Women Leaders Intercultural Forum

“To bring about a truly secure world, we must adopt a new
paradigm that shifts priority to the security of individuals and of
communities—that is, to achieving human security. This will require a renewed
commitment both to human rights and human development—and a shared sense of
responsibility for all people, in all parts of the world.” – Mary Robinson,
President, Realizing Rights: The Ethical Globalization Initiative

The Women Leaders Intercultural Forum (WLIF) brings together women leaders of
the world to advance the role of women in promoting intercultural
understanding. WLF aims to augment women’s ability to increase the
enjoyment of human security in their communities, their countries and the entire
world.  The network was convened by Realizing Rights: The Ethical
Globalization Initiative with Columbia University, United Nations Population
Fund, Women’s Learning Partnership, Council of Women World Leaders, and Markkula
Center for Ethics at Santa Clara University.

The Forum’s goals include :

• Create and strengthen networks of women working in different regions to
  increase the enjoyment of human security at the community, national, regional
  and international levels.
• Strengthen and redefine women’s leadership to include the practice of open
  dialogue, learning and cooperation between women already in positions of power
  and the next generation of women leaders.
• Expose women of different nations, cultures, religions and age groups to
  each other to increase understanding and knowledge, and publicly demonstrate
  that women around the world have more in common than that which divides them.

In 2006, the Forum will launch a five-year process
in which women leaders from different sectors and regions bridge divides and
make progress on the issues that commonly affect them.  A program of annual
meetings will begin on September 24-26, 2006, when the inaugural conference will
be held at Columbia University in New York.  150 Women from the Muslim
world, the Americas and Europe will join together to make progress on four
themes central to women’s lives across the globe: violence against women, the
economic empowerment of women, women and migration and women’s relationship with
culture.  

In subsequent meetings, women from all regions and cultures will be
represented, and the topics chosen for discussion and action will shift as they
reflect current events and the needs and desires of women
everywhere.