October 30 2014:
The United Nations should spend a 10th of their military and arms budget on women’s programmes and the world would be a better place.
These were the words of Savitri Bisnath from the Institute for Contemporary Modernities at Cornell University in New York.
She was among speakers at the International Women’s Strategic Conversational Conference hosted by the Masimanyane Women’s Support Centre in Cape Town.
Bisnath said economic literacy was key for women’s rights organisations to engage with the state and to hold the state accountable to its obligation for women’s human rights.
“Understanding the changing geopolitical landscape and the roles of the globalisation and economic policy in affecting the material realities of women are important elements in feminist organisations,” she said.
The two-day conference concluded yesterday as experts in women’s rights and feminists from around the world gathered, provoking dialogue to map the accomplishments of women and highlight their challenges from a global perspective.
Five speakers from various organisations gave 30-minute presentations about women’s policies in their countries, also highlighting their concerns. A 10-minute discussion was held between presentations.
Masimanyane’s executive director Lesley Ann Foster said there had been a drastic shift in women’s movements.
“My critical concern is that women’s violence is no longer recognised globally, instead there has been a rise in patriarchy, power and control,” she said.
“We have overcome apartheid, now we have a new and different struggle. We need transformative change.”
Marai Laras from Imkaan, a black feminist organisation in the United Kingdom, said that the meeting was critical and timely.
“It’s an amazing space to get movement building, to share experiences and create coalition. Gender-based projecting and women’s rights need to have a voice in the state and be prioritised,” she said.
Dr Hilda Tadiria of the Mentoring and Empowerment Programme for Young Women in Uganda said organisations needed critical thinking for an effective change.
“People are often placed as representatives within the state, but they are heavily influenced by the state and not representing the views of the women they are supposed to represent.”
Chairwoman of the Masimanyane board, Thokozile Matshe, said the conference was a haven for women to reflect. — mbalit@dispatch.co.za
lThe Masimanyane Women’s Support Centre invited the Daily Dispatch to attend the Cape Town conference. Masimanyane paid all costs.
Women’s challenges worsening
The United Nations should spend a 10th of their military and arms budget on women’s programmes and the world would be a better place.
These were the words of Savitri Bisnath from the Institute for Contemporary Modernities at Cornell University in New York.
She was among speakers at the International Women’s Strategic Conversational Conference hosted by the Masimanyane Women’s Support Centre in Cape Town.
Bisnath said economic literacy was key for women’s rights organisations to engage with the state and to hold the state accountable to its obligation for women’s human rights.
“Understanding the changing geopolitical landscape and the roles of the globalisation and economic policy in affecting the material realities of women are important elements in feminist organisations,” she said.
The two-day conference concluded yesterday as experts in women’s rights and feminists from around the world gathered, provoking dialogue to map the accomplishments of women and highlight their challenges from a global perspective.
Five speakers from various organisations gave 30-minute presentations about women’s policies in their countries, also highlighting their concerns. A 10-minute discussion was held between presentations.
Masimanyane’s executive director Lesley Ann Foster said there had been a drastic shift in women’s movements.
“My critical concern is that women’s violence is no longer recognised globally, instead there has been a rise in patriarchy, power and control,” she said.
“We have overcome apartheid, now we have a new and different struggle. We need transformative change.”
Marai Laras from Imkaan, a black feminist organisation in the United Kingdom, said that the meeting was critical and timely.
“It’s an amazing space to get movement building, to share experiences and create coalition. Gender-based projecting and women’s rights need to have a voice in the state and be prioritised,” she said.
Dr Hilda Tadiria of the Mentoring and Empowerment Programme for Young Women in Uganda said organisations needed critical thinking for an effective change.
“People are often placed as representatives within the state, but they are heavily influenced by the state and not representing the views of the women they are supposed to represent.”
Chairwoman of the Masimanyane board, Thokozile Matshe, said the conference was a haven for women to reflect. — mbalit@dispatch.co.za
lThe Masimanyane Women’s Support Centre invited the Daily Dispatch to attend the Cape Town conference. Masimanyane paid all costs.
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