From the IFUW Conference in Mexico City

Posted At : August 6, 2010 6:55 AM

Greetings from the 30th triennial IFUW Conference in Mexico City. IFUW (www.ifuw.org)which stands for International Federation of University Women is a collective of Federations (like AAUW) from all over the world. AAUW was a member for many years but financial considerations precluded continued membership. The United States is now represented by Women Graduates-USA (www.wg-usa.org).

I have to admit that I love the IFUW conferences. At no other time am I able to meet with women from all over the world to share about what being a woman is, to learn from others what struggles they face and how hard many are working to promote gender equity and education in impossible circumstances. There is an attendee from Rwanda, can you imagine what courage it takes to be a woman in Rwanda? And an attendee from Malawi.

Thursday was the opening session and we heard from Kyung-wha Kang, the United Nations Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights, Louise Croot, IFUW President and Olga Sanchez Cordero, Minister of the Mexican Supreme Court (who left immediately after her speech to vote on the constitutionality of same sex marriage in Mexico)! History in the making.

The opening session theme consistently was about how education can alter women's roles in society. Larry Summers (formerly of Harvard) infamous quote was mentioned to show how much work we have still to do to achieve gender equity in the US and elsewhere.

Below are some statements that stood out for me today.

Access to education is of utmost importance in the defense of women's human rights.
The best investment a country can make is investment in its women.

We have a greater responsibility to work for those who have not had the privileges that we have.

Violation of human rights is always greater in the female population.

The future of the world depends on the future of its women.

There was an interesting break-out session in the afternoon about multigenerational leadership, which we are working on in AAUW CA, and a reporting out of projects under Bina Roy.

Here is a question for you - What is the Hegg Hoffett Fund?

Adios!
Carlynne

Posted By : Harriet Tower Related Categories: International Advocacy