Gender Assessment Briefing: Monday 12/5

Morning, All!

Just a reminder: the Gender Assessment Briefing will take place today at 11:30am in the Board Room.

We hope to see you there,

Michelle

From: Michelle Paison
Sent: Wednesday, November 30, 2011 10:28 AM
To: Everyone
Cc: Randal Mason; Dana Duthie; Clare Sheng; Dalen Todd; Drusilla Menaker; Shannon Burke Bruder; Maggie McDonough; Jessica Cole; Chia-Yang Kao; Allison Strype; Erin Murrock
Subject: Gender Assessment Briefing: Monday 12/5

Hi, All,

At 11:30 on Monday, December 5th in the Board Room, Dana Duthie and Clare Sheng have graciously offered to brief us on the process of their recent “Gender Assessment,” recently submitted as part of the Mozambique Media proposal.

With USAID’s rising interest in gender related programming, and the need to put forth effective, inclusive activities, this will be a valuable addition to IREX’s current conversations surrounding “gender.” Please join us to contribute to this ongoing discussion.

Thank you,

Michelle

Michelle L. Paison • Development Associate •  Development Division •  International Research & Exchanges Board

2121 K St, NW Suite 700, Washington, DC 20037 | 202.628.8188 x174 | mpaison@irex.org  | Make a Better World: www.irex.org/donate

Women Fighting for Peace in Iraq

As U.S. troops withdraw from Iraq and the U.S. role transitions from military-led to civilian-led engagement, many questions linger about Iraq’s governance, stability and security. How the transition will impact the status of women and vulnerable groups is of critical importance. Through its support of capacity building among women leaders and organizations that work on gender-equity and peacebuilding in Iraq, the U.S. Institute of Peace’s Iraq Priority Grant Program has worked since 2004 to create indigenous institutions that contribute positively to conflict prevention.

On December 6, USIP will facilitate a discussion that will feature two women NGO leaders from Iraq whose USIP-supported projects enable them to promote positive participatory roles for women as peacebuilders and provide mechanisms and strategies to combat discrimination and violence against women in Iraq. The documentary “Be Tender with Flasks” will be presented, featuring the work of women activists and religious leaders who speak strongly against violence against women and what are known as “Honor Killings.” 

Speakers

  • Ambassador Donald Steinberg – keynote remarks
    Deputy Administrator of U.S. Agency for International Aid (USAID)
  • Dr. Abiodun Williams – Introductory Remarks
    Senior Vice President, Center for Conflict Management, USIP
  • Ms. Susan Arif Maroof – Featured Panelist 
    Director, Women Empowerment Organization, Iraq
  • Ms. Zainab Sadiq Jaafar – Featured Panelist
    Director, Al-Mustaqbal Center for Women, Iraq
  • Dr. Kathleen Kuehnast – Discussant 
    Director, Gender and Peacebuilding Center, USIP
  • Ms. Manal Omar – Discussant 
    Director, Iraq, Iran & North Africa Programs, USIP
  • Ms. Raya Barazanji – Moderator
    Grant Program Officer, USIP

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2011 Women, Power, and Peace Awards

2011 Women, Power, and Peace Awards

Annually we honor extraordinary women and men on the frontlines of peacebuilding with the Women, Power, and Peace Awards. This year’s ceremony will be held on December 5th in Washington, DC.  Buy your tickets here.

We are pleased to announce the 2011 Award Winners!

Would you like to attend the awards?  Buy your tickets today!

***

Peace Media Award

The Peace Media Award honors a publication, video, radio or television program, investigative reporter, or Internet organization that uses the power of media to inform and inspire civil society to help build cultures of peace.

 

Laura Boushnak

Awardee: Laura Boushnak

Laura Boushnak, an award winning Palesinian photographer, currently focusing on Arab women and education across the Middle East, has been selected to receive our Peace Media Award. The Peace Media award honors a publication, video, radio or television program, investigative reporter, journalist, or Internet organization that uses the power of media to inform and inspire civil society to build cultures of peace.

Read more about Laura.

 

Peace Philanthropy Award

 

Global Fund for Women

The Peace Philanthropy Award honors a person or organization that has contributed generous funds over time to address the needs of women and to support women’s work in developing cultures of peace.

Awardee: Global Fund for Women

Global Fund for Women has been selected to receive the 2011 Peace Philanthropy Award because of their leadership role in advancing women’s rights by making grants that support and strengthen women’s groups around the world.

Read more about Global Fund for Women.

Patricia Smith Peacebuilder Award

Louise Diamond

The Patricia Smith Melton Peace Builder Award honors a person or organization that builds cultures of peace not only through their daily work, but also inspires, organizes, and leads others to create a just and harmonious world.

Awardee: Louise Diamond

For 40 years Louise Diamond has worked extensively on issues relating to development, conflict prevention and transformation, diversity, leadership, education, youth, business, non-profits, media, health, and more.In 1992, Ms. Diamond co-founded (with Ambassador John McDonald) The Institute for Multi-Track Diplomacy (IMTD) in Washington, D.C.   In 2004, Ms. Diamond founded The Peace Company, seeking to show that peace is good business and to bridge the gap between the non-profit and for-profit worlds.  During this time, she continued to provided training and consulting nationally and globally, and wrote The Peace Book: 108 Simple Ways to Make a More Peaceful World, which has sold close to 100,000 copies. In 2008, Ms. Diamond founded Global Systems Initiatives, where she brings a transformative whole systems perspective on complex global issues to the policy community.

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Women: Remarks at the Special Session on Gender at the 4th High Level Forum on Aid Effectiveness

Remarks at the Special Session on Gender at the 4th High Level Forum on Aid Effectiveness

Remarks

Hillary Rodham Clinton
Secretary of State

Busan Exhibition and Convention Center

Busan, South Korea

November 30, 2011


Thank you so much, Michelle, and thanks to all of you who are here at the Session on Gender as part of the Fourth High-Level Forum on Aid Effectiveness. First and foremost, I want to thank UN Women Executive Director Michelle Bachelet, Korean Minister for Gender Equality and Family Minister Kim Kum-lae, everyone participating on this panel, and all of my colleagues and counterparts in the audience for prioritizing this discussion today.

I was standing listening to Michelle, who in her usual effective and strong way was making the case, but I could sense in her voice the same frustration that I feel from time to time, which is: How much longer do we have to make this case? This is a cause near and dear to my heart, as I know it is to many of you. It is at the core of our development and diplomacy policy. We know all the reasons why removing barriers to women’s integration and participation is essential to building growth and development, and we know that it is now quantified. The World Bank, the IMF, other internationally recognized sources have demonstrated time and again how much GDP can be increased, how much per capital can be increased. So we really have no choice but to tailor and target women and girls in our development programs.

And there’s an old saying: “What gets measured, gets noticed.” So that means we must collect data so we are constantly focused on how better to integrate women into our economies, and using this evidence, to build gender-inclusive development policies that work.

Now, for example, many countries collect data on loans given to small and medium sized businesses. But very few track how many of those businesses are owned by women. How many women who apply for small business loans actually get them? What are those loans worth compared to loans granted to men? With reliable answers to questions such as these, we can begin reforming credit policies, asset, ownership, and inheritance laws that still disadvantage women.

When we measure these same indicators consistently over time, then we will notice whether or not we are making progress.

Earlier this year at the OECD’s 50th Anniversary Ministerial, I called on the OECD, the World Bank, the UN, and the international community to standardize the data we have on women’s inclusion to make it more useful. These institutions have now come to the table here in Busan with a list of core indicators to track women’s status in education, employment, and entrepreneurship.

And today I am very pleased to announce a new collaboration between several governments and international organizations. It’s called the Evidence and Data for Gender Equality, or EDGE. This initiative responds to the growing demand of countries for financial and technical support to improve gender statistics. EDGE will help harmonize economic data broken down by gender across different surveys and national systems. Five donors have already pledged to support the EDGE initiative, creating partnerships with National Statistics Offices to implement common pilot activities that collect data on women’s entrepreneurship and assets – two areas where gender gaps in the data are largest.

Now, gathering this kind of empirical evidence is critical to the Busan Action Plan for Gender Equality and Development. And I look forward to seeing this initial data report and implementation plan that we have each agreed to share by next June.

In this forum, we have emphasized the need to hold ourselves to higher standards of accountability and transparency, and to stay focused on delivering results. The Action Plan will help us track our progress and stay on target over the next few years. And most importantly, it will help ensure the commitments we make here are translated into real improved opportunities for women – more women accessing education, more women finding employment, more women entrepreneurs receiving small business loans.

I believe we are entering the age of participation, one in which every individual can make valuable contributions to the global marketplace if they have the opportunity to do so. And it is incumbent upon us to make sure that men and women alike have that opportunity.

So I am very grateful to each of you for recognizing the absolute core importance of this work, and I turn it back to my friend, Executive Director Bachelet, and our panel of experts. Thank you.


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For Afghan Woman, Justice Runs Into Unforgiving Wall of Custom

For Afghan Woman, Justice Runs Into Unforgiving Wall of Custom

By ALISSA J. RUBIN

KABUL, Afghanistan — When the Afghan government announced Thursday that it would pardon a woman who had been imprisoned for adultery after she reported that she had been raped, the decision seemed a clear victory for the many women here whose lives have been ground down by the Afghan justice system.

But when the announcement also made it clear that there was an expectation that the woman, Gulnaz, would agree to marry the man who raped her, the moment instead revealed the ways in which even efforts guided by the best intentions to redress violence against women here run up against the limits of change in a society where cultural practices are so powerful that few can resist them, not even the president.

The solution holds grave risks for Gulnaz, who uses one name, since the man could be so humiliated that he might kill his accuser, despite the risk of prosecution, or abuse her again.

The decision from the government of President Hamid Karzai is all the more poignant coming as Western forces prepare to leave Afghanistan, underscoring the unfinished business of advancing women’s rights here, and raising questions of what will happen in the future to other women like Gulnaz.

Indeed, what prompted the government to act at all was a grass-roots movement that began after Gulnaz was featured in a recent documentary film commissioned by the European Union, which then blocked the film’s release.

Supporters of the filmmakers charged that European officials were shying away from exposing the sort of abuses Afghan women routinely suffer for fear of offending their host government.

While Gulnaz’s pardon is a victory for both Clementine Malpas, a filmmaker who spent nearly six months on the documentary, and for Kimberley Motley, an American lawyer here who took Gulnaz’s case on a pro bono basis, it also shows that for women in the justice system, the odds are stacked against them.

The banned film, “In-Justice: The Story of Afghan Women in Jail,” which was seen by The New York Times, profiles three Afghan women who were in prison. One was Gulnaz, then about 19, who gave birth to the child of her rapist in prison, after initially being sentenced to three years. In a second trial, her sentence was increased to 12 years, but a judge on camera offered her a way out: marry her rapist.

A second woman in the film was abused by her husband and ran away with a man she fell in love with; both are now in prison for adultery. The third woman was a child of 14, who appeared to have been kidnapped but was held as a runaway and has since been returned to her family.

After the film was completed, the European Union banned its release, effectively silencing the women who were willing to tell their stories. The reason given for the ban was that the publicity could harm the women, because an Afghan woman who has had sex out of wedlock can easily become the victim of a so-called honor killing. The women had not given their written consent to be in the film, said Vygaudas Usackas, the European Union’s ambassador to Afghanistan.

But an e-mail obtained by The Times from someone supportive of the filmmakers suggested that the European Union also had political reasons for the ban.

The e-mail addressed to the filmmakers by the European Union attaché for justice, the rule of law and human rights, Zoe Leffler, said the European Union “also has to consider its relations with the justice institutions in connection with the other work that it is doing in the sector.”

Even if the women in the film “were to give their full consent,” the European Union would not be “ willing to take responsibility for the events that could ensue and that could threaten the lives of the documentary’s subjects,” the e-mail said.

Mr. Usackas said that concern for the women was central in the European Union’s decision. “Not only does the E.U. care about women, but we have spent over 45 million euros,” about $60 million, “in support of different programs for women,” he said, adding that the European Union also finances shelters for women.

Word of the film’s suppression percolated through human rights groups here to the point that many in the nascent Afghan women’s movement were referring to the victims by name and discussing what would be best for them, given the strictures of Afghan society. Some people circulated a petition urging Gulnaz’s release and gathered more than 6,000 signatures, which were delivered to Mr. Karzai.

Although human rights advocates came down emphatically on the side of broadcasting the documentary, Afghan women’s advocates were more cautious, having been stung by previous cases.

In 2010, there was widespread publicity of the case of Bibi Aisha, a Pashtun child bride, whose nose was cut off by her Taliban husband; it backfired. Conservative Afghan leaders started a campaign against the nonprofit women’s shelters, one of which had helped Bibi Aisha. They came close to shutting down the shelters, which would have been a huge loss for abused women who have no other refuge.

“When we write or produce articles or movies on Afghan women, no matter how horrible the life of Afghan women is, and we know that is the reality of Afghan women, we want to be very careful not to make the situation worse,” said Samira Hamidi, country director of the Afghan Women’s Network.

“We don’t want to block the way for other women who have similar problems and who don’t have anyone to help them,” Ms. Hamidi said.

But to not show the plight of Afghan women is to reduce the possibility that the government and the society will ever change.

“It is our position in the human rights community that one of the best ways to highlight a human rights issue is to let the victims speak and to publicize what has happened to them to a wide audience,” said Georgette Gagnon, an official with the United Nations mission in Afghanistan.

The problem for Gulnaz and the other women in the film is the deeply held belief that women uphold their family’s honor. Thus any attempt to expose abuse is so humiliating to the family that a woman who speaks out often becomes a pariah among her relatives, ending up isolated as well as abused.

Gulnaz’s case shows the power of cultural norms. On the one hand, the public campaign for the woman prompted the pardon, which ensures that she will be able to bring up her daughter outside prison. On the other hand, the fact that the only imaginable solution to the situation of a woman with an illegitimate child is to have her marry the father — even if he is a rapist — is testament to the rigid belief here that a woman is respectable only if she is embedded within a family.

Ms. Malpas said that Gulnaz talked to her about why she felt that she had to give in to requests that she marry the man who raped her, even though she did not want to, explaining that not only would she be an outcast if she did not, but so would her daughter, and she would bring shame on her family.

“Gulnaz said, ‘My rapist has destroyed my future,’ ” Ms. Malpas said, recounting their conversation. “ ‘No one will marry me after what he has done to me. So I must marry my rapist for my child’s sake. I don’t want people to call her a bastard and abuse my brothers. My brothers won’t have honor in our society until he marries me.’ ”

But, mindful of her safety, Gulnaz also said that if she were to marry her rapist she would demand that he make one of his sisters marry one of her brothers, Ms. Motley, the lawyer, said.

This practice, known as “baad,” is a tribal way of settling disputes. But in this case it would also be an insurance policy for Gulnaz since her rapist would hesitate to hurt her because his sister would be at the mercy of Gulnaz’s brother.

Both Ms. Malpas and Ms. Motley said that a shelter had been found for Gulnaz and that they hoped she would go there. But whether such a Western option can prevail over Afghan custom — and whether Gulnaz will choose it — is far from clear.

Sangar Rahimi and Rod Nordland contributed reporting.

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Gender Salon Breakfast: Bridenapping in Kyrgyzstan

When: Tuesday, December 13, 2011 9:00 AM-10:00 AM (GMT-05:00) Eastern Time (US & Canada).
Where: Conference Rooms A-C

Note: The GMT offset above does not reflect daylight saving time adjustments.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Dear All,

Mark your calendars for a breakfast discussion with the IREX/Kyrgyzstan office on Tuesday, December 13th at 9:00am. Bridenapping remains prevalent in Kyrgyzstan—it is a reality that has affected the IREX community directly, with a staff member in our country office taken on her second day of work. Join us as we delve into the mounting issue of bridenapping and its effect on Kyrgyz communities and men and women worldwide.

In advance of the salon, feel free to read the article “Bride-napping Drama Engages Boys in Gender Discussion” by Anne Johnson, and preview the short film we’ll be viewing at the beginning of the session: http://www.pbs.org/frontlineworld/stories/kyrgyzstan/thestory.html
.

Bagels and coffee will be served. Please RSVP to Erin Murrock (emurrock@irex.org) by Friday, December 9th to confirm attendance.

We look forward to a lively conversation,
Michelle

Michelle L. Paison • Development Associate •  Development Division •  International Research & Exchanges Board
2121 K St, NW Suite 700, Washington, DC 20037 | 202.628.8188 x174 | mpaison@irex.org  | Make a Better World: www.irex.org/donate

Gender Assessment Briefing: Monday 12/5

When: Monday, December 05, 2011 11:30 AM-12:30 PM (GMT-05:00) Eastern Time (US & Canada).
Where: Board Room

Note: The GMT offset above does not reflect daylight saving time adjustments.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Hi, All,

At 11:30 on Monday, December 5th in the Board Room, Dana Duthie and Clare Sheng have graciously offered to brief us on the process of their recent “Gender Assessment,” recently submitted as part of the Mozambique Media proposal.

With USAID’s rising interest in gender related programming, and the need to put forth effective, inclusive activities, this will be a valuable addition to IREX’s current conversations surrounding “gender.” Please join us to contribute to this ongoing discussion.

Thank you,
Michelle

Michelle L. Paison • Development Associate •  Development Division •  International Research & Exchanges Board
2121 K St, NW Suite 700, Washington, DC 20037 | 202.628.8188 x174 | mpaison@irex.org  | Make a Better World: www.irex.org/donate

Invite: 2011 Commitment to Development Award Ceremony with Geeta Rao Gupta, 12.7.11

The Center for Global Development and Foreign Policy Magazine present the
2011 Commitment to Development “Ideas in Action” Award

Honoring 2011 Award Winner
Geeta Rao Gupta

Remarks and Introductions by
Nancy Birdsall
President, Center for Global Development

and
Susan Glasser
Editor in Chief, Foreign Policy Magazine

Wednesday, December 7, 2010
Program Begins at 4:00pm

Reception to Follow

at
Center for Global Development
1800 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Third Floor, Washington, DC
Closest Metro: Dupont Circle (Red Line)

*Please bring photo identification*

Click to RSVP

Join us in honoring Geeta Rao Gupta, winner of the 2011 Commitment to Development Award, sponsored by the Center for Global Development (CGD) and Foreign Policy Magazine. Bestowed annually since 2003, the Award honors an individual or organization that has made a significant contribution to changing attitudes and policies towards the developing world. Geeta Rao Gupta, former president of the International Center for Research on Women (ICRW), has provided strong leadership in ensuring a steady flow of research evidence about how to translate advocacy for women in the developing world into policy priorities and practical programs. Gender would not have such a fundamental role in development if not for the work that Geeta and her predecessors and successors have championed at ICRW.


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Reminder - MFAN Partner Event: Women Thrive Worldwide - They Are Not Just Starving, 11/30

From: Sarah Tansey [mailto:stansey@modernizeaid.net]
Sent: Monday, November 28, 2011 12:08 PM
To: Sarah Tansey
Subject: Reminder - MFAN Partner Event: Women Thrive Worldwide - They Are Not Just Starving, 11/30

 

Please join Women Thrive Worldwide for our 
November Gender Roundtable event:

They Are Not Just Starving:

Challenges Facing Women and Girls in the Horn of Africa

Wednesday, November 30th
3:30 – 5pm
IREX
2121 K Street, NW
Suite 700
Washington, DC 20037


Featuring a panel of expert speakers:


•    Ritu Sharma, Co-Founder and President, Women Thrive Worldwide
•    Ariela Blätter, Director of Policy and Advocacy, Refugees International
•    Jonathan Ernst, Photo-journalist, recently on assignment to the region for Lutheran World Relief and Reuters
•    Hebah Reed, Vice President of Communications and Public Affairs, Islamic Relief USA
•    Ann Steensland, Chief of Staff, Alliance to End Hunger
•    Joan Timoney, Director of Advocacy and External Relations, Women's Refugee Commission

Thirteen million people are facing drought, famine, displacement and nonstop violence in the Horn of Africa.  There has been an unprecedented relief effort by the U.S. and other governments, international NGOs and multilateral responders, but the unmet need remains stark – particularly for women and girls.      
 

For example, a recent UN assessment for the Dadaab refugee camp in Kenya indicates that the majority of families in the camp are female-headed households and reported cases of rape have quadrupled.

Please join a dynamic panel of experts to discuss a range of women’s and girls’ needs – from protection, food security, and building livelihoods – and innovative approaches for addressing them and continuing challenges.  

Light Refreshments will be served. 

Please RSVP by emailing Laura Tashjian at ltashjian@womenthrive.org.

We look forward to your participation in this important discussion. 

Sincerely, 

Seema Jalan
Director, Global Development Policy
Women Thrive Worldwide

Women Thrive Worldwide
1825 Connecticut Ave NW • Suite 600 • Washington, D.C. 20009 • USA
(202) 884-8396 • thrive@womenthrive.org  www.WomenThrive.org

  

 

 

- - - -

Sarah Tansey

Program Associate

 

MFAN|Modernizing Foreign Assistance Network

425 3rd Street SW | Suite 1200 | Washington, DC 20024

T: 202-688-1089 | F: 202-639-9401

www.modernizeaid.net

 

 

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Fast Company: Ads that Rebrand Baby Girls

The Birth Of An Idea: Ads To Rebrand Girls

By: Nancy MillerNovember 22, 2011

Fast Company asked several of the most creative ad agencies in the world to rebrand baby girls. Their mock campaigns recast girls as the No. 1 choice for consumers from China to the U.S.

http://www.fastcompany.com/magazine/161/ads-that-rebrand-baby-girls

---

Amy Ahearn

Program Coordinator

Education Programs Division, IREX

2121 K Street, Suite 700, Washington D.C. 20037

202.628.8188 x181

www.irex.org

Make a Better World: www.irex.org/donate

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