Perusing the internet last week searching for events on International Women's Day I came across the United Nations Human Rights' page. A "high-profile event on the occasion of International Women's Day" was going to be held that's invited guests included "delegates of the Human Rights Council, United Nations staff, media and academics". External participants could attend with invitation and accreditation. So, obviously I e-mailed them asking if I could attend.
As you can see, I received an invitation. My friend was able to attend as well which was really great. Entering the Palais de Nations was super intense as we received badges with our names printed on them, went through metal detectors two separate times, passed through fancy doors...yeah the whole shabang. So official.
The program took place in Room XX (pictured below). Mmmm surreptitious, no? In reality, the room is not some secret meeting place where entry is granted through biometrics and secret passageways but is the Human Rights and Alliance of Civilizations Room. Still pretty cool. The ceiling alone was magnificent and has an interesting story attached to it if you care to read it here.
But, despite the fact, that's not the reason I was there.
Hosted by the High Commissioner for Human Rights, Ms. Navi Pillay, the theme, if you will, of this years International Women's Day program was "Capitalizing Women's Potential in Times of Crisis." The program began with a video of Alice Walker addressing the audience and reading her powerful poem, "Remember." An panel discussion ensued in which the following was addressed; "the impact of the global financial, food and climate crisis on women and the role of women in promoting peace and human rights." Panelists included the co-founder and co-director of AIDS-Free World , the Head of Foreign Relations for the Bahrain Center for Human Rights, the Executive Director of Greenpeace International and UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador for the Culture of Peace in 1997. A relatively diverse panel they all provided inspiration and positive actions for the future of women of the world, particularly in leadership positions.
Digression. Please watch this video, thank you.
I was elated to be able to, essentially, be a part of such an important discussion and was even more excited that these issues were being discussed at such a high systematic level. Needless to say, particularly as a Women's and Gender Studies major, I was loving every minute and itching to put my academic knowledge to the test of all this real-world discussion. Recognizing that women's rights ARE human rights is an important step that I was thankful was being addressed. One of the panelists (who we actually got to talk to at a reception after the panel-she was amazing) was a young woman who was heavily involved in the 2011 democratic protests in Bahrain. She highlighted how the role of women in the Arab Spring uprising has brought a "new" image of women to the forefront as active agents that are able to make change that stretches beyond the home although, as has happened in history many times before, they were left out of the policy making of new constitutional changes. Women's important and essential contributions need to be recognized.
The "first to suffer when basic human rights are threatened" (from the UN pamphlet I got at the program) women are disproportionately affected by natural disasters/climate change, poverty and hunger compared to men. Essentially, women bear the biggest burden of mainly man-made problems. Yet, every day women prove their capacity and ability to endure, sustain and create. Panelist Stephen Lewis eloquently stated his dislike for the term "women's empowerment" as it suggested that we needed to give this tool to women. Give something they clearly prove they already have. He reasoned how it's not about capacity development but capacity releasing. Women, as half of the world's population, need to be recognized and active in decision making. Only then will we be able to create better policies and in turn better societies.
The power of gender needs to be taken seriously. It's not just a "woman's" issue. It's a human issue. It only makes sense that when women gain greater equality and consequently the benefits of that set in, then men will benefit as well. Women are perfectly capable. It's time to celebrate and appreciate their work, let their voices be heard and have their ideas become reality.
As it's a bit late and my writing skills are quickly disappearing along with the amount of sleep I'll be getting tonight, I shall leave you with a progressive and more empirical piece. Voilà.
Catherine, This very exciting for you.I felt your thrill in being there and participating in an important event. Women rights are human rights as so you rightly said. Women are still being oppressed in so many parts of the world. Dedicating yourself to women's rights is dedicating yourself to the rights of all people.
ReplyDeleteBy the way, don't forget to have fun too.
Soterios