Dear fellow members,
Many of you may be aware that the year 2002 has been declared as the
International Year of the Mountains. This is a great opportunity for us
to increase the visibility and understanding of mountain women and their
problems.
The documents on the Fifth Ad Hoc Inter-Agency Meeting on Follow up to
Agenda 21 has been released.
http://www2.mtnforum.org/mtnforum/archives/reportspubs/library/unfao99a.htm
One of main the items on the agenda was to brainstorm on IYM 2002.
Looking over the meeting report and Annexes related to specific topics
and activities, we seem not to have yet been successful at getting women
on the agenda. There is much focus on biodiversity, parks, forestry,
etc., as one would expect, although the words "women" and "gender
balanced development" do appear a few times.
This is disappointing. A few women at the International Centre for
Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD)
http://www.icimod.org.sg
had put our heads together in January to provide our representative to
that meeting with some concise ideas on what we envisaged as specific
activities and programmes to make mountain women visible, but it does
not seem that we got our messages across. I have attached below that
list of ideas for sharing with all of you.
I do believe that NOW is the time for us to speak up, find ways to get a
share of the action fo this great opportunity for mountain women.
Do any of you share my concern and have specific suggestions as to the
next course of action?
Jeannette Gurung
Gender Specialist
ICIMOD
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
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MOUNTAINS (2002)
In reference to the IYM, we at ICIMOD feel that it is critical that the
process give voices to the mountain people, specially women.
Undoubtedly, women have played a key role in sustaining livelihoods,
cultures, and ecology of the mountains. They are also the harbinger of
knowledge of sustainable practices and have a holistic viewpoint. This
needs to be recognized.
A focussed group meeting on women and mountains was held in January,
1999 to generate ideas on mountain women programmes and to take the
ideas gathered forward.
Listed below are some of the suggestions that have come forward for
sharing with SDC and FAO and other lead organizers of International year
of Mountains and Ecotourism (2002).
* There is a need to focus on changing the image of the mountain women
in the media so that they no longer appear as if they are in a position
of ignorance. The fact they are repositories of knowledge should be
emphasized.
* That mountain women should be at the centre-stage of development is a
critical perspective that we plan to highlight.
* They work and are critical managers of the subsistence economy. The
perspective building exercise would be a long process and would require
participation and support of grassroots organizations and CBOs, NGOs,
networks and alliances. The aim is to GET WOMEN A VOICE
* The conscientization process requires preparation of databases of
strengths of women - that women are poor but not weak
* Get the Mountain Forum Women list to be the active discussion list for
women to log in and participate. Get more organizations, newsletters etc
to also let their readership and audience learn more about Mountain
Forum and the special discussion list.
* There is a critical need for the political participation of women and
especially mountain women - programmes to create awareness of women
politicians at local, state and national levels can be planned.
* Several meet of grassroots women will be organized.
* ICIMOD will work for the next three years (subject to funding) on
engendering mountain policies and advocacy efforts though use of mass
media. Several 5-minute video clips of problems of mountain women would
be commissioned, prepared (in the preparatory phase) for pegging media
attention, to be broadcast in 2002.
* Projects like the Electronic Networking Project's - Nepal Net
<http://www.panasia.org.sg/nepalnet/> and other similar efforts to
democratize information and knowledge would be key nodes
* A whole range of topics and ideas that have been in discussion in the
MF-Women discussion list. A suggestion to bring the mountain women from
all over the region (in regional consultations) and finally in a large
gathering has been widely supported. This could be developed as a major
project that could be coordinated by ICIMOD in the HKH region.This would
provide opportunities for experts, academics, and development
specialists to learn from the people for whom they have been working.
* A large assembly during one designated "Mountain Women's Week" is
proposed for Week 15 or September 4th week in 2002. Thus, all
preparatory processes will culminate in this week in celebrations around
the world.
* Several face to face exchange of mountain experiences by grassroots
women living under similar ecological conditions will be planned.
* The preparatory work is like a movement.
* Standing conference on mountain women would be an annual assembly of
representatives from Governments, NGOs and grassroots.
* Resource centres to promote and support mountain women would be post
IYoM activities. This is critical to evaluate the performance of the
year.
* Mass media will be used widely, especially radio to reach out. So will
posters, wallcharts, calendars, etc. be made and distributed.
* Translation of important documents in local languages will be made to
reach policy level decisions to the common people. This is in
recognition of the diversity of the mountain people.
* Possibly teleconference with key thinkers may be organized.
* It is necessary to recognize that investing in women for enterprise
development, as major managers of households, for education, contributes
to development, especially in a mountain society.
* An inventory of success stories will be compiled and published.
* Key television channels will be contacted and asked to actively
support the yearlong activities and celebrations.
* A project to enroll Roving Ambassadors who will further the cause of
mountain women, will be initiated. (Jane Fonda, Andre Agassi, Junko
Tabei - the first woman to climb Mount Everest). This concept needs to
be developed further.
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