activists This March 6th 2007 featured conversations with women activists from Iran, Jordan, and Nigeria on the topics of ways and means of strengthening the women's movements by building alliances, sharing inter-generational experience and expertise, and developing culture-specific, grassroots-based approaches to empowering women and girls.

March 6, 2007

Presented by
WLP WITH THE SUPPORT OF
the United Nations Populations Fund (UNFPA)
at the 51st Session of the Commission on the Status of Women

Panelists: Mahnaz Afkhami, Asma Khader, Rakhee Goyal, Sindi Medar-Gould, and Aminata Touré (Moderator)

WHEN
Tuesday, March 6, 2007
12:00 – 1:45 pm
(Light refreshments will be provided)
WHERE
Dag Hammarskjöld Lounge, 12th Floor, The Church Center
777 UN Plaza, 44th St. and First Ave.
New York, NY

Registration for the Commission on the Status of Women meeting is not required to attend this session.

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.

Rakhee Goyal (India) is Executive Director of the Women's Learning Partnership where she coordinates the design and implementation of projects for women's leadership and capacity building in Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Middle East. An engineer and computer scientist, she was formerly Projects Coordinator at Sisterhood Is Global Institute.

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.

Aminata Touré (Moderator) is a senior advisor in the Technical Support Division in the Gender, Culture and Human Rights branch of the United Nations Populations Fund (UNFPA). Since 1995, she has worked with UNFPA in various African countries directing gender and health programs. She previously led the Marketing and Communication Department of one of the biggest Senegalese Company – SOTRAC, a for profit organization.