WASHINGTON, Oct. 5 /PRNewswire/ -- The Independent Women's Forum today
denounced a clearly partisan attack from the Feminist Majority Foundation
which apparently believes only left-winged groups are able to work with Iraqi
women as they seek to take their rightful place in a new and free Iraq.
"Neither the Feminist Majority nor any other women's organization has a
monopoly on the principles and practice of democratic values or women's
international human rights," said Michelle D. Bernard, senior fellow with the
Independent Women's Forum. "This attack by Eleanor Smeal and company is wholly
unwarranted."
"In transitioning nations around the world, discrimination and violence
against women and girls is systematic and overtly sanctioned by the state.
IWF is part of a global community that seeks to be a voice in ending violence
and discrimination against women and girls globally. Like it or not, we are
here to stay," Bernard maintained.
"Iraqi women and those women who find themselves in post-conflict
situations do not have the luxury of joining Eleanor Smeal and her brethren in
their post election Caribbean cruise," quipped Bernard. "As Iraq takes its
next step towards liberal democracy, the Independent Women's Forum will work
with Iraqi women to build a stable and democratic Iraq," she added.
The Independent Women's Forum recently received a grant by the US
Department of State to aid in the promotion of women's full political and
economic participation in Iraq. The grant is part of the State Department's
$10 million dollar Iraqi Women's Democracy Initiative. IWF, in partnership
with the American Islamic Congress and the Foundation for the Defense of
Democracies, will provide leadership training, democracy education and
coalition building assistance for 150 pro-democracy, Iraqi women leaders and
political activists. IWF, with its partners, will implement a twelve month
Women Leaders Program and Democracy Network Information and Coordination
Center to provide Iraqi women with education on democracy and political
advocacy and build networks of Iraqi women activists with a common agenda.
CONTACT: Louise Filkins of Independent Women's Forum, +1-202-419-1820.
SOURCE Independent Women's Forum
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Related links:
http://www.iwf.org
CONTACT:
Louise Filkins of Independent Women's Forum,
+1-202-419-1820
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