Beyond Malala: Progress for Pakistan’s Women
When you think about it, the media portrays Pakistan as a “lost cause,” with news reports focusing on acts of terrorism (i.e. suicide bombings and drone attacks) and the forced repression of women (i.e. the story of Malala Yousafzai). WLNA 2013 delegate Anja Manuel points out that in the midst of all this, the media easily overlooks Pakistan’s more hopeful story about the progress that Pakistan’s women have made in the political arena. In fact, more than 200 women are running for National Assembly seats in Pakistan’s May 11 elections, and more than 500 are running for Provincial Assembly seats–these are incremental but important gains for Pakistani women!
For Anja Manuel’s full article, click HERE.
Women’s Pathways to Leadership in Asia
Women’s Pathways to Leadership in Asia (WPLA) is a program that came about through the joint efforts of Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy and Asia Society. Headed by our WLNA summit delegates Astrid Tuminez and Vishakha Desai, WPLA seeks to highlight policies and practices that undermine or advance gender parity and women’s leadership in Asia. The WPLA web site serves as a great resource for the latest information and research on women’s leadership in Asia.
While you’re there, you can also check out the WPLA blog with Astrid Tuminez’s latest blogpost entitled ‘Kimchi Paradigm’ Offers New Insights Into Success at Asian Women Leaders Conference
“Development After 2015″
Nisha Agrawal, a delegate at this year’s Women Leaders of New Asia summit, was a contributor to an Oxfam policy brief entitled “Development After 2015,” which was based on various consultations Oxfam India conducted throughout India. One of those consultations was done in collaboration with UN Women and asked 70 to 80 women’s organizations in India about the post-MDG world in the area of women’s rights and empowerment.
Here is an introduction to the Oxfam India policy brief:
The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) have been a great laboratory for poverty reduction, with major successes and frustrating failures. These fifteen years of experience provide us the wisdom to do better in a deeply changed world. This paper summarises the outcomes of consultations and studies around the question: what new framework will make a difference for groups in India that face acute poverty and social exclusion? The question brings several challenges to the forefront—addressing inequalities and exclusion; impacting on the politics of poverty in sovereign nations; financing the goals in a context where the role of aid is diminishing. The paper proposes to address these challenges in 10 goals that build on the current framework but will help make a difference for those at the very bottom.
This paper was written by Lucy Dubochet, Research Manager, Oxfam India, with contributions from Nisha Agrawal, Chief Executive Officer, Avinash Kumar, Director – Policy, Campaigns and Research; M. Kumaran, Programme Coordinator – Food Justice; Vanita Suneja, Economic Justice Lead Specialist; Anjela Taneja, Programme Coordinator – Education; Julie Thekkudan, Gender Justice, Lead Specialist; Deepak Xavier, Essential Services Lead Specialist.
Click here to download the policy brief.
Nisha Agrawal is the CEO of Oxfam India. Since her appointment in March 2008, she has successfully led a complex change of management process that integrated the programs and staff of the six Oxfams that had been previously operating in India. She also led a highly consultative process to formulate Oxfam India’s new strategy entitled “Demanding Rights, Creating Opportunities” that lays out its vision, mission, and programs for 2010-2015. The strategy provides a direction and focus to Oxfam’s work in the seven poorest states of India and with the four most marginalized social groups (Women, Dalits, Tribals, and Muslims). It also provides a thematic focus in the four areas of economic justice, gender justice, essential services, and humanitarian work. Oxfam India is a rights-based organization that funds about 180 NGOs that work at the grassroots level to empower communities and ensure a life of dignity for all
Asia Society Convened the 4th Annual Women Leaders of New Asia Summit in New Delhi
New Delhi, April 15th, 2013– With important elections pending in key Asian countries and in the wake of a number of highly publicized acts of violence against women in the Asia-Pacific region, Asia Society convened its 4th Annual Women Leaders of New Asia (WLNA) summit. Over 35 distinguished delegates from 14 different countries across the region and disciplines gathered to identify critical issues affecting women and to develop an action plan to address these concerns in a collaborative manner.
“Girl Rising”
Asia Society New York recently held a partial screening of Girl Rising, a groundbreaking film that spotlights the strength of the human spirit and the power of education to change a girl—and the world. The film chronicles the stories of unforgettable girls born into unforgiving circumstances. It captures their dreams, their voices, and their remarkable lives.
The film was followed by a panel discussion with the producer and special guests, including Holly Gordon, Executive Director of 10X10; Shabana Basij-Rasikh, Co-Founder and Managing Director of SOLA, School of Leadership Afghanistan; Su Balasubramanian, Program Officer of UN Foundation; and Zoe Timms, Executive Director of Women’s Education Project. Moderated by ABC News’ Emmy Award-winning journalist Juju Chang. Introductory remarks will be delivered by Tom Nagorski, Asia Society Executive Vice President.
To learn more about the event, click here.
