CSW55

Listen to the speeches here.

Our IAWRT session were successful and our team had reported on our website. One of my most impression is the kind cooperation of our IAWRT pioneer, Leila Doss and Catherine White  including Arshiya Ahsan (our USA head chapter) who  had come to help  us on our IAWRT session. Our team was warmly welcomed by our lovely host. 

IAWRT Members, Across Generations

By Supattra Limpabanhu
IAWT Board Member
Thailand 

Cai YipingCai Yiping Executive Director, told that Isis International Manila has trained grassroots women in the Asia Pacific region in the use of different media and technologies in advocating for women's rights. There still be the need to bridge gaps in the use of traditional media and new ICTs as well as the need for effective communication strategies for women's rights. The young activists had discussed about “the use of media and ICTs for empowering women on the ground” as follow:

-       Access to technology is a challenge; so they use music, booklets and face to face communication, stressing the latter as the most important form.

-       Media helps to facilitate information sharing and enables voices and visibility for marginalized groups such as grassroots and LGBTQ women.

-       The Isis International Activist School as an outcome from its People's Communication for Development research study, which aims to maximize grassroots women's use of both traditional and new media tools for advocacy work, as well as the inspiration for the Young Feminist Leadership Activist School.

-       Women's leadership is necessary in overcoming challenges faced by women, and that aside from physical resources funding is meant to support women in all of the work that they do. 

By Supattra Limpabandhu

IAWRT Board Member

Thailand 

Woman ProtesterWhile I was participating the CSW in New York, there were protestors shouted loudly in front of the UN Headquarters. I immediately went there to observe and get information. It was the Libyan group gathering to ask for peace and action on the violence against their people. It was amazing that the active leader is  a woman !!! She shouted loudly and everyone followed her. Her voice was powerful and we could feel the strength in her voice. 

I think that the Libyan people may have  very hard  time at this moment, at least the friends from abroad  presented their concern  to the nation  is another way to help for better situation.

 Supattra with the Protesters                             By Supattra LimpabandhuIAWRT Board Member
Thailand 

Improving Education ForumThe Women’s Federation for world peace International had organized the interesting topic on “Improving Education for  Women & Girls  in Science & Technology.” The speakers emphasized on the participatory of the female students on their research. She had organized the research in the playing field, non traditional and connected to the real world. The students’ journal club help them to overcome a difficult task and raised their self-esteem. Their collaboration had built a support network and became a sustainable networking.

These are the female students’ feed back :

“I never thought frustration could be fun.”

“I’ve got a clearer view of what happens in research.”

“Being in a class like this it’s more comfortable for me.”

“I can be scientist.”

 By Supattra Limpabandhu
IAWRT Board Member
Thailand 

Yvonne Hebert Fellows

It was my first time to participate the annual CSW conference. The UN Women and  IAWRT had given me a chance to share and learn at CSW 55 in New York. There were 10 recipients from every continent who were supported by Yvonne Hebert Fellowship.

During 21-25  February 2011, I found that there were many parallel event/topics which were very  interesting .Sometime it’s hard to decide which one should I participate, because women’s rights and Technology are both on my interested issues and my work. However, I could manage to participate  all sessions I had selected from the schedule. Here are few experience I’d like to share with you.    

By Supattra Limpabandhu
IAWRT Board Member
Thailand 

Listen to podcast of Madeleine's presentation during IAWRT CSW-55 Side Event on 24 March 2011 in New YorkMadeleine Memb, IAWRT Board Member

Madeleine Memb, IAWRT Board MemberMadeleine Memb
Board Member, IAWRT

Madeleine Memb shares her experience of working with women in Cameroon in addressing the issue of female genital mutilation. She shares IAWRT's experience in working with ethnic groups in the country who continue to practice FGM, training community women on the use of video and film in mainstreaming the issue. She also shares challenges they encountered, including issues of censorship, the lack of technological skills of women, as well as ethical issues involving women on the ground. She emphasises the great need for engendering technologies by training women in the use of these technologies, so that they may be self operational and autonomous, and thereby able to effectively communicate their issues.