NEW YORK (March 3, 2013)– WEDO is proud to partner with WECF (Women in Europe for a Common Future) in the implementation of the Empower Women-Benefit (for) All (EWA) programme, which focuses on the economic and political empowerment of women from low-income rural and peri-urban regions in six developing countries (Afghanistan, Georgia, Kyrgyzstan, South Africa, Tajikistan, Uganda). WEDO, as a global women’s advocacy organization working on the intersections of women’s rights; social, economic and environmental justice; and sustainable development principles, supports the EWA program by linking women to the international policy and advocacy spheres, including at the UNFCCC and the CSW. The program is funded by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands.

Participants Norma Maldonado, Isis Alvarez and Elina Doszhanova will attend the 57th Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) in March 2013. WEDO will be facilitating the group in New York City – providing advocacy training and opportunities to link their experiences with sustainable development to the CSW theme of “Elimination and prevention of all forms of violence against women and girls” through side events, networking and meetings. Their ecological expertise and regional experiences in Guatemala, Colombia and Kazakhstan will be an asset to the international policy sphere.

Come hear their experiences and ideas at the side event, “Violence, Ecologies and Livelihoods: Feminists confronting unsustainable development” on Thursday March 7, 2013 from 10:30-12:00 pm at the Church Centre for the United Nations. The focus of this event, organized by WEDO, WECF, DAWN and GFC of the Women’s Major Group for Rio+20,  will be to examine the various forms of violence resulting from unsustainable development and environmental degradation.

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Women and girls around the world are demanding and creating systemic change and a sustainable future for all. We need collective power to attain a just future – we need you.