In Istanbul, a call for economic justice and equality

Against the backdrop of ancient mosques, 2,400 people from across the globe – mostly women from the East and global South – gathered at the Association for Women's Rights in Development (AWID) 12th International Forum in Istanbul, Turkey, for four days to discuss and debate how to transform economic power to advance women's rights and justice. From the opening plenary’s powerhouse of speakers to in-depth sessions designed to deepen understanding of the global economy, the message was clear – the economy is a woman's issue. Current models of economic growth have not resulted in greater freedom or equality for women. In fact, they have hurt women most. Rebecca Grynspan, United Nations Under-Secretary-General, highlighted findings from the recently released World Development Report, which this year focused on Gender and Development. She pointed out that economic growth has not resulted in increased equality, and that current economic crises are deepening inequality. These trends threaten to reverse any gains made in poverty reduction or equality over the past decade. 

While there appears to be consensus that the current economic system is not working, we heard a wide range of suggestions for alternative economic models: from the need to include 'time poverty' indicators alongside income poverty , to the need to integrate paid and unpaid work in the same indicator. There was lots of talk of the 'caring economy' and the need to measure it.  There was also an equally passionate plea from Marilyn Waring, iconic feminist, political economist and past Director of the Reserve Bank of New Zealand, to not commodify all aspects of our lives or rely on the central committee approach to come up with an alternative economic model to GDP.

On the first day of the forum, Gita Sen, Adjunct Professor in Public Health at Harvard University, called on feminists to take the time to learn about how the economy functions and to better understand economic policy and its impact on our work and our lives.  "Economics is not brain surgery – it is something we can all understand,” she said. “We cannot leave economic policy to those who do not have our interests at heart. We need to learn it and use it." And so we did. From geopolitics and the global economy to grassroots solutions, an incredibly diverse group of academics, organizers, economists, bureaucrats, non-profit leaders and philanthropists immersed themselves in four days of lively debate and discussion. We examined the role of multilateral development banks and were told powerful stories by frontline activists of successful local organizing. We heard about alternatives that empower women and increase their access to resources, such as lending circles for widows in Indonesia that present an alternative to microcredit, and indigenous organizing against land grabs in Guatemala.

We also heard about the impact of the financial crisis on funding – Official Development Assistance and European and U.S. foundation assets are all down. And according to AWID's latest FundHer Report, although everyone seems to be talking about women and girls – governments and corporations alike –  there is very little funding actually going to women and girls. Very little of what is being allocated is core funding. Organizations are more precarious than ever. The median annual income of the 740 women's organizations that responded to the FundHer survey was a paltry $20,000 U.S., and the 2010 combined income of these 740 organizations amounted to 106 million U.S. – one third of Greenpeace's annual budget. Musimbi Kanyoro, President and CEO of the Global Fund for Women, suggested that women collectively take up the call "Nothing about us without us" and that we begin to hold corporations and leaders to account. If they talk about women and girls, then they need to fund women and girls.

Some bright spots were reported. The Dutch government continues to be a model, having invested over 200 million euros in direct funding for women's organizations. Individual giving is up too. The Women Moving Millions Campaign, chaired by a Canadian, has had 150 women pledge at least $1 million to women's organizations.

The conference ended with a spectacular march down the main pedestrian shopping street in Istanbul , a perfect place to highlight the many challenges and contradictions facing women today. In a country with a growing economy, where only 25 per cent of women work outside the home, women and men from across the globe came together and, surrounded by police, laughed and danced and chanted, and demanded economic justice and equality for women.

I was fortunate to attend the conference along with a dozen Crossroads partners, an inspiring group of women from West and Southern Africa who are involved in grassroots economic development initiatives. In a day of debriefing following the conference, partners reported that they felt full, empowered and inspired and that there was a lot more work ahead of us. Indeed!

Reason to hope

This year I resolved to start the year in a new way. Gone are the New Year’s resolutions. Don’t get me wrong, resolutions work for me. Over the years, I ran a half marathon, I quit smoking. I signed up for that painting class I had been talking about.

But in 2010 it got a lot worse, for a lot of people. First the Haitian earthquake, then prolonged drought in Niger and devastating floods in Pakistan and many other countries. And even these horrific disasters pale in comparison to the grinding poverty that preceded them and that continues to limit the potential of 1.75 billion people, year in and year out. This year I need more than my own resolve, I need a reason to hope.

So here are my Top 10 Reasons to Hope — my review of Crossroads and the world — where, in spite of the obstacles, people came together to assert their rights to live in dignity, to earn a decent living and shape their futures.

Women are taking leadership in Togo
Togo — By January 2010 Crossroads partner GF2D had provided leadership training to more than 130 women in 36 villages. Women, like sixty-three-year-old Abla, who were emboldened by the leadership training, are finding ways to increase women’s participation in decision-making. For Abla it meant making the road to her village accessible year-round, and ensuring authorities reinstated funds that had been raised by the villagers to build a school. Another reason for optimism? GF2D founder and board member Madam Kafui Brigitte Adjamagbo Johnson became the first woman presidential candidate to stand for election in Togo.

Senegalese parliament passed the Parity Law
Senegal — In May, the Senegalese parliament voted overwhelmingly in favour of a bill that introduced absolute gender parity. At all levels of government, political parties must now present slates of candidates with equal numbers of men and women. Activists herald the new law saying it will increase the number of women members in Senegal's parliament.

Are women back on the agenda?
Canada — Sure, you might be excused if you took it the wrong way when a prominent Senator told you and your supporters to “shut the f?@# up.” But, last May when long time women’s rights activist and Senator Nancy Ruth offered that gem of political advice to an audience of women’s rights activists, it set the stage for a critical national debate and discussion on Canada’s commitment to women’s rights at home and around the globe. Central to the debate was Canada’s pledge to lead the world with a G8/G20 child and maternal health initiative.

Women in Zimbabwe finally get recognition
Zimbabwe – Whenever I feel sorry about the status of women in this country, I think of the Women’s Coalition of Zimbabwe. In the face of brutal oppression and an economic crisis, the likes of which we in Canada have never seen, they continue to work — and to raise their voices. In May, the Women’s Coalition of Zimbabwe was recognized in Canada for its steadfast promotion of women’s rights, including the passage of the groundbreaking Domestic Violence Act in 2007. The Canadian Council for International Cooperation honoured the coalition with the Betty Plewes Fund, an annual award that recognizes outstanding leadership in an African non-profit whose research and policy work advances women's rights.

UN Women launched
Global — In July, The United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women — or UN Women — was established by the Member States to accelerate progress towards gender equality and the empowerment of women. In September former Chilean president Michelle Bachelet, a formidable force, was appointed executive director of the new agency.

Fair Trade grows
Bolivia – In September with support of Crossroads, Foncresol piloted a Fair Trade loan fund. Research by Crossroaders and FONCRESOL identified three critical stages where farmers need an infusion of capital – production, post harvest, and commercialization. Yet for Fair Trade farmers, the loans required are often too large for micro finance funds and too small and too risky for traditional banks. The pilot was a decided success. Within three months, coffee was being exported to Belgium and the loan was repaid. The $50,000 Crédito Justo fund will now ensure that Fair Trade producers continue to thrive.

Seeds of hope
Niger – News from Niger has not been good. Add to political instability, a long running drought followed by extreme flooding that swept away crops and homes in many parts of the country and you have a desperate situation for people already recognized as the poorest in the world. And yet, partners continue to support people to increase their resilience – with grain banks that ensure there are seeds for future crops, by establishing cooperatives for local goods such as Shea butter and through market gardening that provides an income to members. In October, Crossroads supported Niger partners ONPHDB and ADD to participate in a regional social economy conference in Morocco. This meeting proved a vital opportunity for Nigerien partners to meet with other practitioners, enabling them to improve and expand their programs and influence future investment in the social economy in Africa.

More Girls are asserting their rights
Swaziland – In November, after a successful pilot project based on a model championed in Zimbabwe, three more girls empowerment clubs were launched in Swaziland, for a total of eight. Today more than 280 girls participate in the clubs. This year, Crossroads also provided intensive training to teachers who are leading the clubs. And the best of it? A recent hire to fill the role of assistant coordinator for the girls clubs is a former club member!

Bikes for Ballots
Ghana – In December, Ghana held district elections. Of the more than 17,000 candidates, less than eight per cent were women. But thanks in part to the support of ABANTU, three women candidates in the Upper West region are celebrating victory as District Assembly Representatives. With support from Canadian Crossroads International and YWCA Canada, ABANTU provided training and assistance to ten women candidates in the region including providing bicycles to help campaign teams get the word out.

Youth are building their futures
Mali – Last year Crossroads secured funding for a youth entrepreneurship program in Mali. That means that this year 100 youth — 50 young women and 50 young men — will work with CCI partner AJA to establish their own businesses. As participants in this program, they will build skills in business planning, receive ongoing coaching and gain access to special microcredit funds.