Palestine

As Written by: MICHELLE BRIGNONE, WOW Intern in Geneva UN

The little girl was confident and self assured, speaking quickly as she explained her drawing. This was her house with flames coming out of it, here was her mother with the missile that killed her pointing at her head as she held the little girls hand. Over there was her father and brothers, each with a missile pointing at their heads.  In front of the house were the tanks and the trees the soldiers had uprooted. Behind the house were more soldiers and tanks; overhead was a couple of planes, dropping more missiles.  The neighbors were all on the ground, laying in pools of blood. She explains the drawing very matter of factly, without emotion, oblivious to the large gauze bandage covering her for-head and part of one eye; she is maybe 10 years old and the only member of her friends and family to survive the attack. She lives in Gaza. Read more

Consultancy Day: 55th Commission on the Status of Women Feb. 21, 2011, New York

As Written by: MICHELLE BRIGNONE, WOW Intern in Geneva UN

Our first opportunity to hear from Michelle Bachelet, the first Under Secretary General of UN Women

The historic 55^th session of the Commission on the Status of Women kicked off today in New York City with the introductory Consultancy Day before the formal General Assembly Opening session tomorrow.

Civil Society has lobbied long and hard to raise the status of women at the United Nations (UN) and the UN has finally heard us, they have consolidated all of the UN organizations for women under one new UN Women and raised it to an undersecretary level with Michelle Bachelet, the former President of Chile, as the first Under Secretary General.

Ms. Bachelet introduced the theme of the CSW, Access and participation of women and girls in education, training, sciences and technology, including for the promotion of women’s equal access to full employment and decent work, and laid out the priorities of UN Women for the year ahead. She applauded the Non Governmental Organization (NGO) community for its active participation in gender relations, Human Rights, and Peace, as well as the creation of UN Women.

“The Civil Society sector is invaluable in bringing the voices of women around the world to the attention of those in Government,” she said. She referenced her experience working with NGO’s in Chile both as a doctor and while she was President of that country and how the government and the NGO’s worked together to ensure the rights and health conditions of traumatized children in Chile.

“People are the solution to national and international problems,” Ms. Bachelet repeatedly told us. “Education is essential and the civil society can and must play an essential role as stake holders and not only as part of the problem, but part of the solution.”

The general assembly determined the need for UN Women to function at the secretary level, but at the same time, carry out operational activities at the country level and ensure and co-ordinate gender equality activity within the whole UN system.

Ms. Bachelet laid out a concise action plan for UN Women moving forward. The two main aspects are:

1.      Women and how they go to work in a civil society

2.      Access and participation of women and girls in education, training, sciences and technology, including for the promotion of women’s equal access to full employment and decent work. (This year’s CSW theme)

Un Women will support countries and deliver on the commitment for change in the lives of the women around the world suffering from gender violence and discrimination.

UN women will strive to strengthen coherence between the UN system, regional and country governments, NGO’s and other nongovernmental actors. UN Women will also lead, coordinate and promote gender equality and the empowerment of women within the UN system.

“UN women will be a catalyst for change.” UN Women’s mission is one where, “Women and men have equal rights and opportunities and where the principle of gender equality and women’s empowerment are thoroughly integrated in UN development, Human Rights, and UN Security agendas.” To meet these objectives, UN women will center its work on 4 core principles;

1.      Support national partner initiatives to enhance implementation of international women’s standards.

2.      Support intergovernmental processes which strengthen the role and  framework on gender equality

3.      Advocate for gender equality and women’s empowerment, championing the rights of women and girls

4.      Leading and promoting coherence in the UN system’s war on gender inequality

“Women will never have equal rights if they are not empowered. We have seen that in so many places and in so many different contexts. When we talk about physical security, it is very difficult for women who are victims of violence to get out of their homes because they do not have the capacity or economic autonomy.” Women’s voices cannot be heard if they are not empowered enough to speak out. To that end, UN Women will focus on five essential issues:

1.      Expanding women’s voices, leadership and participation will be one of our main areas of focus. To improve political participation but that means improving women’s negotiating skills, and developing qualified candidates for any and all positions from Govt. trade unions, NGO’s etc.

2.      Enhance economic empowerment

3.      Ending violence against the girl child and women

4.      Strengthening Peace and Security Agenda, we need more women in peace talks.

5.      Support national partners and encourage gender equality at all levels of Govt.

Ms. Bachelet is setting up NGO advisory panels for herself as well as for the regional representatives to gain greater access and to hear the voices and stories of disadvantaged women in the poorest areas, so that UN Women can better serve the needs of women worldwide and be a catalyst for change.

“While access to education is growing, access alone is not enough. Despite the closing gap between boys and girls in school at all levels, progress is wildly uneven and women are still being barred from labor force participation.” Ms. Bachelet laid out the following statistics;

97/100 girls/boys ratio in school at the primary level

96/100 girls/boys ratio in school at the secondary level

108/100 girls/boys ratio at the tertiary level

But

In 2008, only 52.6% of women were able to participate in the labor force, while 77.5 % of men participated. To counter this, Ms. Bachelet set a framework for change:

1.      It is crucial to improve the quality of education as well as access

2.      We need to eliminate gender stereotypes in schools and the workforce

3.      We need practical measures to facilitate transition from school into the job market

4.      Girls need to be encouraged to get involved with gender sensitive science and technology.

While education is good, it is not enough. We must eliminate violence against women and the girl child, we must achieve gender equality and sustainable development, and we must drastically lower or eliminate maternal mortality and morbidity rates

“If women do not have information and an education, they do not have any power.”

Following Ms. Bachelet’s speech, Dr. Kaosar Afsana, the associate director of health programs at BRAC and this year’s Woman of Honor, spoke about how mobile technologies are helping poor women in Bangladesh and should be considered as inexpensive, innovative ways to connect poor, disadvantaged women to the healthcare and legal services they so desperately need. She referenced today as being the Bangladesh Independence Day (liberation day from Pakistan) and how the area now known as Bangladesh used to be known as Golden Bengal because of its wealth and resources but now it is known as Bangladesh, for its poverty.

Dr Afsana spoke of Gandhi offering women, “Peace, love and friendship” but in 2005 45% of women in Bangladesh lived below the poverty line. In 2010, that number is slightly better at 35% and the MMR went from 574 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2007 to 194 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2010. While a 40% reduction of fertility deaths in 9 years is great, more can be done. As the number of educated women increases, the number of fertility deaths decreases. But there is still a vast lack of education, technical skills and access to help in Bangladesh as evidenced by the fact that only 27% of birth attendants are skilled.

As BRAC expands out of Bangladesh, currently in nine other countries, their successes are spreading throughout the developing world. With the expansion, come the skills and technical access necessary to lower MMR rates permanently.

Manoshi, which are mobile birthing centers for poor rural women, offer privacy, experienced help, and referrals to hospitals when complications arise. Manoshi are mobile health centers (mhealth), with mobile phones and hotlines for care and emergencies.

In Bangladesh, only 23% of poor, rural women have access to mobile phones (with no infrastructure for landlines). Manoshi gives each pregnant woman a cell phone number with free access to the local Manoshi cell phone, when the woman calls the number, her picture comes up on the phone, and all of her health information is displayed for the medical technician so that accurate medical help can be given. The woman can ask questions, receive important information during pregnancy, deliver and post pregnancy to facilitate healthy mothers and babies as well as family members reporting deaths of mother or child, if something goes wrong.

The neo-natal mortality has been reduced from52, in 1993 to 30 in 2010. Because of the built in software in the cell phone, Mother, mobile health technician and an experienced doctor can all access the patient’s health information without paperwork, expensive computers and software packages etc. The mobile phone keeps costs down to a minimum, allowing more women to be covered.

Dr Afsana started and ended by quoting Gandhi, “The future is the woman.”

Following Dr Afsana, there was an expert panel on Women, Science and Technology, which explored the gains made by women in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) subjects as well as the barriers to getting more girls and women involved at all levels.

Dr. Eleanor Nwadnobi from Nigeria spoke about increasing women’s access to and use of technology, including more gender responsive products. She stressed availability, affordability and ability (ability of women to use the technology, a purposeful building of their skills). Dr. Nwadnobi was quite a dynamic speaker with a good sense of humor, which did not offset the urgency of her message at all.

Shelley Canright, from NASA, spoke of the importance of studying the cultural phenomenon of why girls, who showed an interest in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) subjects in grade school, begin to drop out in middle school and are all but nonexistent in STEM subjects by the time they graduate from college. While the White House Counsel on Women and Girls is trying to address the issue, more can be done. NASA is partnering with local organizations to educate girls in STEM subjects, concentrating on middle school teachers, who are brought to NASA, educated on engaging ways to teach and then sent back to school to engage girls in the sciences. She stressed the need to engage girls in STEM outside of the classroom as 80% of a child’s time is spent OUT of school.

Dr. Miriam Erez, from Israel, addressed the lack of girls in STEM subjects from a point of lack of motivation and gender role segregation or social norms. She spoke of the incredible opportunities for change with technology, calling attention to social network sites as an example. If women and girls got involved with technology they already use and love, they can improve it. Technology is no longer for engineers or computer geeks. All technology is really in the customer service sector. Apple does not build a cell phone, cell phones have been around for decades, apple creates services and experiences, things girls’ value. Dr. Erez used the example of Will.i.am, from the Black Eyed Peas, being named Intel’s Director of Innovation, anyone can be creative in any field, STEM subjects seem to have a cultural barrier for girls, in access, motivation, and ability to enter into the labor force. She offered three ways to change this:

1.      Education

2.      Curriculum – show the link of technology with everything around us

3.      Policy Incentives – change social norms and gender role segregation by using effective role models to inspire young girls (such as the CEO’s of Yahoo, Dupont, Sonoco and Wellpoint, who are all women).

Dr Akanisi Kedrayate Tabualevu, from Fiji, spoke of the massive gender gap in enrollment at the University of the Pacific, which serves 13 countries and has an enrollment of 22,000 students. She sited possible barriers to female enrollment as being Cultural – patriarchal society, Religion, curriculum, scarce resources and no available jobs to women in traditionally male industries upon graduation. She recommended a compulsory gender unit in school for boys and girls, government initiatives, especially the creation of more scholarships for girls,

After a brief lunch, we separated into breakout sessions to discuss various aspects and challenges of higher female participation in STEM subjects so we could then go back to our individual NGO’s and be better equipped to address these needs at local and national level.

Overall, it was a great way to kick off CSW55. We left unified and motivated to carry on the work of women not only for the two weeks of the commission but going forward for the rest of the year as well.

Report of the CSW55, Feb 22-March 04, 2011

Carol, in center, with her Granddaughters

As Written by: CAROL UGOCHUKWU, Member of WOW Board of Directors

Theme:  Access and Participation of Women and Girls to Education, Training, Science  & Technology,  including  for the Promotion of Women’s Equal Access to Full Employment and Decent Work”.

While, UN official representatives, Government officials and Non-Governmental officials met from February 22 to March 4 at the UN headquarters in New York, Civil Societies represented by accredited NGO’s met various locations close to UN headquarters.  This year most of the side events were scheduled outside the UN building.  The Church Center, YWCA, UN Millennium Hotel and some close by Hotels were venues for most panels.

The Newly inaugurated UN Women:

The CSW 55 was co- coordinated for the first time by the new UN Women.    According to bulletin produced by the UN Women for this conference, the organization is headed by an Under Secretary- General, Dr. Michelle Bachelet.  It will support the CSW in the formulation of policies, global standards and norms.  It also states that it will help Member States to implement these standards, standing ready to provide technical and financial support  to countries that request for such assistant.  It will forge effective partnership with Civil Societies.  A major key role for the UN Women will be  to promote accountability within the UN systems for its own commitments  on gender equality, including, regular  monitoring  of system -wide progress.

Grant Writing Workshop:

Two members of WOW-Africa  joined Afton Beutler and Michelle who were in New York on February 23, 2011, for  a training on Proposal Writing and Evaluation. Sponsored by The Virginia Gildersleeve International Fund (VGIF) in New York..   A friend told me about this training and so I registered some of our members on line.   Michelle attended this training but she paid $50 while it was free for participants from developing countries.  I understand the training was quite useful, Michelle may provide more information on this.

Christy Cunningham, Carol Ugochukwu, and Afton Beutler

Arrival of Participants from Africa:

After weeks of correspondence to facilitate the Visa application of members of WOW-Africa coming from Africa, Seven women arrived and participated in CSW55. Afton, Christy Cunningham, Michelle, two of my grand children, and myself attended.  Afton did a great job in ensuring that all participants were registered and got their ground passes.  It took many efforts for Afton to scale through this registration hurdle.

Most of us arrived in the early hours of March 2, 2011 and joined the different panels as scheduled for the day.  Due to several security restriction,  most events took place at the Church Center, Salvation Army, UN Millennium Hotel and other hotels close to the UN. I

At 8:30 am, We had morning prayers at the Church Center followed by the  NGO briefing. We picked the NGO/CSW Parrallel Event Schedule  and our members went to different  parallel events  and caucuses.  In the evening we met at the Bedford Hotel and discussed issues raised in the different panels that we attended.

About 7 major UN Women Conferences for women has been convened:

• the 1975 the first UN Women Conference in  Mexico City in 1975,
• to the 1980 Copenhagen Conference in 1980,
• 1985 Nairobi, Kenya,
• 1995 Beijing,
• 2000 Beijing plus 5 ( B+5),
• 2005 Beijing plus Ten (B+10),
• 2010 Beijing + 15 (B+15);  whose outcome linked the advancement  of Women to the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
• As usual,   the discussions were  centered on the same issues:

gender  equality, empowerment  of women , human rights and women, Women’s  maternal health and reduction of Infant mortality,  education and training,  poverty eradication,, Women in Armed Conflict and Violence Against Women, the Girl child .

At the CSW 55, it was not different.   Apart from talking to the main Conference theme which “ Access and participation  of Women and Girls to Education, training and Science Education…………”.    Most parallel events focused on the main theme and also  the following:

• Gay & Lesbian, Bisexual and transgender discussed  the Yogyakarta Principle  which is described in same circles as the “Magna Charter” of the sexual Rights Movement.  These principles begin by declaring that “ Sexual orientation and gender identity are integral to every person’s dignity and humanity and must not be the basis for discrimination or abuse.  It further states that “sexual orientation”   and “gender identity” is human rights and therefore states cannot limit or restrict the expressionof sexual or gender identity in any way.

• A few organizations talked about Family and Motherhood.  For instance the Nigeria, Ambassador Joy Ogwo, Permanent Representative , Permanent Mission of Nigeira to the United Nations and the President , Executive Board of  UN , Women was honoured at one of the Parallel Events at Church Center with the Excellent Mother Award.  Dr. Delois Bla, Community Major of Harlem, Ambassador Goodwill to Africa & Harlem Women International, Inc. was Chair of this panel. Co chair was  Lady Justina I. Okogun of Safe womb International Foundation, Moderator was Ngozi Eze Esq .

Ambassador Ogwo in accepting the honor stated that she raised five sons.  She was a career women who combined motherhood and her career.  With her supportive husband beside her, they have a successful family.   She pointed out that being a mother will always be  her most cherished job.

At the side event organized by the Heart of the World Foundation, at the Beekman Towers Hotel 2 blocks north of the UN, on March 3, 2011, Shelly Locke, Utah Young Mother 2007, spoke on Motherhood- the Greatest Work on Earth.

Chris Igweatu, a man, paid tribute to mothers and spoke from his personal perspective. He believes that motherhood is the most important and enduring endowment and specialty ever known to humankind…

Oge okeke President, WOW-Africa, Lagos,  Ngozi Onwuzulu Coordinator WOW Abuja , Ethel Eruchalu WOW- Awka , Brittney Ifemembi, Njideka Akudinobi and I spoke on the vital roles of mothers and the issues facing them throughout the world.

Susan Roylance was the moderator and coordinator of these events.

We immediately went to the workshop moderated by Afton Beutler, Molecular and Genetic Biologist and Co -Convener  of NGO CSW Geneva, “Women’s Right to Health” working group.

The topic was “Amazing Achievements by Women, Science, Leadership and Humanitarian Work”.

Speakers were:

• Hendrica Okondo, Regional Director of the world YWCA for Africa and Middle East.  She spoke on: ‘Young Women Leadership Program the Difference it makes”.

• Ethel Eruchalu, Principal Girls Science  School, Abagana, Anambra State, Nigeria.

She spoke on: “Young Women and their Pathway to Education.”.

• Becky Douglas, Founder of the Rising Star Initiative , India,  spoke on “What a Difference Education can make on the Grass root Level”.
• Michelle helpful with getting the names of participants and also manned the projector.
• Christy attended this workshop and covered the event.  She  may have the photos.
• I was a Special Guest   who gave the opening comments and spoke about  my journey through life and the role of Education in making the difference

That workshop was well attended and the participants made favorable comments.

Third Committee Meetings:

Occasionally we went to the temporary building and  listened to Committee discussions of Government representatives.  We also went to as many parallel events as we could afford within the time available. .

Comments:

The conference was a splendid opportunity to network and for us in WOW- Africa we met with a number of organizations in Africa that we will work with. They have gone back to Africa with great resolve to work together for the common good of society.  They resolved  to  schedule a  conference with other Pro-family groups in Africa before the next CSW.    These resolutions, on issues and concerns  for men., women and children will be submitted to the  Women Affairs Ministry.  It will be a guide to Government representative at the Third Committee at the UN to ensure that right concerns of people back home are addressed.  I hope to participate in this conference.

We met a woman who is a good fundraiser and I immediately got her acquainted with Afton.

WOW's awesome intern Michelle

This year’s CSW was good but I believe that next year may be better.

These  side events are quite enlightening.  I found the Conversation  with the New Generations of African Leaders from Malawi, Nigeria, Lesotho, South Africa, Uganda, The Gambia, Zimbabwe, Ghana, Namibia, Liberia,  Democratic Republic of Congo(DCR) most interesting.   It was an interactive discussion where the young girls described their struggles growing up in poverty and how their training in Moremi Leadership Initiatives (MILEAD) help them triumph.  At one of the events it was noted that although these NGO parallel events were motivational and useful, greater lobbying  for effective language is advocated at the Third  Committee with  Government Representatives.  . The Global Educational Opportunities Program in Geneva, Switzerland, is an important International activity for WOW just as WOW humanitarian programs are towards achieving the UN Millennium Development Goals( MDGs)  and  that effort should be supported by WOW.  Afton really made so much sacrifice to be in New York  for about two weeks for the CSW.  I think that WOW has to do some fundraising for the GEO Program.

Suggestion for the Future:

A crucial missing link is  WOW connection with the pro-family groups in  the UN.   Although Suvi is a member of the Family Rights Caucus Meeting ,  with her new schedule , it is becoming increasingly difficult for her to attend most meetings.    WOW needs to network  and collaborate with  more organizations with similar  values on certain issues.   Afton does that effectively in Geneva.  We need to do more at the UN New York.  It is important for WOW also focuses  its attention on the Third committee  and lobby Government representatives on language on  family, social, human rights  and gender issues.

CSW56 2011

The CSW 56  in 2012 will be:

“ The Empowerment of Rural Women and their Role in Poverty and Hunger Eradication, Development and current Challenges”.  My dream is to try to bring real a real rural woman to tell her life story at one of events.  It is only a dream who knows if it might come true.

The Commission on the Status of Women

As written by Christy Cunningham, WOW Board Member

“You must be the change you wish to see in the world” – Mahatma Gandhi

When I asked WOW’s past president, Susan Dayton why she was always so excited about attending The Commission on the Status of Women (CSW), she said, “What it boils down to is rubbing shoulders with such amazing women!” This is my second year attending and I could not agree more!

There were many amazing sessions covering a myriad of important topics such as Maternal Mortality, Hunger Eradication, The Power of Motherhood, The Empowerment of Rural Women, but Wow’s panel discussion on Women in Society-Achievement in Science, Leadership and Humanitarian, is what touched me most deeply. Why? It was because of the women that participated on the panel. It wasn’t so much of what they said, but because of whom they are, and, the reminder they gave me that, just one individual literally has the power to change the world.

I met Becky Douglas last year at the conference and was thrilled when I learned she was one of this year’s panel participants.
When Becky returned from her first trip to India, she couldn’t sleep.

Becky, a professional violinist and mother of seven had originally traveled to India because of her oldest daughter Amber who had lost her seven year battle against bipolar disease. After her daughter’s death, Becky discovered that Amber had been sending money to an orphanage in India and thus began Becky’s journey that would not only change her own life and help her to deal with the loss of her beloved daughter but would literally change the lives of thousands.
While visiting India in 2000, Becky witnessed human beings in deplorable conditions. Worst of all were the Leprosy beggars who approached her at every stop begging for help. Even though Leprosy is now completely curable, the stigma is still there; its victims are considered by many to be the scum of the earth, rejected by society, they are forced to live in leprosy colonies. Traditionally, Leprosy patients have survived by begging. They leave the colonies for two weeks at a time to travel to the nearest city where they live in the streets as beggars until they collect enough money to return back to the colony where they can sleep on the dirt floor of their own home for a few days. Then it’s back to the streets again. It is common to have the entire family on the street begging. I am sure that most of these people feel there is no other choice.

Of that first trip, Becky said, “I had a man that put his hand out to beg that had maggots crawling through his hand; and honestly, when I got home I was just haunted!” Becky decided that she could either lose sleep or do something about it.

That “something” became Rising Star Outreach.

Rising Star has given hope to hundreds of families; it is educating the children and getting them out of the beggar mind set. She showed us the picture of a beautiful child, Jennifer that had the onset of leprosy as a preschooler. The disease was arrested with $1.50 medical treatment. This child now has the hope of a great future.

Rising Star has given micro loans to women who now have flourishing businesses, a decent standard of living and in turn, are improving the lives of the entire community. Becky related another story about a man who was refused a loan until he quit beating his wife. He stopped the abuse (some people will do anything for money) and now the man’s family has a successful business.

One beggar, who used to be chased away from begging in front of the tea store, is now invited in for tea. You see, he now sells the tea to its proprietor and is a respected business man. The stories are endless; and all this because of one woman’s desire to get a good night’s sleep.

I think Becky would describe herself as just an ordinary woman, a mother, a housewife and musician. She does believe though that God had a higher calling on her life. She said even out of the worst things, God can bring meaning.

Thank you Becky for your incredible example of the power of one!

UN Human Rights Council – Session 16 – Geneva- UPDATE

Women – Right to Food, Food Security, Food Sovereignty Panel

9 March, 2011, Palais des Nations, Geneva, Switzerland

An informative and inspirational meeting was held at the United Nations (UN) today regarding Women’s right to food, food security and food sovereignty. The distinguished panel of speakers was highlighted by the participation of the UN’s Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food, Dr. Olivier De Schutter. Showing just how important this topic is not only for women but for all of humanity and how devastating it is for women in particular.

All agreed that Gender discrimination was the main concern when it came to food security. Dr. De Schutter stressed the need to mainstream gender in his work at the UN, especially in regards to food. He is planning on issuing a special report on gender and food to be released in 2012. He cautioned, though, that mainstreaming a topic, sometimes prevents a more in depth study, and he did not want to see that happen.

Dr. De Schutter see’s three main challenges to women and food security; access to resources, access to extension services and modernization. Without access to quality land, credit, fertilizers, technology and state services, women are extremely disadvantaged. While women make up 80% of agricultural workers, they own less than 1% of land. When crops are sold, whether cash crops or family crops, all money is paid to the men and therefore does not cycle back into the family for food.

To combat these challenges, Dr. De Schutter proposed four solutions; first, to eliminate discriminatory laws and cultural practices and empowering women by increasing women’s cooperatives; second, to employ more women in the extension services sector; third, titling schemes combined with broader agricultural support and issuing titles in the name of both the husband and wife; and fourth, more diverse farming practices such as diverse crop plantings and combining cash crops with subsistence crops.

Joining Dr. De Schutter in speaking out for women’s right to food was Dr. Marcela Villarreal, Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) director for gender, equity and rural employment. Dr. Villarreal pointed out there are 100 million more starving people in 2009 (950 million) then there was in 1979, with the highest percentage being in sub Saharan Africa. As the price of staples such as sugar, meat, cereals, dairy and fat goes up, women are the ones shouldering the lions share of the burden. She stated the reasons for this inequity as availability, access to food, stability and food utilization. Dr. Villarreal stressed that the right to food was a human right and that without the empowerment of women, the first Millennium Development Goal of alleviating hunger would never be reached.

Devaki Jain, the well known economist from India discussed food battles vs. battling for food. She urged a better understanding of the needs of women in the south as the global GDP shifts away from agriculture towards services. She cautioned against land mines such as rising oil prices due to political upheaval in North Africa, causing a greater push for bio fuels which requires more land being taken away from food crops which causes higher food prices and less food security for the poor, namely women. She advocated a bubbling up economic theory of growth instead of a trickle down theory. If we take millions of people out of poverty, they are no longer drawing away from the economy in aid but adding to the economy with buying power and taxes and money bubbles up through the economy from the lowest levels to the highest levels.

Alexandra Spieldoch, of Women Organizing for Change in Agriculture and NRM, agreed with the other panelists stressing the point that while women bear the burden of the world food crisis, women are also the solution to the food crisis. Currently women are policy takers, not policy makers, and that must change for women to experience true food security. She pointed out the resiliency of impoverished women and their efforts to carry on in the face of over- whelming environmental, economic, cultural and legal challenges. She seconded the idea of getting more women in ministerial positions at all levels of government as well as encouraging women to identify and share best practices in an effort to empower women to improve their food security.

Lalen DeVela, from Isis spoke for rural women and the ways they are coping with the food crisis and how they are improving their food security. More and more rural women are turning to organic fertilizers which cost only $6 per bag as opposed to $39 per bag, thereby keeping them out of debt and improving the quality of their land. She talked of the success of gender sensitivity classes held for husbands and village leaders in India and South America and the advantages of harvesting the knowledge of the local women in water conservation and land management.

Elly Pradervand, CEO of the Women’s World Summit Foundation, agreed with the figures presented by panelists that women are responsible for 50% of world food production and up to 80% in developing countries but still do not have food security. She stated the right to food is gender biased as evidenced by the fact that 70% of the worlds poor are women, 1 in 6 do not get enough to eat, women only get 1% of world agricultural credits, and that even though 1/5 – 1/3 of households are headed by women, women only own less than 1% of land worldwide. If we closed the gender gap in agriculture alone, we would lift almost 150 million people out of hunger.

Lois Herman, of the Women’s UN Report Network, put a feminine face on poverty and hunger as she shared stirring images of women and girls from around the world affected by the lack of food security. She stressed that the right to food intersects with ALL other human rights issues and is a foundational human right without which, all other rights are superfluous. She urged anyone who wants to understand food insecurity better, to follow the money. Killing millions of poor women and children is too high a price to pay to turn a profit.

Overall, the panelist’s presented a stirring plea for a framework to address the challenges of women in obtaining food security. The UN Special Rapporteur, Dr. De Schutter left with a specific agenda to focus upon in the coming months and the rest of us left with a renewed zeal to fight for the food rights of the millions of women and girls around the world who are starving and suffering from food insecurity.

The panel was deftly moderated by Afton Beutler, of the Worldwide Organization for Women and was sponsored by the Worldwide Organization for Women, Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom, Women’s UN Report Network, and Women’s World Summit Foundation.

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