Global Peace Education Network - Women’s Rights Day Conference - 7th March 2024

​A forum hosted by the Global Peace Education Network honouring Women's Rights was held on March 7th.  Our creative writer Geri Andrews attended the virtual conference and you can read her full report below. Olivera Stevanic, a member of our media team, has created an illustrative graphic based on her report, which we are also delighted to include:

​A report on the themes of this virtual conference, by Geri Andrews 

The aim of the annual Femina Vox Women’s Rights Day Conference is to raise awareness of the necessity of gender equality, and to celebrate the positive changes that have been made so far. This year’s theme was “Invest in Women: Accelerate Progress”. 

The keynote speakers were His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama and Mata Amritanandamayi, also known as Amma.

The three core issues that were discussed were: 

• the need for the economic empowerment of women 
• ​the mothering nature of women gives them an inherent strength and compassion and this needs to be much more widely appreciated
• and thirdly, efforts towards gender equality must never be confrontational in any way, otherwise this causes resistance.

The key to women being able to earn a good income is education. When women can financially contribute to their family and community their confidence and sense of self-worth increases. To this end, high quality, affordable child-care gives women the freedom to earn. It is child-care responsibilities that in part cause the unfair disparity in wages, because women so often have to work as well as look after the children. This needs to be addressed. 

All over the world women are striving for social, economic and political equality, often in very difficult circumstances, none more so than in countries where there is dictatorship. Here it is exceptionally difficult, and great courage and fortitude areis needed. The inherent nature of women as the mother can create a tendency to slip into passive compliance, as with “it is a women’s place”, but peace education reminds everyone, men and women, for the need to practise empathy. Self-education is very important, to enjoy learning and gaining knowledge from experience, for which there is no age limit. The female nature is naturally compassionate and caring, and this means there is greater willingness to listen and bring a conciliatory tone in peace dialogue which is vital in war and conflict situations.

Historically, social narratives tend to be more about strong men, and women are often portrayed as weaker and less able. In addressing equal gender rights there needs to be an effort to engage leaders to skill up women, for women to be included more in decision making. This must always be positive and constructive so as not to cause any backlash. It is not a gender war, but a natural path towards peace and understanding within humanity.

Mata Amma began the conference by saying, “Just like two wings of a bird, men and women have an equal role to play. Only when this truth is accepted will society become harmonious. Women only need to awaken their inherent strength to find their self-confidence.” A conscious effort from both men and women is needed to bring about a peaceful and compassionate society. Women’s rights are human rights, and in honouring the role of the mother everyone benefits from the freedom to prosper and grow in peace.

To learn more about the conference visit The Global Peace Education Network YouTube channel to view highlights .