The New York Times came out with an article today "The Internationalization of Women's Issues". In the article Michelle Bachelet, former president of Chile and current executive director of UN Women, is quoted as saying: "Women issues are world issues... Today there is greater awareness than ever before that women’s full participation is essential for peace, democracy and sustainable development." What does it mean to frame "women's issues" as "world issues"? And is there a difference between "women's issues" and "women issues"? Bachelet may have misspoken or been misquoted but may can also be a distinction here: the difference between issues that are only relevant to women and issues that are related to women but relevant to all.
Take the issue of violence against women or femicide. Increasingly, groups of women and men are speaking out against it. This is evident in the reaction in India against the recent brutal gang rape of a young college student in Delhi. And crucial work is being done in Jordan by journalist Rana Husseini, who has made incredible strides in educating both women and young men--who are often called upon by their families to commit the acts of violence--about rights and laws, teaming up with local imams to spread the message.
What will we herald next year as we usher in 2014? Perhaps that we no longer need to even have this conversation, because it is a given that women issues are issues of importance to all.
Take the issue of violence against women or femicide. Increasingly, groups of women and men are speaking out against it. This is evident in the reaction in India against the recent brutal gang rape of a young college student in Delhi. And crucial work is being done in Jordan by journalist Rana Husseini, who has made incredible strides in educating both women and young men--who are often called upon by their families to commit the acts of violence--about rights and laws, teaming up with local imams to spread the message.
What will we herald next year as we usher in 2014? Perhaps that we no longer need to even have this conversation, because it is a given that women issues are issues of importance to all.
