From Isis-announce list...
(AWID: Association for Women's Rights in Development)
======================
From: AWID Forum <awidforum@awid.org>
Date: Mon, 10 Jan 2005 17:37:46 -0500 (EST)
If you are unable to see the message below,
<http://www.awid.org/forum/documents/CFP_English.txt>click here |
Download a PDF of the
<http://www.awid.org/forum/documents/CFP_English.pdf>Call for Participation
** Please note that AWID offers grants to delegates with limited
financial means. For more information, visit the "Access Fund" section of
the <http://www.awid.org/forum>Forum website. **
Call for Participation
How does change happen?
The 10th AWID International Forum on
Women's Rights and Development
October 27-30, 2005
Bangkok, Thailand
Submission Deadline:
March 1, 2005
The AWID Forum is not just another conference ...
In the global struggle to improve the lives of girls and women, our
successes and failures are most meaningfully measured by actual, concrete
changes in the day-to-day lives of women around the world. When girls go
to university, when women no longer feel the constant threat of violence,
when women's voices are heard in policy discussions, or when families
have enough food on the table, we know that we have moved forward.
We also know, however, that change brings with it its own threats and
fierce resistances. Over the years, we've seen how women's hard-won
victories have been met with sustained backlashes against gender
equality. Fundamentalist leaders are forcing women back into traditional
roles, armed conflicts are increasing in many regions, and formidable
economic forces are pushing hard to privatize everything from social
programs to water.
The stakes for girls and women in this global push-pull process of change
are exceedingly high. As small gains are overtaken by huge global shifts,
women's lives continue to hang in the balance.
At the AWID Forum, we want to unravel these complexities by exploring the
many ways in which change happens and is sustained. Through workshops,
debates, plenaries and multi-media presentations, we will share lessons
on key change processes and candidly evaluate our efforts toward gender
equality. We will also look more critically at our theories and histories
of change, as we move toward shared visions of the future.
In doing so, we intend to learn more about how to effect the kinds of
transformation that result in economic justice, clean environments, an
end to armed conflict, and the elimination of discrimination against women.
How Will You Participate?
To organize a session, submit a proposal by March 1, 2005 that explores
one or more of the above questions in a way that enables both critical
reflection and creative learning. Feel free to engage with the full range
of issues affecting gender equality and women's rights today, but be sure
to address the issue of change - economic, political, social, cultural,
personal and organizational change. Keep in mind that AWID expects
participants to see beyond the problems and delve into the paths to their
solutions. Be inspired to use as much creativity, humour, passion,
courage and even audacity in your proposals as you need!
Key Questions for the Call for Participation
Your proposal for a session should consider one or more of the following
questions.
Defining the Change for Women's Rights
Whether we work with migrant women or micro-credit, HIV/AIDS or sexual
and reproductive rights, we are all committed to gender equality and
women's human rights. While we understand the roots and consequences of
inequality, however, we don't necessarily have a clear grasp on what
changes we desire or how to bring these changes about.
* Historically, how has change been achieved?
* What are the key obstacles or driving forces that have enabled or
disabled positive change for women?
* In your area of work, what are the changes you want to see? How can
you bring others to share your vision?
* What systems - political, economic or otherwise - work best for women?
* How are you measuring change?
Building Stronger Movements
As conservative forces gain ground, a backlash threatens the many gains
that women's rights activists have already won. This puts additional
pressure on already under-resourced women's networks and organizations;
rather than moving forward on gains already secured, they must invest
precious time and energy defending the status quo. At this critical
juncture, new paths to stronger, more inclusive and more effective
movements are imperative.
* What does a healthy women's organization/movement look like?
* How do we build a broad base of support for social change, so that
we can translate the gains we've made on paper into tangible gains in
women's lives?
* What critical elements do women's movements need to succeed in the
future?
* How do we better understand and integrate processes of personal and
collective empowerment into our change strategies?
* How have we as feminists obstructed or prevented change?
* How do we integrate power analysis into our work?
Catalysts and Tools for Change
Sustained social change doesn't just depend on our ideas and energy.
Tools, resources and catalysts also need to be optimized.
* What theories of social change are most useful for our practice?
How does feminism fit into these theories?
* What can we learn from our opponents and their strategies?
* Can we use alliances with men and other social movements to further
our work?
* How can we mobilize funds and resources for our social change work?
* How can we use conflict more constructively?
* What tools, strategies and methods shift political and economic
agendas?
* Can we promote a rights-based agenda using a gender perspective?
* Who have been the most effective agents of change and why?
Anticipating the Changing Future
We live in rapidly changing times that call for adaptability and
strategic responses to new challenges. Planning proactively for the next
decades means considering current trends and future possibilities.
* What new forces, structures and technologies will have an impact on
women's rights in the future?
* Ten years after the Beijing Women's Conference, and in the
aftermath of the Cairo Conference, Social Summit and Rio Conference,
where is our agenda coming from?
* What kind of leadership do we need? How can we recognize and
nurture it?
* How can the Beijing + 10 process and the Millennium Development
Goals be optimized for women's rights?
* What new tools, theories or frameworks - including new structures
of global governance and enforcement - will be needed to tackle future
challenges?
* Where will feminism go from here?
Submitting Your Proposal
For information on how to submit your proposal, please
<http://www.awid.org/forum/documents/CFP_English.pdf>download the PDF of
the Call for Participation or contact the AWID office at
<mailto:awidforum@awid.org>awidforum@awid.org, or call/fax/mail us at the
following address:
The Association for Women's Rights in Development (AWID)
Attn: 2005 Forum Proposal
215 Spadina Ave, Suite 150
Toronto, Ontario, M5T 2C7
CANADA
Tel: +1.416.594.3773
Fax: +1.416.594.0330
URL: <http://www.awid.org>www.awid.org
The Association for Women's Rights in Development is an international
membership organization committed to achieving gender equality,
sustainable development and women's human rights.