Women's Rights

How are Citizens’ Movements Getting More Active in Asia? Lessons from a 10 Country Dialogue

Yesterday’s post discussed two of the case studies from last week’s Asia Development Dialogue on active citizenship. Today’s installment covers my more general thoughts on the discussion, based on some final reflections I was asked to give at the end of the day.

First, I felt pretty privileged to be able to eavesdrop on a conversation between activists, political leaders and academics from 10 Asian countries: a women’s rights organizer from Myanmar seeking advice from a women’s leader from muslim Southern Thailand on dealing with ethnic conflict; a woman mayor from the Philippines asking a Cambodian leader if she had considered expanding her work on nurturing grassroots women’s political leadership to other countries. Fascinating.

Nothing Ordinary about these Extraordinary Women

In thinking about global advocacy and the journey of norms in development, a recent article in the July/August 2012 issue of Fast Company by Ellen McGirt caught my attention. The feature story is about a new kind of women’s movement entitled “The League of Extraordinary Women”. This loose network of 60 influential women, mostly Americans, includes artists, academics, business executives, government officials, entrepreneurs, and philanthropists, who are committed to changing the lives of girls and women around the world. The initiatives they have developed focus on specific issues, including education, HIV/AIDS, maternal health, microloans, women’s rights, and mentoring to develop future leaders and entrepreneurs. The list of 60 includes a few high-profile and famous women such as Hillary Clinton, Melinda Gates, and Oprah Winfrey.

How Can Aid Agencies Promote Local Governance and Accountability? Lessons from Oxfam’s Work in Five Countries

Community discussion class participants in Bardiya village talk about their plans for building a community clinic. Oxfam is publishing a fascinating new series of case studies today, describing its programme work on local governance and community action. There are case studies from Nepal (women's rights, see photo), Malawi (access to medicines), Kenya (tracking public spending), Viet Nam (community participation) and Tanzania (the ubiquitous Chukua Hatua project), and a very wise (and mercifully brief) overview paper from power and governance guru Jo Rowlands. Here are some highlights:

“Governance is about the formal or informal rules, systems and structures under which human societies are organised, and how they are (or are not) implemented. It affects all aspects of human society – politics, economics and business, culture, social interaction, religion, and security - at all levels, from the most global to the very local."

“Women Make the News”

This month, thousands of events are taking place around the world to celebrate women and their economic, political and social accomplishments. Also, this year is extra special since it marks the 100th anniversary of the International Women’s Day. In 1911, more than a million people took to the streets in several countries to campaign for women’s rights, including the right to vote. Today, the International Women’s Day, March 8, is an official holiday in many countries, and the celebration extends throughout the month in many places. Just a few years ago, for example, the U.S. declared the month of March Women’s History month.

Educating Girls: One Man’s Argument

I first learned about Qasim Amin in a Contemporary Islamic Civilizations class while studying at university, and could not help but wonder where I would be if it were not for this man. My grandmother most likely would not speak French and English in addition to her native Arabic, and chances are that my mother would not have had the opportunity to attend an all girls school in Cairo and then go on to attend university.
Photo: Yasmine Cathell

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