After watching the recent telecast Half the Sky Live with 30 of my southern sisters, several questions came to mind.  The one that surfaces this morning, more than likely because Iraq just held its challenging elections, is the issue of arranged child marriages.  How the elections play out, and whether or not the fate of girls and women in Iraq will change, depends largely on the new president’s stand on Article 14 of the Iraqi Constitution, which allows for girls ages 9 to 14 to be “given away” in marriage.

I had the opportunity to meet the First Secretary of the Mission of Iraq to the United Nations last Wednesday eve at the delegate reception given by Susan Rice. 

He spoke of the elections, but the reception was not the time to speak of the political specifics of global women’s empowerment.  He was most interested that women had the right to vote, but the issue of child marriage did not come up.

In the photo: Sherry Ludwig, AAUW CA International Advocacy Director; Susan Rice, US Ambassador to the United Nations
 

As we saw portrayed so eloquently and powerfully in the film segment of Woineshet by Marisa Tomei and Lisa Leone last Thursday eve, the fight against centuries of age old customs in a particular culture can be accomplished even by just one young woman.  And what a brave young woman she was at 14 years old and still is now!  Do you remember the scene where the young man apologizes to Woineshet’s girlfriend by kissing her feet?  It’s a start....

So from child marriage in Iraq to young women in Ethiopia being “taken” as brides after being violently raped to the cultural practice of FGM (Female Genital Mutilation) throughout the African nations, women around the world continue to suffer cultural injustices by mere virtue of the fact that they are women.  Nicholas Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn are doing an amazing job as journalists in spreading the seeds of knowledge and the message that oppression can be turned into opportunity.  Similarly, I attended a workshop sponsored by Goldman Sachs last Wednesday as part of the 54th UN Commission on the Status of Women that was titled “From Turbulence to Tolerance”.  The panel addressed the issue of change and what needs to be done to bring it about in the United States and in the global community.

I toss the question out to all of you to hear your thoughts, ideas and opinions.  How can we mobilize our efforts beyond educating our membership into some concrete actions to advocate for the women of the world?  “Women hold up half the sky.” (a Chinese proverb)

Sherry Ludwig  
AAUW CA International Advocacy Director

Please join us for a reunion of all former Tech Trekkers, campers and staff members, on Sunday, May 2, 2010 at the San Ramon Marriott Hotel (near Walnut Creek and Danville) from 1 p.m., when registration begins, and ending at 6 p.m.
 
This event is totally free but pre-registration is required. Online registration is available at www.aauw-techtrek.org 
 
We have arranged for exciting speakers and will offer breakout sessions for alumnae to mix and mingle, to meet old friends and make new ones, followed by refreshments.
 
If this event is successful, we will plan a similar event next year in Southern California at the AAUW CA convention for those who can't make it to San Ramon this time.

Please share this news with your Tech Trekker friends. The hotel is located at 2600 Bishop Drive, San Ramon, CA 94583.
 
See you there!

In association with our annual state convention, AAUW CA will present a leadership training event on Friday, April 30 from 1:00 - 5:00 pm at the San Ramon Marriott Hotel. 

The basis for the training is a result of responses to our Younger Member Survey, conducted last year.  These women specifically requested training in community organizing, participation in the electoral process, and workpace skills such as negotiation.

Click HERE to see full details of the Women's Leadership Training Insttute.

Approximately 75 attendees listened intently Saturday as Michelle Jaureguito Henley related the horrific details of the unjust treatment she and her two co-plaintiffs received from the administration and trustees of Feather River Community College.  At times overcome with emotion, even though the case began nearly five years ago, Henley slowly and deliberately revealed the events of her story.

In the photo, from left: Gloria Taylor, AAUW CA Co-President; Henley; AAUW Funds Director, Rozanne Child

After being unjustly accused of participating in and condoning the bad behavior of her staff member, Henley lost her career, her credibility in the community and her marriage.  She spoke of the many times she had felt like just giving up and walking away from the fight, but each time she was spurred on by the encouragement of her co-plaintiffs and by AAUW members who have heard her story and offered their support.

Details of Henley's case can be found on the AAUW national website by clicking HERE.

In a video posted today on AAUW's national website, Director of Public Policy and Government Relations Lisa Maatz presented our organization's response to the State of the Union address given by President Obama last night.

Click HERE to watch the video.

Tech Trek is growing and improving.