Women call for larger political role in solving poverty and conflicts

Women call for larger political role in solving poverty and conflicts
Over 50 female professionals from around the world gathered to discuss women’s empowerment reported USA Today on Thursday.

Participants included “leaders, foreign ministers, lawmakers, first ladies and top European Union and U.N. officials” who called for a greater role in conflict resolution. The group encouraged all female leaders to “give voice to those who would otherwise be voiceless.” Ferrero-Waldner said, “Women are often the most vulnerable members of society, subject to discrimination and abuse like harmful traditional practices or punishment by stoning.”

Leaders such as Finnish president Tarja Halonen encouraged the promotion of women’s rights within countries and acknowledged “the plight of women's rights to education and representation in Afghanistan as a big problem,” the article stated.

Participants urged their fellow leaders to treat women equally and invite them to policy making tables because women’s perspectives are desperately needed in conflict resolution.

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