March, 29 2010, 11:04am EDT
Press Conference ** A Call for the Inclusion of Haitian Women in International Donor Meeting
As donor nations gather in New York this week for a
major conference on reconstruction in Haiti, Haitian women are
demanding that their voices be heard in all phases of the deliberation.
To amplify their call, a coalition of Haitian and international women's
organizations will hold a press conference.
Who:
WASHINGTON
As donor nations gather in New York this week for a
major conference on reconstruction in Haiti, Haitian women are
demanding that their voices be heard in all phases of the deliberation.
To amplify their call, a coalition of Haitian and international women's
organizations will hold a press conference.
Who:
- Edwidge Danticat, Haitian writer and activist
Marie St. Cyr, Haitian human rights advocate, and board
member for MADRE and the Lambi Fund
What: Press conference to call for a human rights-based
approach to reconstruction. MADRE supports Haitian women's call for
policies that reflect the needs of Haiti's poor majority, not the
financial interests of donor countries. To read the full text of the
women's coalition open letter to donor nations, click here: https://tinyurl.com/yfkseaj
When: Wednesday March 31, 1:15pm - 2:15pm
Where: Boss Rm., 8th Floor, Church Center | 44th Street &
1st Ave, New York, NY
Marie St. Cyr, longtime Haitian human rights advocate and member of
MADRE's Board of Directors, said today, "We must ensure that in all
rebuilding and reconstruction efforts, women's needs, expertise and
contributions are recognized."
Helen Clark, Chair of the UN's Development Group, said in the days
after the earthquake, "Gender equality is central to building back
better and a gender perspective must be included in our assessment and
recovery plans."
MADRE Policy and Communications Director Yifat Susskind said today,
"Haitian women have been disproportionately impacted by the earthquake's
aftermath, and their leadership is essential now to the rebuilding of
their country. Donor nations must not miss the opportunity to partner
with Haitian women and to benefit from their expertise."
MADRE is an international women's human rights organization that partners with community-based women's groups to advance women's human rights, challenge injustice and create social change in contexts of war, conflict, disaster and their aftermath. MADRE advocates for a world in which all people enjoy individual and collective human rights; natural resources are shared equitably and sustainably; women participate effectively in all aspects of society; and all people have a meaningful say in policies that affect their lives. For more information about MADRE, visit www.madre.org.
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