AAUW tackles female status worldwide

Thursday, 04 February 2010 13:16

The New Canaan branch of the American Association of University Women (AAUW) will present a discussion on the status of women and girls worldwide at 9:30 a.m. Thursday, February 11, at Waveny House.

The discussion, chaired by Carol Blauvelt, with the participation of Barbara Beall, Carmen Hampl, Barbara Johansen and Vicki LeBris, will present an overview of some of the roadblocks confronting women throughout the world and discuss some of the emerging educational and empowerment solutions. According to Kofi Annan (U.N. Secretary General from 1997 to 2007), “There is no tool for development more effective than the empowerment of women.”

Yet, in their recent book “Half the Sky,” Nicholas Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn call the oppression of women worldwide the human rights cause of our time. Many organizations (including the United Nations, the World Bank, UNICEF and CARE) have recognized the potential resource that women and girls represent and are calling for greater attention to women in developing countries.

The U.S. State Department has also recognized the situation, created a new position (Ambassador-at-Large for Global Women’s Issues) and is trying to make these global issues a core factor in relevant foreign policy.

Membership information may be obtained from Sara Hunt at 203-966-3313 or Janet Congdon 203-966-6116.