How to foster the next generation of female political leaders and entrepreneurs? This was the central question posed by Liberal International’s Vice-President and Human Rights Committee Chair, Markus Löning, as he introduced the fifth edition of LI’s Human Rights Bulletin, which saw contributions from top international liberal parliamentarians and NGO experts.
Drawing on the expertise of Nurul Izzah Anwar MP, Member of Parliament from the People’s Justice Party in Malaysia (PKR, LI full-member), Birgitta Ohlsson MP, Former Minister for European Affairs from Sweden (Liberalerna, LI full-member) and Sandra Pepera, Director for Gender, Women and Democracy for National Democratic Institute (NDI – LI cooperating organisation), the 5th edition discusses the importance of international cooperation in tackling violence against women and the value of education as the starting point for giving women the freedom to shape their own future.
Elaborating on her experience as the only female Member of Parliament to have been arrested for speaking out in Parliament, Izzah Anwar writes:
As International Women’s Day passed this year (8th March 2016) I realize it is now close to a year since I was arrested for sedition; and more than a year since my father, Anwar Ibrahim – the then Opposition Leader was imprisoned.There is no comparison between the two incidents – my one night was but a mere glimpse of his years being detained for his principled conviction – more than a tumultuous ten years for being a prickly conscience against the government of the day. I believe the idealism that continues to thrive in Liberal International is one that provides hope for a better and sustainable future. Let’s resolve to provide more opportunity to defend and highlight the plight of women and children.
Ohlsson on the other hand points out that recently the feminist debate has all too often focussed on issues such as the female body and beauty myths rather than on the importance of women’s financial independence.
The defence of a woman’s right to her body, knowledge and struggle, is of utmost importance. But one must not forget the economy. Women working and earning their own money is the foundation of female emancipation
she concludes.
In a short two minute video message Dr. Pepera explains what difference women in poltics make referring to the recently launched NDI #NotTheCost campaign on ending violence against women in politics which is now officially supported by LI as announced by LI President Dr. Juli Minoves during the campaign launch event in New York last month.
Director for Gender, Women and Democracy at the National Democratic Institute (NDI), Sandra Pepera leads programmes that empower women to participate, compete and lead as equal and active partners in democratic change.
Ms. Pepera discusses the importance of international cooperating in tackling violence against women, with a focus on NDI’s international work and its partnership with Liberal International in building a global consensus.
The NDI director outlines why inclusion of women is key to building stable democracies and enduring peace. Click the image above or the link here to watch the full interview…
Taking steps to build a coalition in support of its campaign to globalise the Istanbul Convention, Liberal International has joined forces with the National Democratic Institute (NDI – LI cooperating organisation) to end violence against women in politics. LI President Dr. Juli Minoves made the announcement during his speech at the NDI’s #NotTheCost Conference, which took place in New York City in the margin of the 60th session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women (CSW), marking LI’s most successful participation in UNCSW to date.
In a bilateral meeting with NDI Chairwoman and former US Secretary of State (the first woman to hold the post), Madeleine Albright, Dr. Minoves committed Liberal International to support NDI’s work and to lead global efforts in the promotion and advancement of women’s rights
Dr. Minoves met with the wife of the Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau (Liberal Party of Canada – LI full member), Sophie Grégoire Trudeau, who highlighted Canada’s commitment to serve as the world’s leader in gender equality during the conference. Prime Minster Trudeau is well known for appointing a gender-balanced cabinet.
Liberals across five continents have joined together to deliver LI’s International Women’s Day message for 2016, which took place on 8thMarch. Galvanising support for gender equality in every part of the world, the video message emphasised the role of women in safeguarding democracy and promoting peace.
For a third consecutive year Liberal International co-hosted the annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy in February 2016 which saw some of the bravest human rights defenders and activists from around the world come together and testify about the grievous abuses they have suffered in the hands of the world’s most notorious authoritarian regimes..
<- From North Korea to Venezuela: participants of the 8th Geneva Summit
