Conservation Architect Gurmeet Rai on the Struggle to Preserve India's Cultural Heritage

We are pleased to announce that this summer, one of our UNESCO/UNITWIN India-based founding members was featured in a top India weekly news magazine. In a recent interview with Revati Laul of Tehelka Magazine, Gurmeet Rai, Director of the Cultural Resource Conservation Initiative (CRCI) in Delhi, discussed the important and difficult task of preserving India's impressive natural and cultural heritage. Throughout the feature, Rai explained the growing importance of public-private partnerships in fostering the protection needed for cultural heritage sites across a rapidly globalizing India. Also touching on the need for multi-level, public consultation in planning for conservation, the Delhi-based conservation architect referenced UNESCO's stated belief that "conservation cannot happen without the participation of the people." She went on to explain that conservation and protection are "about protecting the whole cultural ethos" of a place and its people. In closing, Director Rai emphasized that if the Government and people of India hoped to preserve the country's cultural heritage, firm principles supporting equity and rights would have to be applied. Much of the content of the interview with Director Rai resonates with the theme of people-centered development that lies at the heart of our UNITWIN's work. To read the full-length article, click here.

Gurmeet Rai; Photo: Shailendra Pandey

UNITWIN gender case study to be used in course at Tufts' Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy

We are thrilled to announce that the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University will be using our Srihaswani (Creative Manual Skills for Self-reliant Development) Study in their coursework. The Academic Dean at Fletcher has informed us that he will be using "Srihaswani: A Gender Case Study, Shantiniketan, West Bengal, India" in one of his upcoming courses. Below is the letter we received from Dean Uvin:

"Dear Dr. McSweeney

As a result of your email I actually discovered a publication of yours and have now decided to use a paper in a book you edited in one of my courses! It is this one:

Krishno, Dey, Chandana Dey & Brenda Gael McSweeney with Rajashree Ghosh. "Srihaswani: A Gender Case Study Shantiniketan, West Bengal, India." In Brenda Gael McSweeney (Ed.) Another Side of India: Gender, Culture, and Development. Paris, UNESCO, 2008: pp. 39-55. http://tiny.cc/zyvmdw 

I will use it less as an example of gender (although it IS important to me that it has that feature too, as I try to mainstream gender concerns throughout my course) as of a particularly intense way of working in a participatory manner. That stuff takes time, adaptation, flexibility, commitment; it goes through small steps forward in people's self-confidence, degree of organization, options available, growth in networks, etc. To me, this case exemplifies this style of work very well, with its strengths and weaknesses, and it is for that reason that I will assign it for discussion.

Thanks for doing that work! 

Peter Uvin
Academic Dean and Henry J. Leir Professor of International Humanitarian Studies; 
Director, Institute for HUman Security

 Cover image of "Srihaswani: A Gender Case Study, Shantiniketan, West Bengal, India"

This is exciting news for those who worked on the e-book Another Side of India: Gender, Cutlure, and Development and more generally, for our UNITWIN partners around the globe. The use of our gender case studies in the classroom truly fits with the rational behind UNITWIN: to have work at the grassroots level inform academia. We look forward to hearing some of the ideas put forward by the Fletcher students as they explore and discuss "Srihaswani: A Gender Case Study".

Panel on Gender and Development: Discussing "Gender Analysis" at the 18th Annual International Development Conference at Harvard's Kennedy School of Government

We are pleased to share with you that on April 14, 2012, the 18^th Annual International Development Conference at Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government presented a panel on Gender, Poverty, Opportunity: The Role of Women in Development. Before a packed room full of attendees from across Massachusetts and New England, the panel focused on the overarching question of why 'gender analysis' is becoming an ever more apparent element of international development. Panelists were also asked why looking at gender issues matters and in what ways academics and practitioners in the development sphere can make a persuasive case for the importance of attention to gender in development. Finally, with an eye to the future, the moderator's final question prompted the entire room to consider, in going forward, the best ways to ensure consistent and comprehensive attention to gender in development. Drawn from senior positions in government agencies, international nongovernmental organizations, and academia, the specialists on the panel were able to present varying perspectives and consequently, ignite a rich and stimulating discussion.

Panel participants included:

Moderator

Stephenie Foster, International Consultant, Former Chief of Staff to two U.S. Senators. General Counsel for the U.S. General Services Administration. Currently a Professor at American University.  

The Panelists:

Carla Koppell, Senior Coordinator for Gender Equality & Women's Empowerment, USAID & a Senior Advisor to the USAID Administrator. Carla has an MPP from the Harvard Kennedy School. A highlight of Carla's discussion came when she explained to the room that although the US has not signed CEDAW, the State Department acts under the assumption that the US is indeed a signatory of the Convention. Carla made it clear that the obligations and accountability at the heart of CEDAW are wholly respected and adhered to within the State Department.

Dr. Jishnu Das, Senior Economist, World Bank. Part of core team preparing the 2012 World Development Report  with a lead on 'Education and Health: Where do gender differences really matter?' Currently a Visiting Scholar at the Center for Policy Research, New Delhi. Jishnu has a Ph.D. in Economics from Harvard University. In response to the question of how to make a convincing case for specific interventions aimed at promoting gender equality in education, Dr. Das made a heartening point regarding the success of conditional cash transfers in keeping an increased number of girls in school for a longer period. He argued that that these incentives could shift broader beliefs surrounding the potential costs and benefits of educating the girl child. 

Dr. Brenda Gael McSweeney, Boston University's Women's, Gender, & Sexuality Program, Women's Studies Research Center - Brandeis University, Former United Nations Coordinator and UN Development Programme Rep in India. In her response to the moderator's questions, Dr. McSweeney reminded the room of enduring gender caps at home and abroad. In particular, she touched on the different faces of gender inequality introduced by Amartya Sen in his keynote speech at the launch of the Radcliffe Institute. Repeatedly, she urged the group to ask "Where is the outrage?!" With a wealth of experience from her time at the UNDP, Dr. McSweeney was able to explain the significance of indices such as the Gender Inequality Index. Developed by the UNDP to highlight the ongoing invisibility of women's contributions and introduce reproductive health issues as a societal issue, McSweeney called this new index courageous and a new way of moving forward towards gender equality and empowering women.

Encouraging an enriching and illuminating discussion amongst panelists and audience members alike, the panel on Gender, Poverty, Opportunity was a highlight of the 18th Annual International Development Conference. Gratitude and credit goes out to Panel Organizers Tonusree Basu, HKS '13; and Lauren Harrison, Vice-Chair of Panels and Keynotes for the 18th Annual IDC.

~Katherine Lochery, MIT Leadership Center and 
UNESCO/UNITWIN Network: Gender, Culture & Development

                    

International Women's Day in Santiniketan

We'd like to share with you a letter from Chandana Dey, our colleague in Santiniketan, West Bengal, India. In the message below, Chandana tells us about "Women's Week" activities in Shantiniketan.


Dear Brenda,

It’s been “Women’s Week,” here in Santiniketan and we have been hearing “women’s voices” on topics ranging from physical violence to women wanting more say in who they marry. The energetic and productive discussions on these subjects really showed how much support women have gained in their fight against rape and how much people-both men and women-want to bring cases of violence against women to justice.
Below is a picture of some women who were awarded for their hard work throughout the year, working for women’s empowerment. The two women on the left are my team members-Saidurnesha Khatun, who looks after both the children in the Early Childhood Care and Education Programme (Home Schools) and the adolescent girl campaign, “WE DEMAND”, and Mungli Murmu who heads the Ajoli Food Processing Unit for AHIMSA.

I am also sharing with you a snapshot of participants from a Women's Day discussion on physical violence and threats faced by women from all classes. The speakers were Shahana Khatun and Sunanada Mukherjee. I moderated this discussion. 

The main problem brought up was the insecurity faced by women-of all classes-while traveling and commuting. The discussants talked about, in particular, the threats women receive from land mafia and other powerful bodies, and the often unsympathetic response of the authorities. The positive role of the media was also highlighted. In conclusion, the speakers felt that women needed to unite and protest jointly at events such as these. Everyone also agreed that the 8th of March was not just a day for being together, but that it continues to represent just one day in the enduring struggle for women's rights.

Chandana

On March 7, 2012, as a prelude to International Women's Day, Boston University's Women, Gender, & Sexuality Studies Program co-sponsored an important event on Female Genital Mutilation (FGM). GaIDI, the Gender and International Development Initiatives of the Brandeis Women's Studies Research Center (WSRC), was the host and lead organizer of one in a series of bi-lingual readings about Pierre Foldes. Before a crowd in the Liberman-Miller Lecture Hall at  WSRC/Brandeis, author Hubert Prolongeau and scholar/activist Tobe Levin read from Undoing FGM: Pierre Foldes, the Surgeon Who Restores the Clitoris. A world-renowned surgeon and anti-FGM activist, Pierre Foldes is best known for his work on post-FGM clitoris repair. As a result of his surgical work and his commitment to speaking out against FGM, victims of the harmful practice are given back hope for the future.

Author Hubert Prolongeau and FGM Scholar/Activist and Translator Tobe Levin read from Undoing FGM at the GaIDI WSRC event, Brandeis University

Dr. Tobe Levin, former WSRC/HBI (Hadassah Brandeis Institute) Scholar, signing a copy of the book she translated  over to Dr. Brenda Gael McSweeney, a founder of GaIDI and WSRC Resident Scholar

GaIDI and other WSRC scholars and students interacting at the event. L to R, current and former GaIDI members: Janet Freedman, Ruth Nemzoff, Rahel Wasserfall

To learn more about a courageous French physician and the women who welcome his help, visit: http://uncutvoices.wordpress.com/tag/fgm/

For more on the Brandeis University Women's Studies Research Center (WSRC) Scholars Program and events, see http://www.brandeis.edu/wsrc/

For more on the Boston University Women's, Gender, & Sexuality Studies Program (WGS) courses, faculty and events, see http://www.bu.edu/wgs/

BU Women's, Gender, & Sexuality Studies Program Co-sponsoring: "Not My Life": Documentary on Child Trafficking Worldwide

Save the Date: March 26, 2012

Event: "Not My Life" - Film narrated by Glenn Close
Director: Oscar-nominated Robert Bilheimer

Time: 7:45 PM

Location: Brandeis University Campus, Olin Sang 101

We are pleased to share with you news of an upcoming event WGS is co-sponsoring, hosted by the Gender and International Development Initiatives (GaIDI) of the Brandeis University Women's Studies Research Center (WSRC). On March 26th at 7:45, you are invited to a screening of the powerful documentary on child trafficking entitled "Not My Life." Filmed across four years and five continents, this unprecedented project reveals the terrifying scope and depth of one of the worst forms of human rights abuse in the world today. "Not My Life" goes beyond simply raising awareness about the pandemic of child trafficking around the globe and highlights the work and enduring commitment of modern-day abolitionists.

Dr. Mei-Mei Ellerman, member of GaIDI and Board Director of the Polaris Project-leading anti-human trafficking NGO in the US and Japan-will give an overview of the issue of modern-day slavery and a brief introduction to the film. After the film, Dr. Ellerman, GaIDI/WSRC and the Co-sponsors will invite the audience to remain for a discussion of "Not My Life", the role of the 21st century abolitionists, and how to join the fight against slavery in our times.

Co-sponsors include: Women's Studies Research Center, Brandeis University; Women's, Gender, & Sexuality Studies Program of Boston University; Gender Working Group, Heller School for Social Policy and Management, Brandeis University; Schuster Institute for Investigative Journalism, Brandeis University; Our Bodies, Ourselves; Coexistence Program, Brandeis University; Brandeis Interfaith Chaplaincy.

Reporting from Rwanda: A Letter from Former Gender and International Development Student, Rachel Vannice

BU Alum and former Gender and International Development student, Rachel Vannice has been serving as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Rwanda since May 2011. In her letter below, Rachel writes about the work she has been doing to promote the growth and success of a women's informal cooperative. In addition, Rachel also touches on additional projects aimed at educating and empowering young men and women in the region.

Abakobwa n'Abagore- Girls & Women as Actors in Development in Rwanda

I came to Rwanda as a Peace Corps Volunteer in May of 2011. I am currently situated in Nyagatare district in the Northeast of the country. In my community, I have had the opportunity to work with the Centre de Développement Pour les Femmes (Center for Women's Development). The women have come together with capital support from a local religious community. They have formed their own informal cooperative and are empowering each other with new skills in traditional Rwandan basket-weaving and embroidery. I have been connecting them with local resources to become an official cooperative to reap the benefits that come with such a legal status as well as attempting to find them new markets so that they may continue to grow their small business and move from the subsistence farming that the majority of them practice.

Women making traditional Rwandan baskets

Women working on livelihoods projects

As a member of the Peace Corps Gender and Development (GAD) committee and the National Coordinator for all GLOW (Girls Leading Our World) and BE (Boys Excelling) camps, I have also had the opportunity to work on the empowerment and sensitization of young women and men through lessons on life skills, communication, and goal-setting. In addition, much of our focus was on reproductive health and the prevention of HIV/AIDS transmission. Our main vehicles for this information transfer included week-long camps and then the formation of clubs at local schools, with camp attendees as animators and co-facilitators. Further, most clubs are co-facilitated by local teachers so that the clubs and camps are sustainable.

Participants of Camp GLOW - Eastern Province, along with Peace Corps volunteers and Rwandan facilitators.

International Conference: Women, Creativity and Social Concern

On January 5th-7th, 2012, the Women's Studies Centre at Visva-Bharati in Santiniketan, West Bengal, India hosted an International Conference on Women, Creativity, and Social Concern. Dedicated to the memory of Ashramkanya Amita Sen, the conference celebrated the 100th year anniversary of her birth.

The conference focused on the "social construction of gender in the Indian context by analyzing the various institutions such as education, household, community, market, and the state" and hoped that discussion would "help to evolve perspectives on development and strategies to counter the inter-linked forces of caste, class and patriarchy." Key guest speakers included Professor Amartya Sen and Professor Martha Nussbaum. Below you can view a selection of images from this most successful event:

Conference Inauguration: Lighting the lamp with Asha Mukherjee and Professor Amartya Sen

Asha Mukherjee delivers the Welcome Address

Professor Amartya Sen delivers the Inaugural Address

Remembering Smt. Amita Sen: Professor Martha Nussbaum delivers a special plenary lecture 

Professor Nussbaum in discussion with Asha Mukherjee and Arvinder Ansari

For additional photos, click here! 

If you would like to read more about the conference, please see below for the conference outline.

Inaugural Newsletter of the Global Network of UNESCO Chairs on Gender

We are pleased to announce the publication of the very first newsletter of the Global Network of UNESCO Chairs on Gender, produced by our partners in Cyprus and Buenos Aires and now posted at http://www.catunescomujer.org/globalnetwork/news.html
Feel free to disseminate it among your colleagues.

Boston University's Women's, Gender, & Sexuality Studies Program (WGS) hosts the UNESCO/UNITWIN (University Twinning) Network on Gender, Culture, and Development, and is a founding member of the Global Network. The Co-Coordinators of the BU-based UNESCO/UNITWIN, Professor Deborah Belle and Dr. Brenda Gael McSweeney, are delighted that this inaugural issue features a lot of the work that they and their collaborators in India, West Africa, and the Boston area have been engaged in. To read more about our Network's activities in 2011 and beyond, please see the newsletter at the link listed above.

More information on our UNITWIN Network is at http://unitwin.blogspot.com/ and equalityburkina.blogspot.com

UN Women designates BU's Brenda Gael McSweeney as its Focal Point for Women and Gender Studies

UN Women, the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women has invited Dr. Brenda Gael McSweeney of the Women's, Gender, & Sexuality Studies Program to be its Women's and Gender Focal Point at Boston University.


UN Women "acts on the fundamental premise that women and girls worldwide have a right to live a life free of discrimination, violence, and poverty and that gender equality is central to achieving development." UN Women just launched its first report on the Progress of the World's Women, focusing on gender justice.

A key priority of UN Women is combating gender-based violence. The campaign titled "Say No-UNiTE to End Violence Against Women" gives everyone a chance to join this global initiative. Do visit http://saynotoviolence.org/ to add your voice.