Nobel Women’s Initiative blog

by Rebecca Barlow, NWI rapporteur, PhD Candidate at the Centre for Muslim Minorities and Islam Policy Studies in Melbourne

It will be difficult to convey in words the depth and breadth of what has happened over the past three days here in Galway. Each day we have been witness to countless women activists’ stories of repression, despair, resistance, hope, forgiveness, and compassion. These accounts have been shared with extreme tenacity of spirit and tremendous wit. Furthermore, they were consistently presented within a framework of practical commitment to transforming ideas for change and reform into living realities.

There are two aspects of the conference that stand out in my mind at this point. One is the incredible Iranian delegation led by Shirin Ebadi. These women – journalists, lawyers, activists – demonstrate such assertiveness, dynamism, intelligence and good humour so as to categorically negate stereotypes that may exist around them, particularly in popular Western press. The Iranian women came to the conference from a country in which serious political and social repression defines their everyday realities, and yet not only did they consistently participate, but rather led the way in many of the discussions of equality, human rights, justice, and peace. I would implore anyone reading this blog to look at the Iranian women’s movement’s website on their latest campaign for equality, ‘One Million Signatures Demanding Changes to Discriminatory Laws.’

The second aspect of the conference I would highlight is the democratic nature of the entire event. This conference was a micro-model of the democratic process in its highest form. Rarely did an event take place, or particular topic be broached, without the consent of all participants at the conference. And rarely was a voice not heard – even if this meant that we had to go over time or shorten the time we had for recess. The debates and discussions that ensued as a result were rich, lively, balanced, and never left without a logical conclusion. For me, this simply reinforced the fact that women must be further integrated into local, national, regional, and international decision-making structures and levels of governance. I do not approach my work from a feminist framework per se, but rather from a human rights and social justice basis. Having said this, I feel that there is no way the conference would have been as qualitatively good had it not been facilitated and moderated by women only.

The Nobel Women’s Initiative is not yet one year old, and yet it has already begun to provide a strong revenue for change and resistance to the dominant, patriarchal structures in which every one of us lives. I look forward to keeping in touch with the conference participants, and in continuing our commitment to advancing women’s human rights together.