Sharon Kim/The Hoya Members of the GU Women’s Leadership Initiative and the Council of Women World Leaders met Wednesday, convening the inisters of Women’s Affairs.
Delegates at the first meeting of Ministers of Women’s Affairs encouraged a greater international response to AIDS, trafficking of women and children and violence against women when the Georgetown University Women’s Leadership Initiative and the Council of Women World Leaders convened in Gaston Hall on Wednesday.
The Ministers of Women’s Affairs is an organization consisting of ministers and other officials responsible for women’s affairs from around the world.
Established in 1996, the Council is comprised of current and former female presidents and prime ministers from all over the world and was founded with the goals of increasing women’s political voice, economic empowerment and educational opportunities worldwide.
“There are many issues needed to be addressed in order to improve the status of women in our world. Critical issues such as violence against women, trafficking, especially of young children and HIV/AIDS must be discussed at the high policy levels in order to become part of these country’s agendas,” Jean Augustine, Canadian Secretary of State on the Status of Women and ulticulturalism, said. “We discuss these goals at our meetings, and then go back and make things happen.”
Along with implementing policy change the council has worked to increase the presence of women world leaders and the visibility of those who lead at the highest levels in their countries.
“Our main role is to make the notion of women as world leaders more normal, natural, not exotic. Today there are 32 women prime ministers, news of which not everyone is aware of. I recently sat on a platform next to former President Clinton, who could only name 17 of the current 32,” Kim Campbell, former Prime inister of Canada and Chair of the Council of Women, said. “We aim to dispel the idea that this is not something women do.”
The council’s goals have been furthered by a shared sense of camaraderie and determination, as the members find strength in their numbers, Campbell said.
“We realize that it is lonely sometimes serving these positions, as many Council members are the only women in their cabinets. This global network of women leaders is powerful in that we know we aren’t alone, and often become energized and strengthened by sharing similar solitary leadership experiences,” Campbell added.
The briefing also highlighted the increasingly significant role of non-governmental organizations in the economic employment and improvement of the education of women. Both ministers and representatives from international governmental organizations, such as the UN, cited important contributions provided by NGOs.
“NGO’s have an effective role for the promotion of female education, as well as the changing of lifestyles,” Habiba Sarabi, Afghanistan Minister of Women Affairs, said. “Various NGO’s contributed dynamic work during the Taliban time, have played a key role in the changing of our society. We have more than 75 gender-oriented NGO’s working with education, women’s health and economic empowerment now.”
Angela King, United Nations Assistant Secretary-General and Special Advisor on Gender Issues and Advancement of Women, also emphasized the growing focus on NGO’s.
“The UN is increasingly recognizing it can’t work without NGO’s. They aren’t yet voting in the General Assembly, but have a great caucus system, ability to be effective in partnerships,” King said.