MP RETURNS FROM WORLD NOBEL WOMEN'S INITIATIVE CONFERENCE

Honourable Beatrice Bernice Boateng, MP for New Juaben South Constituency, returned from the just ended Nobel Women's Initiative Conference on “Women Redefining Democracy for Peace, Justice and Equality” in Antigua, Guatemala, over the weekend.

This three-day international strategy meeting brought together 80-90 women's rights activists, researchers, communications experts, politicians and key policy-makers from national and international institutions – alongside Nobel Laureates – to examine the challenges of democracy, democratization and democratic movements through the lens of women's rights and peace around the world. Specific themes discussed included issues of conflict, post-conflict and militarization, violence against women (from state repression to domestic violence), the role of the judiciary, corruption, systemic discrimination (with a particular focus on indigenous women), and women's voice, and political participation and representation. Challenges confronting women in various countries were also discussed, paramount of which were the Aung San Suu Kyi's dehumanising ordeals in Burma, and the Darfur situation.

Honourable Boateng, as part of her contribution to deliberations, noted that, “national constitutions worldwide have been drafted and promulgated prior to the women empowerment agenda, and in consequence, appear to be more male friendly”. She continued that, “for democracy and women empowerment to thrive, there is the urgency for a lot of women to venture into front-line politics and civil society discourse, where they can contribute to effect changes in national constitutions to make them more gender equitable. It is only then that women empowerment can be given the needed boost in national life”.

The participants, made the following Declaration, at the end of the conference, thus:

“We call upon all states and multilateral institutions to recognize that the democratization process is incomplete, and does not end with elections. No country or society can claim to be democratic when the women who form half its citizens are denied their right to life, to their human rights and entitlements, and to safety and security. Despite this, we women have made extraordinary efforts to democratize the institutions of society that frame our lives and the well-being of all humanity – the family, the community, clan, tribe, ethnic or religious group, political, legal, economic, social and cultural structures, and the media and communications systems. But our search for justice is continually overwhelmed by the violence perpetrated upon us, by the exploitation and colonization of our bodies, our labour, and our lands; by militarization, war and civil conflict; by persistent and increasing poverty; and by environmental degradation. All of these forces affect us, and our children, far more severely and in unique ways. We know that democracy that comes from the heart is not the rule of the majority, but safeguards dissent and difference with equal rights, and fosters a culture of peace. We are in search of democracy that transforms not just our lives, but all society – and we will not be silenced until it is achieved in every part of the world”.

Honourable Boateng also honoured a three day invitation by the business community of New Juaben Citizens in Virginia, USA, where she held meetings with them on the way forward for the New Juaben Municipality.

Credit: Leslie Kotey Nikoi (Office of Hon. B.B. Boateng)