Nobel Women’s Initiative: “Women Redefining Democracy”

I recently returned from the Nobel Women’s Initiative Conference in Antigua Guatemala: “Women Redefining Democracy”, an amazing, unforgettable experience. The Nobel Women’s Initiative is a client of the Soul of Money.

The 120 women who came together were from 36 countries including Burundi (the government is now 50% women), Liberia (postwar rebuilding is led by Africa’s first female President, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf), as well as Darfur, the Congo, Kenya, Ecuador, Brazil, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Sri Lanka, India, Iran, Colombia, Burma, USA, the UK, Sweden, France, Canada, China, Viet Nam, Australia, Ireland and more.

For many of the women, “going home”, meant going back into conditions of war, of gang rape, brutality, and almost unbearable suffering of women and children. For other delegates, “going home” meant returning to conditions of brutal subjugation where women have few or no rights.

Still others returned to courageously lead movements to heal or rehabilitate child soldiers, or to intervene in the trafficking of girls and women, and to stop genital mutilation. Some went back as lawyers to defend women imprisoned for not wearing a headscarf or for driving a car, or to defend women who have been raped and are being charged with adultery.

Some women in particular will return to the prospect of prison simply because they came to the conference.

No matter where we returned and into what roles, all of us were deeply awakened to the challenges women face all over the world, and more deeply connected to the power and magnificence of the human spirit. We were together in Guatemala in a way that made us even more committed to creating a world that is sustainable, peaceful, just, and equitable– a world where democracy includes the clear, potent voices of women.

We bore witness to stories of atrocities and suffering. We walked through the history of genocide in Guatemala and we celebrated stories of breakthroughs. We learned best practices and explored effective legal instruments, new constitutions, and studied the immense power of international awareness & intervention, and the vital role of the press.

And most of all, we were humbled and inspired by each other. We shared, we connected, we networked, we became lifelong friends and sisters, we promised to support each other, we embraced, we laughed, we sang, and we danced into the night.

The day after the conference the four Nobel’s that were there, Rigoberta Menchu Tum, Jody Williams, Mairead Maguire, and Shirin Ebadi, debriefed the conference and looked at the collective power and next actions of the Nobel Women in addressing critical places and issues on Earth for women and children: Darfur, Gaza, Burma, Chinese occupied Tibet, as well as climate justice, supporting indigenous voices, the opening available now in the “Obama era”, the role corporate women can play, the commitment to ban nuclear weapons, and more.

I was privileged to facilitate the meeting of the Nobel Women Peace Laureates and NWI staff at Rigoberta Menchu Tum’s home/office (1992 Peace Prize). I was moved by each woman’s skill, thoughtfulness, sensitivity, wisdom, and vast experience. They are utterly amazing women, and to see them work together and move together was breathtaking.

We all rallied around Dr. Shirin Ebadi (2003 Nobel Peace Prize), whose office in Iran was shut down by the government. They arrested or threatened her staff, and confiscated computers and records. Everything was done to silence Dr. Ebadi short of killing or imprisoning her.

My heartfelt thanks to the women donors who are making possible this critical work of the 21st century to turn the tide for women and children worldwide. Please join us in standing with and for the women of this world. Start by visiting the Nobel Women’s Initiative website: www.nobelwomensinitiative.org.

Blessings, Lynne Twist