Nobel Women's Initiative

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العربية

May 10 – 12, 2009
Antigua, Guatemala

There are currently more people living in formal democracies than at any other time in history. Yet women continue to be on the margins of democracy, underrepresented and limited in their ability to exercise their rights and participate meaningfully in the decisions that affect their lives.

This three-day strategy meeting will bring together more than 80 women from around the world to examine the challenges of democracy and democratization through the lens of womens experiences.

The Nobel Peace Prize Laureates of the Nobel Women's Initiative will convene womens rights activists, researchers, journalists, politicians and key policy-makers from national and international institutions. Specific issues to be discussed include: conflict, post-conflict and militarization, violence against women (from state repression to domestic violence) and womens political participation and representation.

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The conference is being organized by Nobel Womens Initiative, in partnership with Just Associates (JASS), a global network working in 25 countries to strengthen women's organizing power. The local host partner is the Rigoberta Mench Tum foundation (FRMT), which seeks to promote the rights of indigenous people around the world.

Conference Goals

To highlight womens representation, participation and rights in democracy and democratization;
To develop fresh perspectives and practical alternatives for reclaiming and reshaping democracy;
To share experiences, challenges and perspectives of deepening democracy; and,
To develop new alliances between women and organizations working to strengthen democracy.

How You Can Listen In!

While the conference is for invited delegates only, there are plenty of other ways to listen in on the conversation. The Nobel Women's Initiative website will feature daily blogs, photos and video reports from the conference. openDemocracy will also be providing analytical coverage of the conference. The experiences, solutions and alternatives developed at the conference will be captured in a final report and made publicly available on the Nobel Womens Initiative website.

About the Nobel Women's Initiative

Launched in 2006, the Nobel Womens Initiative is a strategic vehicle of six women Nobel Peace Prize Laureates: Jody Williams, Shirin Ebadi, Rigoberta Mench Tum, Wagari Maathai, Mairead Maguire and Betty Williams. Through the Nobel Womens Initiative, the Laureates leverage the visibility and prestige of the Nobel prize to promote, spotlight and amplify the world of womens rights activists, researchers and organizations worldwidein a way that strengthens and expands the global movement to advance nonviolence, peace, justice and equality. For more information, visit NWI's website . Also see JASS , and FRMT .