It is critical that women’s voices and needs are reflected in this new global development framework.
Why we care: With the Millennium Development Goals goals coming to a close in 2015, world leaders are negotiating new development goals that will impact women’s lives for the next decade.
How we’re solving this: Uniting women activists and authors from around the world to advocate for political leaders to adopt solutions that prioritize women’s rights.
The Millennium Development Goals will end in 2015, and a renegotiation process has started to develop a new “Sustainable Development” agenda. It is critical that women’s voices and needs are reflected in this new global development framework. Women, especially from poor countries, are too often marginalized and excluded from public debate, negotiations, and decisions that directly affect their lives, and this time their recommendations for sustainable development must be included.
DAWN is uniting 16 devoted women activists from around the world to do just this. DAWN coordinates the Women’s Major Group, a global network of over 350 representatives from women’s rights NGOs that are ensuring that women are part of the development agenda making process. These women activists have combined their intelligence, innovative ideas, and solutions to secure rights for the most marginalized women.
Through its internationally renowned network of feminist scholars, researchers, and activists, DAWN will compile a monumental book to mobilize more advocacy for women’s inclusion in formulating the Millennium Development Goals. DAWN will also organize political writing and strategic advocacy workshops to hone activists’ skills in writing powerful and inspirational articles that influence politicians and world leaders. These activists have already drafted chapters spotlighting the most critical areas that must be addressed for women in the next decade. Core issues that activists will advocate for include:
- Confronting gender-based violence
- Promoting women’s leadership
- Securing women’s rights
- Securing environmental justice
- Increasing women’s participation in political and civic spaces
World leaders have the power to make significant changes to the lives of women, ensuring they have equal access education, employment, healthcare, and a life of dignity and security. The time is now for women to collaborate and bring their solutions forward to influence the future of development.