"For all of us who get to be leaders, it is an incredible opportunity to do one's best. Everything shall be judged by history," shared Dr.Vaira Vike-Freiberga, in conversation with veteran journalist Sydnie Kohara of CBS News San Francisco. Dr. Vike-Freiberga was President of the Republic of Latvia from 1999 to 2007.

Last month, I had the opportunity to attend an event hosted by the San Francisco-based International Museum of Women (IMOW). It was the first of its Speaker Series with a talk by Dr.Vaira Vike-Freiberga, former President of Latvia, and the first woman head of state in post-communist Europe. The audience of several Global Fund donors, and Bay Area community members also included a delightfully surprising number of people of Latvian origin.

In the light-hearted but profound discussion, Dr.Freiberga shared stories from her extraordinary life of fleeing from Latvia as a child during the Soviet occupation and her life and work as a prolific scholar in Montreal, Canada. She also shared her passion for Latvian folklore called dainas, about which she has also written many books.

In addition to supporting IMOW, Global Fund has  also supported five groups in Latvia to the tune of almost $42,000. One example is the Latvian Young Women's Association, based in the Latvian capital Riga, working to increase minority women's political and civic participation in Latvian society.

In his op-ed “The Weapon of Rape” (NYT 6/15/08), Nicholas Kristof justly described sexual atrocities against women in countries such as the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Darfur as “terrorism.”This strong language is overdue in a context where the use of rape for political gain and territorial expansion has continued unabated for 10 years in both these countries with almost no reaction from world leaders, especially in the case of DRC. Read more.

Kristof uses this week’s UN Security Council session on sexual violence, which will be led by U.S. Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice, as the hook to remind the world of its negligence when it comes to women’s human rights. The world has been silent in spite of the UN’s own condemning 2001 report on the exploitation of mineral resources as a driving force of the war in eastern Congo – the most violent since World War II and responsible for almost 5 million deaths. The world remained silent following Human Rights Watch’s 2002 detailed documentation of sexual violence as a regular feature of the conflict. 2007 and 2008 have finally seen the emergence of interest in the rights of violated African women – we’ve seen more media reports, more donor interest, more visits to the region by international NGOs. The Congolese activists and NGOs that have been ardently calling on the world to pay attention for the past decade must ask themselves why it took so long. These groups raised awareness about the overflow of weapons in Congo, Burundi, and Rwanda, which made it easy for armed groups to terrorize communities, making farming a dangerous endeavor for women who must grow their food, and subjecting women and girls to unspeakable acts of violence and humiliation. These groups also insisted that violence against women must be considered as crimes against humanity, and were critical to the passage of UN Resolution 1325 and the recognition of rape as a crime against humanity by the International Criminal Court. These courageous activists insisted that these crimes not be relegated to “internal matters” of sovereign states – immune from scrutiny by world leaders and international human rights procedures. The same groups are helping victims of rape access medical treatment and support systems to become economically independent.  In keeping with its mission and commitment to listening to women's voices on the ground, the Global Fund for Women has been proud to be able to provide both financial support and to stand in moral solidarity with some of these remarkable activists as they carry out their important work.

Is it a coincidence that as the end of the Bush administration approaches, Condoleeza Rice, the Secretary of State, a woman, leads the debate on sexual violence? Is it a coincidence that it took this long for this administration to prioritize or think about tens of thousands of women being traumatized as they were brutally raped, and, adding insult to injury, often in the presence of their families and neighbors? Over 70 Congolese women’s rights organizations sent a letter to the UN Security Council this week appealing that significant, meaningful steps be taken to end sexual violence. The world has repeatedly stated “never again” when it comes to brutal violence, genocide, and mass atrocities. However, when it comes to women's bodies being used as weapons of war, the pattern has continued, from Liberia, to Bosnia, Serbia, Rwanda, DRC, and Darfur – making “never again” seem like a farce rather than a forceful commitment of the international community. We don’t know where the next atrocities will take place, but we hope that the response of the world community will be much swifter and unequivocal so that thousands of women don’t again sacrifice their dignity and well-being for the sake of politics and greed.

Read Nick Kristof's article:
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/15/opinion/15kristof.html?hp=&pagewanted=print

Read More...     

During the past couple of months, the Global Fund has received several gifts generated by students, including a generous lump of pennies in the amount of $609 from students' coin drive at King Phillip Middle School in Connecticut and over $2,000 from the proceeds of a multicultural show put on by the Stanford undergraduate South Asian student group, Sanskriti. 

From students organizing conferences on women's rights - such as Stanford students' recent ThinkBig conference - to middle schoolers becoming practicing philanthropists even before their teenage years, students from coast to coast in the US are mobilizing both passion and resources to contribute to advancing international women's rights.Sanskriti, which in Hindi/Sanskrit means "culture," is an undergraduate South Asian cultural student group founded in 1989. Since then, it has grown to include over 600 members. 

By exploring South Asian history and tradition and promoting its performances to the rest of the Stanford community, Sanskriti seeks to strengthen campus awareness of South Asian culture. Each winter, Sanskriti organizes an annual multicultural show called Rhythms, the proceeds of which go to a different charity of their choice each year. Check out Sanskriti's trailer video for the show.

This year, in celebration of the concurrent student-led conference on women's rights, Think Big, Sanskriti generously donated the proceeds of its annual show to the Global Fund for Women. ThinkBig, is Stanford's annual conference run entirely by enthusiastic undergraduate students, focused on international women's health and rights issues. ThinkBIG, held this year at Stanford from February 1-3, aimed to inspire students to action by critically looking at the health situation of women and girls in poorer countries.

The conference engaged hundreds of students and community members through speeches, films, student group performances, such as Sanskriti's Rhythms, and information panels featuring guests such as Former UN Special Envoy for HIV/AIDS in Africa Stephen Lewis, Former Minister of Health of Ghana Dr. Eunice Brookman Amissah, and Fiona Muchembere of The Campaign for Female Education (CAMFED), a Global Fund grantee.

ThinkBig writes, "The ultimate goal is to mobilize our generation-- from the diplomat to the doctor to the 'check-writer of tomorrow'-- to step up to the challenges of the future and work to improve the situation of women throughout the developing world.  You can download and view each of the conference panel's stirring opening videos, produced by Potentia Media. Download file (size 347 MB)

Examples of student-led activism and mobilization such as these abound across the country.  The Global Fund is honored to be the recipient of these recent student-led initiatives and delighted to be part of the philanthropic education of our youth.  For more information about how your school can get involved, contact Annie Wilkinson, Development Associate of Philanthropic Partnerships at annie [AT] globalfundforwomen [DOT] org.

By Annie Wilkinson, Development Associate for Philanthropic Partnerships

Read an article by Zeina Zataari, Senior Program Officer for the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), on the ongoing war in Iraq and its enormous implications and consequences for Iraqi women. The article was first published in Project Syndicate last month:

The War Against Iraqi Women
by Zeina Zaatari

BAGHDAD – Iraqi women’s organizations and international observers point to an escalating war against women in Iraq, aided by the widespread chaos and lawlessness under the US occupation. In addition to violence by US troops inside and outside of prisons, women in Iraq face daily violence from militants under the guise of religion and “liberation.”

In Iraq’s second largest city, Basra, a stronghold of conservative Shia groups, as many as 133 women were killed last year for violating “Islamic teachings” and in so-called “honor killings,” according to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. The methods are brutal evidence of a backlash by previously subdued tribal forces that have been unleashed by the occupation: women strangled and beheaded, and their hands, arms and legs chopped off.

With US forces in Iraq now funding both Sunni and Shia tribal leaders in an effort to stabilize the country, conditions for women grow deadlier by the day. Islamist leaders have imposed new restrictions on women, including prohibitions on work, bans on travel without a muhram (male guardian), and compulsory veiling.

According to the Organization of Women’s Freedom in Iraq (OWFI), formed in Baghdad in 2003, women are harassed if they appear in the streets of most Iraqi cities and towns, educational institutions, or work places. Now there are even “no woman zones” in some southern cities controlled by Islamist parties and tribal leaders.

Honor killings of Iraqi women are justified by alleged promiscuity or adultery. In fact, the practice targets holders of PhD’s, professionals, political activists, and office workers. “Politically active women, those who did not follow a strict dress code, and women human rights defenders were increasingly at risk of abuse, including by armed groups and religious extremists,” Amnesty International said in its 2007 report.

Indeed, a top police official in Basra reported that as many as 15 women are killed every month in the city. Ambulance drivers in Basra, paid to “clean the streets” before people go to work, pick up many more bodies of women every morning.

Ironically, the forces leading this assault on women had little or no power under Saddam Hussein. But, following the US-led invasion in 2003, southern Iraq was opened to forces known as Propagation of Virtue and Prevention of Vice (PVPV) – militant gangs and individuals committed to archaic Islamic rule and suppression of women’s rights.

Some members of these groups now serve in government, others in militias or as self-appointed vigilantes or hired guns. The goal of the PVPV is to confine women to the domestic realm and end all female participation in public and political life.

To date, Iraqi officials have not been willing to deal with this escalating violence against women, or even to discuss it. But, as elected representatives, they are obligated to address these crimes. So must the US. Under the Fourth Geneva Convention, the responsibility for protecting civilian populations in an occupied country belongs to the occupying forces, which, in this case, are clearly failing to protect Iraqi women.

Two measures are urgently needed. First, the Iraqi government must immediately establish “Protection of Women” security patrols in Iraq’s southern cities. These patrols must receive gender-sensitive training and prioritize women’s security over tribal or fundamentalist religious values.

Second, pursuant to its obligations under the Geneva Convention, the US must immediately take steps to protect the lives and freedoms of Iraqi civilians. Unless the US does so, it must withdraw from Iraq, because the occupation would merely continue to sustain a breeding ground for violence against women.

The timetable for action is not subject to debate. It must begin today.

Joan Hadden, a Global Fund donor and an avid supporter of our work, attended the recently concluded GFW-AWID conference in Marrakech, Morocco and blogged about her experience of meeting with our Moroccoan grantees and learning about the important work they do:

The Global Fund for Women-AWID conference in Marrakech ended. All the hugs and cheek kisses from new friends and sisters had been shared and good-bys made. The next phase of our trip would be site visits. 

But first, we spent a day in Marrakech doing a little sightseeing and exploring the Medina, the old city with its maze of alleyways, souks (shops), and crush of people, and emerging at Jamaa al Fna (the large market square) in the late afternoon to the chaotic, fascinating scene of produce venders, outdoor grills, monkeys, snake charmers (be sure to look down. I almost walked right through the middle of the snakes at one point), drummers, dancers, motor scooters and more people.

For the next week we visited Global Fund grantees in Marrakech, Ouarzazate, Rabat and Fez. We met with groups who are explaining the new, more liberal Family Code (Mudawana) to women all over the country. They use van caravans to reach remote villages to present skits demonstrating women’s rights under the new law, and working to get the new rights implemented. Others work at the advocacy level trying to get the police and judges to actually operate by the Mudawana, lobbying for broader coverage without restrictions, evoking CEDAW. Having rights codified is an essential first step, but society and culture do not change easily. Some groups use media and professional theater to effect change.

Other groups offer school for unregistered children, others provide literacy and vocational training for the women. Almost everyone provided “listening centers” where women who are victims of violence can talk about their experience and work through their feelings. One group is working with other gorups to build a 200 bed women’s center with a full range of services including longer term shelter.

I had made this trip with the Global Fund because I wanted to verify my positive impressions about the work the Fund does. I wanted to see how their peers reacted to them at the conference and to see how their grantees interacted with them. My instincts were completely validated. I support the Global Fund wholeheartedly and am delighted to be a dedicated and enthusiastic donor.

One of the conference participants, Nadeen, from Lebanon shared her thoughts about the recently concluded AWID-GFW Conference in Morocco:

When I first got to Morocco for the AWID/GFW conference on resource mobilization in the MENA region, I had prepared myself to be quiet on a lot of feminist issues. I even asked that my name and work on sexual rights be kept confidential. It’s the MENA region, after all, I thought, and the discourse would be old and stiff and boring. So the organizers somehow had this genius idea of gathering the young women participants for a pre-conference workshop, and I’ve been overwhelmingly impressed by the feminisms represented by these beautiful, strong, young women.

There was no ice to break. We bonded immediately, overcoming barriers in language, religions, and backgrounds, and what has been fostered in the days to follow has given me the greatest of hope towards real and radical change in our region.

Having this youth-only day had its visible effects on the rest of the conference (in which I am sitting now). Young women felt empowered, they found their voices and each other, they formed an alliance that stood strong on many issues raised in the workshops by the older generations of women’s activists. And yes, we raised sexual and bodily rights at the bigger conference.

Activism is boiling here, and we are all committed to carrying it through. Ours is a young feminism, an unwavering feminism, a radical feminism, and a vibrant feminism!