OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE
The Hague, 15th September 2011
International Day of Democracy
Power to empower: From Kabul to Cairo and from Tunis to Sana, Female leadership and inclusive governance must be supported
Gender Concerns International's team of female observers will monitor Tunisian Elections to be held on 23rd October
On the International Day of Democracy Gender Concerns International reaffirms its support, cooperation and dedication to its European and international friends, partners, women's organisations and civil society groups to continue working for a better, more just and non-gender biased world where female leadership and women's inclusive governance become the norm.
Today, Director Sabra Bano confirmed with Ms Giorgia Depaoli, Tunisia Country Representative, that Gender Concerns International will be conducting an election monitoring mission to Tunisia from a gender perspective with its female local, regional and European election observer's team. This affirms the support that Gender Concerns is constantly giving to women's organisations in the democratic transition of countries such as Egypt and Yemen.
Women's inclusive governance is crucial in emerging democracies such as Egypt, Yemen, Tunisia and South Sudan. Female leadership also needs to be acknowledged in Afghanistan where women and civil society organisations are demanding women’s representation in local transition negotiations and international interactions. Gender Concerns International reaffirms its support to the struggle of Afghan women and fully endorses the following statement from the Afghan Women's Network.
Gender Concerns advocates for the international community, especially the Dutch Minister of Foreign Affairs Uri Rosenthal, to maintain the Dutch position on supporting the democratic and human rights of women in fragile states and conflict areas. On 7th September an international conference on Afghanistan was held in the Hague. At the conference, Minister Rosenthal fully supported the notion of women's empowerment in Afghanistan and stated that women need power to be empowered. Gender Concerns wholeheartedly welcomes Minister Rosenthal's statement and hopes that at the Bonn Conference on Afghanistan, the Minister will also show his appreciation in favour of the human rights of women in Afghanistan.
Sarah Harrison
Gender Concerns International
Phone: 00 31 (070) 4445082
Raamweg 21-22 2596 HL, The Hague
Email: sarah@genderconerns.org Site:http://www.genderconcerns.org