Last week, I had the pleasure of attending a performance of documentary play, SEVEN.  Hosted by Vital Voices in partnership with NYU’s Center for Global Affairs, the play was performed on NYU’s campus for an audience of around 1,000 people.

The performance was followed by a panel discussion moderated by Tina Brown, Founder & Editor-in-Chief of the Daily Beast and featuring 4 of the SEVEN women whose stories are profiled in the play.

It was truly a remarkable and transforming experience. In closing, panelist and Vital Voices leader, Hafsat Abiola from Nigeria read the following poem that captured the spirit of the evening- which was filled with strength and hope:

Let me not pray to be sheltered from dangers
But to be fearless in facing them
Let me not pray for the stilling of my pain
But for the heart to conquer it
Let me not look for allies in life’s battlefield
But to my own strength
Grant me that I may not be a coward
feeling your mercy in my successes alone
But let me find the grasp of your hand
In my failure.

by Rabindrath Tagor

The Kuwait Times reports that leaders from around the world met yesterday for the Second Gulf Forum on Women’s Rights and Family Law. Hosted by the Women’s Cultural and Social Society, speakers discussed the status of women in the Gulf region, including issues of nationality, citizen rights, involvement in the judiciary, and family law. At front and center was the manipulation of religion and culture, which often justify the oppression of women and prevent the attainment of women’s rights.

In Kuwait, there is not a single women judge. Yet, according to speakers at the forum, there are no formal laws that prevent women from the position. Meanwhile, if a wife’s husband is not a Kuwaiti national, the wife has great difficulty in obtaining citizenship for her children, while a child of a male Kuwaiti easily inherits citizenship. Even current laws violate Kuwait’s own constitution by depriving women rights that are given to men.

Yet, the conference’s highlighting of women’s rights presents hope for the future. It represented a collaborative effort of Kuwait’s Women Cultural Social Society, the Bahrain Women’s Union, the US-Middle East Partnership Initiative and the United Nations Development Fund for Women to bring women’s issues to the forefront.

In the midst of the Iraq war, women’s rights have often been overlooked. But on March 14, women’s groups in northern Iraq gathered to discuss the status of women and to determine common goals. Speakers discussed the history of women’s rights, current issues, and future obstacles.

While women have historically lacked political power, student Akar Azad said that the women’s groups would present their decisions to the regional government. Meanwhile, she said, women’s groups were  “trying to increase women’s representation in politics up to 30 percent, so they have the power to do what is best for them.” By attaining higher numbers of women in leadership, Iraqi women hope to advance the status of women and to improve their own societies. While doing so, they also hope to overcome the negative attitude towards individuals working with human rights.

Ali Noori Talabani, former Member of Parliament and the supervisor for women’s activities in Kirkuk, noted the difficulty of countering the cultural, societal, and religious arguments made for restricting women’s rights and participation. Nevertheless, Talabani was not discouraged. “We have to bring our issues to the neighborhoods, communities and media. Women have been killed in the struggle to increase our rights, but, no matter what happens, it is important we keep trying every day to make a difference.” Talabani has faith that women’s political leadership can foster regional peace and catalyze progress within the country. As she said, “They just have to give us a chance.”

PRAGUE, Czech Republic, March 30 (UPI) — European government officials and experts were in the Czech Republic on Monday to address a forum on combating trafficking of human beings in the region.

Read the full story at UPI

We continue our “Proud to be Woman” conversation series with Alyse Bloom, President, CEO and co-founder of Vital Voices.

What inspires you?
The women leaders around the world that I have the privilege of working with through my organization continuously inspire me.  Although it is our mission at Vital Voices to support them and raise them up, I am humbled and inspired everyday by their strength, tenacity and grace. They have taught me important life lessons and have shaped the way I see the world.  They have taught me that leadership is not a final destination.  It is not about the title you hold, or how many people report to you. Real leadership is about the actions that you take on a daily basis. It is about standing up and leading change from wherever you are, with what little resources you have.

Full story at DVF.com

Since 2006, Vital Voices has partnered annually with the U.S. State Department and FORTUNE Magazine to provide international emerging women leaders in business the opportunity to develop their leadership, management and business skills through the FORTUNE/State Department Global Women Leaders Mentoring Partnership. This unique program combines the study of U.S. business culture with a working mentorship program that enables emerging women business leaders across the globe to spend a month in the U.S. to enhance their capabilities and propel their careers forward. Top American female executives - Fortune’s Most Powerful Women - mentor these emerging leaders to support them in their professional growth.

More Magazine writes about the program and interviews Fortune editor-at-large Patricia Sellers about it.

Read the article at More.com

Related Content:

Listen to interviews with participating mentors and mentees of the 2007 and 2008 programs

CNN Money Blog Post about the program by Patricia Sellers

Diane von Furstenberg and Somaly Mam Backstage at the 2009 Global Leadership Awards

DC In Bloom

Washington DC, the magnolia trees are in bloom… my room at the Hay Adams has a view of the White House.

I am in DC for the Vital Voices 2009 Global Leadership Awards at the Eisenhower Theatre at Kennedy Center. Ben Affleck, Sally Field, Candice Bergen, Maria Bello, Dr Ngozi Okonjo, Nicholas Kristof and myself are the presenters.

Read full post at Inside DVF

March 24th, the United States President announced intent to nominate Luis C. de Baca to a State Department post that will serve to montior and combat human trafficking.

Official press release issued by the White House:

President Obama Announces Another Key State Department Post

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, President Barack Obama announced his intent to nominate Luis C. de Baca as Ambassador-at-Large to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons at the State Department. Continue Reading »

My daughter participates in a disability bowling league every Saturday morning. It’s probably the #1 thing she looks forward to during the week. Her presents at Christmas last year were her own bowling ball, shoes and bag.

I don’t know if she ever breaks 100 but she sure has fun. Thus, President Obama’s comment about “Special Olympics bowling” last week really hit home. Continue Reading »

Who could ever have imagined that a trip of only 250 miles could transport people from Connecticut to the far reaches of the globe? That’s exactly what happened to 13 representatives from the CT Council of Vital Voices who traveled by train, plane or car to Washington, DC to attend the Vital Voices 2009 Global Leadership Awards. In the company of like-minded people from around the world, we gathered to celebrate the achievements of women being honored for their work in making the world a safer, more equitable place in which to live. As we listened to the stories of Somaly Mam’s efforts to fight human trafficking,  Marceline Kongolo Bicee and Chouchou Namegabe Nabitu’s work on behalf of women’s rights, Temituokpoe Esisi’s  entrepreneurial endeavors, and Sadiqu Basiri Saleem’s work to establish educational opportunities for girls, we were in awe of the courage, ingenuity and resilience of these amazing women.  Working against great odds, and often at personal risk, the stories they told moved us to tears. Continue Reading »