Equality of Women and Men

Report on the Status of Women in the Baha'i Community

Report on the Status of Women in the Baha'i Community

Response to a questionnaire received from the United Nations Division for the Advancement of Women, summarized in the magazine "Women 2000"

Vienna, Austria—1 May 1990

Main activity area:

The Baha'i International Community, an international NGO with 151 national affiliates and over 20,000 local affiliates, is engaged in promoting world peace and encouraging the spiritual, social and economic development of its communities throughout the world. The foundation of Baha'i activity is the unshakable consciousness of the oneness of the human race, a principle which implies a fundamental transformation of all human relationships, including those between women and men. For Baha'is, the achievement of full equality between the sexes is one of the most important though least acknowledged prerequisites of peace.

General description of activities with regard to the status and advancement of women:

The emancipation of women is viewed by Baha'is as an evolutionary process, requiring sufficient time to shed long-held traditional attitudes and adopt more unifying patterns of life. Baha'i communities at all levels -- local, national and international -- encourage this process through programmes and activities to advance the status of women.

Baha'i institutions encourage the full participation of women in every aspect of community life, including development planning and decision making; promote equal education for girls and boys, as well as social and economic development projects to meet the needs of women; and foster sexual equality both within the Baha'i community and in society at large through communications media and through a wide range of activities, including conferences, women's consultative groups, seminars and workshops.

The Baha'i International Community participated fully in the activities of the UN Decade for Women. Its representatives attend sessions of the Commission on the Status of Women and serve on the NGO Committees on the Status of Women in New York, Geneva and Vienna.

Current activity in this area receiving priority attention, aim of this activity, results achieved so far:

1. Equal participation:

Since equal participation by women in every aspect of community life is a goal of all Baha'i institutions, Baha'i communities at every level are committed to increasing the number of women appointed to advisory boards and elected to governing councils and to involving all women in community consultation -- the broad, inclusive process by which Baha'i communities make plans and decisions. Women's consultative groups, for example are being established to educate women and encourage them to participate equally with men in building just and peaceful communities.

Results: Recent statistics show substantial participation of women on Baha'i administrative bodies. In 1988, 27% of those elected to serve on national governing councils were women. In 1989, 25% of the members of continental advisory boards and 29% of their auxiliary boards were women. At the 1988 International Convention, plenary sessions involving members of over 140 National Baha'i Councils were chaired by women members of the advisory boards.

2. Literacy training:

Literacy training for women and girls, a focal activity for many years in Baha'i communities, has been made a global priority in the Baha'i International Community six-year development plan (1986-1992). Further, in 1989 the international Baha'i governing body urged each national and local Baha'i council to lend active support to International Literacy Year (ILY) and address the objective of eliminating illiteracy from the worldwide Baha'i community. A major aim of Baha'i literacy classes, which are open to the entire community, is to empower women, both in their traditional roles as mothers and educators of children, and in their new roles as full participants in the advancement of their communities and the world.

2.1 New projects:

New literacy projects for women, initiated at the grass roots in response to ILY, demonstrate the dynamics of the Baha'i development process. First, the Baha'i international governing council establishes a priority (International Literacy Year) and calls for action; this call, in turn, catalyzes a variety of national and local initiatives; these initiatives are then supported by international and national resources and coordination. In Cameroon, for example, eight Baha'is volunteered to teach literacy and requested that the national Baha'i governing council help them obtain materials. In Zimbabwe, several Baha'i women have been trained by the government to teach literacy through a permanent institute sponsored by the national Baha'i council. In Malawi, six schools founded and managed by local Baha'i governing councils are overseen by a national Baha'i Tutorial Schools Committee and the government Ministry of Community Services, which also supplies materials and periodic teacher training courses. In Haiti under Baha'i management, five Family Education Centres, which follow the UNICEF early stimulation program for three- to five-year-olds, now provide literacy instruction to accompanying adults, mostly women.

2.2 Established projects:

Established Baha'i literacy programmes for women and girls integrate literacy with community training in health, crafts, agriculture, solving family and community problems, and empowerment through spiritual principles. Results have been gratifying in a number of countries, including Kenya, India, Zaire, and Panama.

Results in Kenya: The Baha'is of Kenya have, for the past five years, conducted programmes which call upon women to champion health, agriculture, morals, and domestic skills training for children. In the process of learning and teaching these topics, the women themselves acquire their essential literacy skills. A series of mother's booklets, developed in Kenya for these programmes, has been shared with Baha'i communities around the world and is currently being translated into 26 languages.

Results in India: The women of India are overcoming both cast prejudice and their traditionally low status with the help of the educational activities of their local Baha'i councils. The Faizi Vocational Institute for Rural Women in Indore, and the outreach programmes of the New Era School in Panchgani are examples of successful grass roots approaches to education for women.

At the Faizi Vocational Institute, crafts training is supplemented by literacy classes and daily informal discussions, which stimulate self-expression, sharpen thinking skills, and awaken an awareness of both problems and possibilities. Literate women trainees tutor the illiterate ones; health and hygiene information is included with discussions of the spiritual and moral education of children; and useful village technologies, such as a fuel-efficient, smokeless stove, are introduced. Respected male members of the national Baha'i community speak to the men of the community about the principle of sexual equality and urge husbands to take pride in their wives' accomplishments.

The New Era High School in Panchgani, India, began in 1984 with 30 literacy centres where 900 adults, 750 of whom were women, came to learn. Since then the programme has expanded to 100 centres in 60 villages. Through this literacy instruction, many adults are learning about health, nutrition, cleanliness and the importance of sending their children to school. Results for many students include the reduction of dowries for marriages, the elimination of intake of alcoholic beverages, adoption of new agricultural techniques, the use of new seed varieties and an improvement in their social situations.

Results in Zaire: The "Bayanda Project" in Zaire represents one of the most successful efforts in literacy training the Baha'is have experienced to date. The people served by this project have historically had little or no opportunity for formal education. Nevertheless, since 1987, over 2500 students have completed the literacy course, 70% of them women and girls. Moreover, after attending literacy classes, 15 of the Bayanda children were integrated into classes in the local government-sponsored school where they performed in the top 10% of their groups.

Results in Panama: The Guaymi Cultural Centre in Panama has placed the advancement of women at the forefront of its activities. The most notable recent achievement of the Guaymi Cultural Centre has involved close cooperation with the government. The Ministry of Education chose the Guaymi Cultural Centre to be a seat for its literacy efforts. In the process of creating the literacy materials, the Baha'i teachers convinced the Ministry officials that empowering concepts based on spiritual principles of upliftment would be more durable than those based on food production, land ownership, etc. They are now in the process of re-working the entire programme.

If any assistance is given to national machinery for the advancement of women, please provide examples.

In 1989, national Baha'i communities reported increased activity in support of the advancement of women. Of the 151 national governing councils, more than 50 had appointed women's committees and over 100 reported activities targeting women. Some of these women's committees have contact with their governments; many work with like-minded organizations; and all raise awareness of the need for equal participation by women in every aspect of human endeavor.

How is assistance given to national NGOs?

The Baha'i International Community, as a network of extremely diverse national and local communities, is convinced that, although global priorities are established by the international governing council, plans for specific development projects must spring from the grass roots.

The Baha'i International Community United Nations office provides the national affiliates with regular information about United Nations activities that are consistent with Baha'i community priorities. Wherever appropriate, the Baha'i International Community facilitates relations between national affiliates and such UN agencies as UNICEF and WHO. National affiliates are also advised about possible sources of support for projects they have chosen to undertake.

How is contact made and maintained with grass roots organizations in developing countries?

The Baha'i International Community maintains contact with local affiliates through their national governing councils, providing where necessary Baha'i development consultants and facilitating contact with other NGOs and UN agencies. Communications take the form of general mailings; quarterly issues of the Baha'i International Community newsletter, One Country; the Baha'i International News Service; and direct communication through correspondence, phone, fax and e-mail.

Recent publications (studies etc.) with focus on women's issues:

In 1986, a compilation of the Baha'i Writings on the subject of women was prepared and subsequently published in many languages for global distribution.

In 1989, the Association for Baha'i Studies, by focusing its Annual International Conference on the theme of "Full Partnership Between Women and Men," stimulated research on women's issues in the light of Baha'i teachings. Tapes of many of the conference presentations are available. Some of the scholarly papers produced for the conference are being published in the quarterly Journal of Baha'i Studies or will be published as monographs.

Recent scholarship has also produced at least seven biographies of noted Baha'i women and a book of essays by women and men about their personal struggles with issues of sexual equality. Moreover, many national affiliates have produced books, compilations, studies and tapes on divorce, marriage, and family life to assist both men and women learn to cope with equality.

Recurrent publications (newsletters etc.) with focus on women's issues:

In 1989, 446 newsletters and magazines were published by Baha'i communities. Because sexual equality is a central issue in Baha'i community life, and because it is considered the responsibility of both men and women, women's issues are frequently addressed in these publications and have occasionally formed the focus for one issue.

One Country, the quarterly newsletter of the Baha'i International Community has focused international attention on the Faizi Institute in India; smokeless stoves in Kenya; women and development in the South Pacific; training primary health care workers (mostly women) in Chad; and a women's advocacy coalition of NGOs, UN agencies, and intergovernmental organizations called Advocates for African Food Security: Lessening the Burden on Women.

Rapport sur le statut de la femme dans la communauté baha'ie

Rapport sur le statut de la femme dans la communauté baha'ie

Vienna—1 May 1990

Domaine principal d'activités:

La Communauté internationale baha'ie, une Organisation non gouvernementale (ONG) ayant 151 organisations affiliées nationales et plus de 20'000 affiliées locales s'occupe de la promotion de la paix mondiale et favorise le développement spirituel, social et économique de ses communautés dans le monde entier. Les activités baha'ies sont animées par la conscience inébranlable de l'unité de la race humaine, un principe qui implique une transformation fondamentale de toutes les relations humaines, y compris les relations entre femmes et hommes. Selon les baha'is, le parachèvement de l'égalité des sexes est un des pré-requis les plus importants, mais aussi le moins reconnu, de la paix.

Description générale des activités concernant la condition de la femme et son amélioration:

Les baha'is considèrent que l'émancipation de la femme est un processus évolutif qui exige un certain temps pour se défaire des attitudes traditionnelles longtemps maintenues et adopter des modèles de vie unificateurs. Les communautés baha'ies à tous les niveaux -- local, national et international -- favorisent ce processus par des programmes et des activités contribuant à l'amélioration de la condition de la femme.

Les institutions baha'ies encouragent la participation des femmes dans tous les aspects de la vie communautaire, y compris la planification et la prise de décision dans le domaine du développement. Elles prônent l'égalité des chances pour l'éducation des filles et des garçons et soutiennent des projets de développement socio-économique dans le but de répondre aux besoins des femmes. De plus, elles instaurent l'égalité des sexes, aussi bien dans la communauté baha'ie que dans la société en général, grâce aux moyens de communications de masses et à un large éventail d'activités dont des conférences, des groupes de consultation de femmes, des séminaires et des ateliers.

La Communauté internationale baha'ie a pris pleinement part aux activités de la Décennie des Nations Unies pour la femme. Ses représentants assistent aux sessions de la Commission de l'amélioration de la condition de la femme et travaillent dans les Comités de la condition de la femme des ONG à New York, Genève et Vienne.

Activité actuelle dans ce domaine bénéficiant d'un statut prioritaire, but de cette activité, résultats obtenus à ce jour:

l. Participation sur pied d'égalité:

Du fait que la participation des femmes sur pied d'égalité dans tous les aspects de la vie communautaire est un but de toutes les institutions baha'ies, les communautés baha'ies, à tous les niveaux, s'engagent à augmenter le nombre de femmes nommées dans les conseils consultatifs et élues, dans les conseils directeurs, ainsi qu'à inclure toutes les femmes dans la consultation communautaire, qui est le processus général dans lequel est intégrée toute la communauté et par lequel les baha'is élaborent des plans et prennent des décisions. Les groupes de consultation pour les femmes, par exemple, sont instaurés dans le but d'éduquer les femmes et de les encourager à participer, sur pied d'égalité, avec les hommes dans l'établissement de communautés justes, où règne la paix.

Résultats: des statistiques récentes montrent une participation substantielle des femmes dans les organes administratifs baha'is. En 1988, 27% des personnes élues pour servir dans des conseils nationaux étaient des femmes. En 1989, 25% des membres des corps continentaux de conseillers et 29% de leurs corps auxiliaires étaient des femmes. Lors du Congrès mondial baha'i en 1988, les sessions plénières, dans lesquelles participaient des membres de plus de 140 Conseils nationaux baha'is, étaient présidées par des membres féminins des conseils consultatifs.

2. Cours d'alphabétisation:

Les cours d'alphabétisation pour les femmes et les filles, activité cruciale tenue pendant de nombreuses années dans les communautés baha'ies, ont été déclarés priorité universelle dans le plan de développement de six ans (1986-1992) de la Communauté internationale baha'ie. De plus, en 1989, l'organe directeur international baha'i a invité chaque conseil national et local à apporter son soutien à l'Année internationale de l'alphabétisation et à réaliser l'objectif d'éliminer l'analphabétisme de la communauté mondiale baha'ie. Le but des classes d'alphabétisation baha'ies, qui sont ouvertes à la communauté dans son ensemble, est de permettre aux femmes de développer et d'utiliser toutes leurs capacités, aussi bien dans leurs rôles traditionnels de mères et d'éducatrices des enfants que dans leurs nouveaux rôles de participantes à part entière dans l'amélioration des conditions de vie de leurs communautés et du monde.

2.1. Nouveaux projets:

De nouveaux projets d'alphabétisation pour les femmes, commencés au niveau local en réponse à l'Année internationale de l'alphabétisation, démontrent à quel point le processus de développement baha'i est dynamique. Premièrement, le conseil directeur international baha'i établit une priorité (Année internationale de l'alphabétisation) et lance un appel à prendre des mesures. Cet appel déclenche à son tour différentes initiatives nationales et locales, et ces initiatives sont alors soutenues et coordonnées, grâce à des ressources internationales et nationales. Au Cameroun, par exemple, huit baha'is se sont déclarés volontaires pour donner des cours d'alphabétisation et ont demandé au conseil directeur national baha'i de les aider à obtenir du matériel. Au Zimbabwe, plusieurs femmes baha'ies ont été formées, grâce à un programme gouvernemental, à donner des cours d'alphabétisation dans un institut permanent, parrainé par le conseil national baha'i. Au Malawi, six écoles fondées et dirigées par des conseils locaux baha'is sont supervisées par un Comité national baha'i des écoles privées et le Ministère des Services Communautaires du gouvernement, qui fournit aussi les manuels et organise régulièrement des cours de formation pour les professeurs. En Haïti, cinq centres d'éducation familiale gérés par des baha'is, centres qui suivent le programme de stimulation pour enfants de trois à cinq ans lancé par l'UNICEF, offrent maintenant des cours d'alphabétisation aux adultes, en majorité aux femmes qui accompagnent leurs enfants.

2.2. Projets en cours:

Des programmes d'alphabétisation baha'is pour les femmes et les filles intègrent l'alphabétisation dans la formation communautaire dans les domaines de la santé, de l'artisanat, de l'agriculture, et de la résolution des problèmes familiaux et communautaires aussi que dans l'acquisition des principes spirituels. Les résultats ont été gratifiants dans un certain nombre de pays, notamment le Kenya, l'Inde, le Zaïre et le Panama.

Résultats au Kenya: ces cinq dernières années, les baha'is du Kenya ont mené à bien des programmes qui invitent les femmes à prendre fait et cause pour la santé, l'agriculture, l'éthique et l'enseignement des tâches domestiques aux enfants. Au cours du processus d'apprentissage et d'enseignement de ces matières, les femmes elles-mêmes acquièrent les connaissances essentielles de la lecture et de l'écriture. Une série de manuels pour les mères, élaborée au Kenya pour ces programmes, a été distribuée aux communautés baha'ies intéressées du monde entier et est traduite actuellement en 26 langues.

Résultats en Inde: les femmes de l'Inde sont en train de surmonter à la fois le préjugé de caste et de leur condition traditionnellement inférieure grâce à des activités éducatives de leurs conseils baha'is locaux. Le "Faizi Vocational Institute for Rural Women" ("Institut de formation professionnelle Faizi pour les femmes rurales") à Indore et les programmes de large portée de la "New Era School" ("L'Ecole de la nouvelle ère") à Panchgani sont des exemples réussis d'approches faites par la population elle-même en matière d'éducation pour les femmes.

A l'Institut de formation professionnelle Faizi", les classes d'artisanat sont complétées par des cours d'alphabétisation et des discussions informelles quotidiennes qui développent l'expression, aiguisent le raisonnement et éveillent la conscience aussi bien face aux problèmes qu'aux solutions. Les élèves qui savent lire et écrire donnent des cours d'appui aux analphabètes, des informations sur la santé et l'hygiène s'ajoutent à des discussions sur l'éducation spirituelle et morale des enfants, et on présente des techniques utiles dans les villages, comme par exemple un four qui consomme peu de combustible et ne fait pas de fumée. Des membres masculins respectés de la communauté nationale baha'ie parlent avec les hommes de la communauté du principe de l'égalité sexuelle et enjoignent aux maris à être fiers des talents de leurs épouses.

"L'École supérieure de la Nouvelle ère" à Panchgani a commencé ses activités en 1984 avec 30 centres d'alphabétisation où venaient s'instruire 900 adultes, dont 750 femmes. Depuis lors, le programme s'est étendu à 100 centres dans 60 villages. Grâce à ces classes d'alphabétisation, de nombreux adultes apprennent les rudiments de la santé, la nutrition, l'hygiène et qu'il est important d'envoyer leurs enfants à l'école. Pour beaucoup d'étudiants, il en résulte des diminutions de dots pour les mariages, l'élimination de la consommation de boissons alcoolisées, l'adoption de nouvelles techniques agricoles, l'emploi de nouvelles variétés de semences et l'amélioration de leur situation sociale.

Résultats au Zaïre: le "Projet Bayanda" au Zaïre constitue l'un des efforts ayant remporté le plus de succès dans le domaine de l'alphabétisation que les baha'is aient mis sur pied jusqu'à ce jour. Les gens qui ont bénéficié de ce projet n'avaient eu que peu ou pas d'occasion d'aller à l'école. Néanmoins, depuis 1987, plus de 2500 étudiants ont terminé le cours d'alphabétisation, 70% d'entre eux étant des femmes et des jeunes filles. De plus, après avoir suivi les cours d'alphabétisation, 15 enfants de Bayanda ont été intégrés dans des classes de l'école publique locale où ils faisaient partie de 10% des meilleurs élèves.

Résultats au Panama: le Centre Culturel Guaymi au Panama a placé les activités en faveur de l'amélioration de la condition de la femme au premier plan. Le succès le plus remarquable du Centre Culturel Guaymi a été obtenu récemment en collaboration étroite avec le gouvernement. Le Ministère de l'Éducation a en effet choisi le Centre Culturel Guaymi comme siège de ses programmes d'alphabétisation. Au cours du processus de création des manuels d'alphabétisation, les professeurs baha'is ont convaincu les fonctionnaires du Ministère que, pour l'acquisition d'aptitudes, des concepts basés sur des principes d'élévation spirituelle seraient plus durables que ceux bases sur la production d'aliments, la propriété foncière, etc. Ils retravaillent maintenant tout le programme.

Au cas où un mécanisme national pour l'amélioration de la condition de la femme reçoit un certain soutien de votre organisation, veuillez citer des exemples.

En 1989, les communautés nationales baha'ies ont annoncé que les activités en faveur de l'amélioration de la condition de la femme étaient en augmentation. Parmi les 151 conseils nationaux, plus de 50 ont nommé des comités de femmes et plus de 100 ont rendu compte d'activités en faveur des femmes. Certains de ces comités de femmes ont des contacts avec leurs gouvernements, beaucoup d'entre eux travaillent avec des organisations à buts similaires et tous se sont donné pour tâche d'éveiller la conscience de la nécessité de la participation des femmes à égalité avec les hommes dans tous les domaines des activités humaines.

Sous quelle forme les ONG nationales reçoivent-elles de l'aide?

La Communauté internationale baha'ie, du fait qu'elle forme un réseau de communautés nationales et locales extrêmement diverses, est convaincue que, bien que les priorités mondiales soient fixées par le conseil directeur international, les plans en vue de projets de développement spécifiques doivent provenir de la base, des populations locales.

Le bureau de représentation auprès des Nations Unies de la Communauté internationale baha'ie, procure une information régulière aux organisations nationales affiliées  sur les activités des Nations Unies concernant les priorités des communautés baha'ies. Partout où il le faut, la Communauté internationale baha'ie facilite les relations entre les organisations nationales affiliées et des agences des Nations Unies telles que l'UNICEF et l'OMS. Les affiliées nationales reçoivent aussi des conseils sur les sources possibles de soutien aux projets qu'elles ont choisi d'entreprendre.

Comment les contacts sont-ils pris et gardés avec les organisations de base, dans les pays en voie de développement?

La Communauté internationale baha'ie garde les contacts avec les organisations affiliées locales en passant par leurs conseils directeurs nationaux, en envoyant des consultants en développement baha'is où c'est nécessaire et en facilitant les contacts avec les autres ONG et les agences des Nations Unies. Les communications se font par des lettres circulaires, la publication trimestrielle de la Communauté internationale baha'ie, One Country,  le Service de nouvelles internationales baha'ies, et directement par poste, téléphone, fax et courrier électronique.

Publications récentes (études, etc.) centrées sur les questions féminines:

Une compilation des écrits baha'is sur le thème de la femme a été préparée en 1986, puis publiée en de nombreuses langues pour être distribuée dans le monde entier.

En 1989, l'Association pour les études baha'ies a promu la recherche sur les questions féminines à la lumière des enseignements baha'is, en choisissant pour thème de sa Conférence internationale annuelle "La participation maximale des femmes à égalité avec les hommes". On peut obtenir des cassettes de nombreuses présentations faites pendant la conférence. Certaines des études scientifiques produites pour la conférence sont publiées dans le cahier trimestriel "Journal of Baha'i Studies" ou seront publiées sous forme de monographies.

De récentes bourses d'études ont également permis d'étudier au moins sept biographies de femmes baha'ies éminentes et un ouvrage regroupant des essais par des femmes et des hommes sur leurs luttes personnelles en matière d'égalité sexuelle. De plus, de nombreuses organisations affiliées nationales ont publié des livres, des compilations, des études et des cassettes sur le divorce, le mariage et la vie de famille, dans le but d'aider aussi bien les hommes que les femmes à apprendre à gérer l'égalité.

Publications régulières (bulletins, etc.) centrées sur les questions féminines:

En 1989, 446 bulletins et magazines ont été publiés par des communautés baha'ies. Du fait que l'égalité sexuelle est une question centrale dans la vie des communautés baha'ies et du fait que l'on considère que les questions féminines font partie des responsabilités des hommes aussi bien que des femmes, ces questions ont été fréquemment traitées dans ces publications et ont parfois fait l'objet d'un numéro complet.

One Country, le bulletin trimestriel de la Communauté internationale baha'ie, a attiré l'attention internationale sur l'Institut Faizi en Inde, les fours sans fumée au Kenya, les femmes et le développement dans le Pacifique Sud, la formation d'agents de santé primaires (en majorité des femmes) au Tchad, ainsi que sur une coalition d'ONG, d'agences des Nations Unies, et d'organisations intergouvernementales " Partisan de la sécurité alimentaire en Afrique: Alléger le fardeau des femmes."

The Education of Girls: Constraints and Policy Measures

The Education of Girls: Constraints and Policy Measures

Statement presented to a roundtable discussion at the United Nations World Conference on Education for All by the Year 2000.

Jomtien, Thailand—7 March 1990

In the Baha'i­ view, the purpose of life for individuals -- both male and female -- is to develop the powers and capacities latent within them, so that they may contribute their share to an ever-advancing civilization. The purpose of education is to catalyze and guide this process. Thus, education should lead to the discovery and perfection of one's capabilities and instill a commitment to serve the best interests of the community and the world as a whole. These two fundamental goals of education are inextricably linked because one unleashes and the other channels the power to transform the world.

The advancement of civilization now requires the full participation of everyone, including women. Women must, therefore, be educated, not only for the service they render to humanity as the first educators of children, but ultimately, for the special contributions women must make to the creation of a just world order, an order characterized by such compassion, vigor and scope has never been seen in history.

The mother is the primary source of the empowerment of the individual, without which social transformation and the advancement of civilization will be impossible. It is clear, then, that the station of the mother, increasingly denigrated in many societies, is in reality one of the greatest importance and highest merit.

Women and girls must be educated -- spiritually and intellectually -- because a mother cannot pass on what she does not have. A child needs a nurturing environment and wise guidance in the first years of life in order to develop sound character. Moreover, if the mother is unable, because of her own deficiencies, to provide the child with experiences which will equip her for later, formal schooling, she will find herself at a serious, often crippling, disadvantage. It must be stressed, however, that this dual responsibility of developing the child's character and stimulating his intellect, belongs also to the community as a whole, including the father, grandparents, and neighbors. Indeed, the extended family and a close community may provide the best environment for nurturing children.

As the sexes are equal in intellectual capacity and in potential to serve humanity, the curriculum for girls and boys should be identical. The Baha'i­ Faith sees the proper sphere of women's activity as including the arts and sciences, agriculture, commerce, industry and the affairs of state. There is no natural limit on women's ability. Such conflicts of interest as currently divide women against themselves, forcing them to make artificial choices between home and professional endeavors, are really only symptoms of a society organized according to purely material values. Such palliative measures as government-funded day care, while commendable as short term interventions, miss the heart of the issue, which is the pressing need for a fundamental rethinking and restructuring of human society.

Presently the world is caught in a cycle of miseducation wherein harmful character traits are passed from one generation to the next, retarding social progress. One source of this miseducation is the failure to respect women, even in the home. The denial of equality between the sexes perpetrates an injustice against one-half of the world's population and promotes in men harmful attitudes and habits that are carried from the family to the work place, to political life, and ultimately to international relations. When women are given equal educational opportunities, a great force for peace will be unleashed. For as women gain the respect and confidence attendant upon moving into new areas of activity, they will be better positioned to affect the culture of boys and men. The outcome will be diminished violence, both at the level of interpersonal relationships and at the structural level of state policies.

It would be a mistake to think that these goals are merely utopian conceptions, or idle speculation. The Baha'i­ community has documented development experiences in several countries which give substance to these otherwise theoretical assertions.

A commitment to educating girls is a natural result of accepting the larger vision of society offered by the Baha'i­ teachings. Baha'i­s are convinced that humanity is poised to achieve the long sought harmonization of the practical and spiritual requirements of life on earth. Far from being at the end of evolution, humanity is really only beginning its conscious embarkation on a guided evolutionary pathway that will enable us to secure the material needs for all people, provide them with the intellectual and emotional tools to meet life's challenges, throw off the age-old burden of warfare and militarization, and address the issues of social and economic advancement, public welfare, and the need to reverse the degradation of the environment. Clearly, a foundational component of such an enterprise is the imperative need to educate women into full partnership with men, providing them with a range of opportunities to express their newfound competencies that do not undermine their unique role as mothers -- the artisans of character and the builders of civilization.

Equality in Political Participation and Decision-Making

Equality in Political Participation and Decision-Making

Commission on the Status of Women Agenda Item 4, Priority themes: (a) Equality: Equality in political participation and decision-making

Vienna, Austria—27 February 1990

The Baha'i­ International Community welcomes the Secretary-General's report on "Equality in Political Participation and Decision-making" and wholeheartedly supports its recommendations. We agree that women must be fully involved at all levels of decision-making, not only because it is just, but because, in the Baha'i­ view, the full participation of women will hasten social and political progress and lead to the establishment of world peace.

The emancipation of women, the achievement of full equality between the sexes, is one of the most important, though less acknowledged prerequisites of peace. The denial of such equality perpetrates an injustice against one-half of the world's population and promotes in men harmful attitudes and habits that are carried from the family to the work place, to political life, and ultimately to international relations. There are no grounds, moral, practical, or biological, upon which such denial can be justified. Only as women are welcomed into full partnership in all fields of human endeavor will the moral and psychological climate be created in which international peace can emerge.

The goal of full participation by women is being pursued within Baha'i­ communities around the world in several ways: by teaching equality of the sexes as a fundamental spiritual principle; by advocating the education of women and girls; and by employing a decision-making process that welcomes women. Baha'i­s believe that true equity will be realized only when women are accorded full opportunity to develop their capacities and serve humanity. Indeed, where choices must be made, Baha'i­s are urged to give priority to the education of women and girls.

Gradually, as a result of these complementary efforts, Baha'i­ communities, large and small, are successfully integrating women into both family and community decision-making. Much of this success is due, we believe, to a unique approach to decision-making, elements of which might be of interest to the Commission in its own important efforts to promote participation of women. We are pleased to have this opportunity, therefore, to share our experience.

Decision-making in the Baha'i­ community is a collective consultative process, based on universal spiritual principles and conducted according to rules of cooperation, respect, and appreciation of diversity. Because it involves men and women as equals, consultation builds partnership. Anyone, for instance, who joins a Baha'i­ community, whether in a modern city or a remote village, has the opportunity to participate in community affairs. Both women and men are eligible to vote for and serve on the local governing council, and all members of the community, including youth and children, take part in community consultations. This sharing of views and ideas fosters the consultative process and feeds into the governing council's deliberations.

The Baha'i­ process of decision-making derives directly from the teachings of the Baha'i­ Faith. It aims at seeking the truth through a method that relies on an appreciation of the richness of human diversity and a desire for unity. Because it is based on universal spiritual principles, it is adaptable to any culture. Over 18,000 local Baha'i­ communities in 160 countries with members from over 2,000 ethnic backgrounds are now using consultation to guide their affairs.

Baha'i­s regard human diversity as an asset. In decision-making, for instance, a diverse group, drawing on the wisdom, knowledge, and experience of each person, can solve complex problems more effectively than any single individual. Indeed, Baha'i­ consultation seeks to exploit the richness of diversity to spark creativity in planning and problem-solving. By using diversity to meet shared goals, the consultative process itself engenders trust.

In appealing to that which is noble in people, the consultative process also fosters cooperation and the spirit of service, thus discouraging even subtle forms of intimidation. The goal of consultation is not to win, but to find the truth. Therefore, opinions are to be offered humbly, not as definitive and final, but as contributions to the collective effort. Participants are asked to consider carefully the views of others, not clinging to their own, and accept the best solution that emerges. The result is the release of creativity, and the maturation of individuals and the community.

To prepare for a time when legal discrimination against women is eliminated, and the social and economic support structures are erected which will allow women a voice in public policy, women must not only be given experience in consultation, so that they will be ready to step forward and speak their minds and hearts, but they must also be given education to develop the full range of their capacities. The Baha'i­ International Community, therefore, urges the Commission on the Status of Women to persevere in its efforts to keep before the policy-makers the need for education of women and girls. Without constant attention to this need during 1990, International Literacy Year, and the campaign about to be launched to provide Education for All by the Year 2000, we may find that the girls will continue to be deprived of education in favor of boys.

For its part, the Baha'i­ International Community assures the Commission that it will continue to promote the equality of women and men as an essential prerequisite for peace and social progress, working to ensure that women will be prepared to participate as full partners with men in the council chambers of the world and will become the greatest promoters of international peace and arbitration.

Advocates for African Food Security: Lessening the Burden for Women

Advocates for African Food Security: Lessening the Burden for Women

Joint statement to the 34th session of the Commission on the Status of Women Agenda Item 4: Priority themes: Development: Negative effects of the international economic situation on the improvement of women

Vienna, Austria—26 February 1990

The Baha'i International Community, Convenor of the "Advocates for African Food Security: Lessening the Burden for Women," welcomes the opportunity to address the 34th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women. The "Advocates" was formed following a UNIFEM (United Nations Fund for the Development of Women) initiated symposium on African women farmers held concurrently with the Special Session of the United Nations General Assembly in 1986 on the Critical Economic Situation in Africa. The Advocates objective is to stimulate action to maintain a global focus on the critical role of women in all the activities that countries feel are necessary for achieving full food security. Membership in the Advocates has expanded from the fourteen founding organizations to over thirty. It is a unique group in that it includes NGOs (non-governmental organizations), United Nations bodies, governments and intergovernmental organizations working together on an equal status basis. Activities focus on practical ways to lessen the burden of women in the areas of food, health, water and energy, in order to improve the quality of their lives generally and free their potential to produce crops, not only for their families, but for national food security.

At the Commission's 33rd session, the Advocates had urged the Commission to ensure that women and NGOs would be full participants in all aspects of the United Nations Conference on Popular Participation, held 12-16 February 1990, at Arusha, Tanzania under the auspices of the Economic Commission for Africa. We are pleased to report that the Planning Committee for the Conference included several women. The Committee acknowledged the importance of women's participation, inviting 25 women's organizations to be represented at the Conference.

The Advocates, one of the 25 organizations, were able, through the generous sponsorship of one of its members, to send Mrs. Alasebu Gebre Selassie from Ethiopia as its representative. The Advocates also assisted the work of the Preparatory Committee, by submitting the names of seventy-seven African women qualified to contribute substantively to the Conference. Several were selected to prepare papers for and/or make presentations at the meeting, including Dr. Miriam Were, UNICEF Director of Health and Nutrition for Ethiopia, who made the keynote speech at the Advocates' annual symposium at UN Headquarters in October, 1989. One of the Advocates representatives took part in a unique Marketplace of Ideas held during the Conference, presenting the Advocates as a model for promoting other important issues.

We note very warmly the historic initiative taken by the Preparatory Committee to have a Day Care Center at the Conference, staffed by two women and two men, and recommend that this action be viewed as a precedent for future meetings.

The Advocates take this opportunity to support the efforts of UNIFEM and other agencies pushing for a national and regional policy on food security. We urge the Commission on the Status of Women to promote the design of national food policies which will incorporate the contribution of African women farmers in the various steps of the food chain.

In preparation for the End-Term Review of UNPAAERD in 1991, the Advocates are planning to hold a round table dialogue on possible field level activities with knowledgeable people at the time of the forthcoming Special Session of the General Assembly on Economic Matters. Discussions are underway to have a joint consultation at the same time with the participants in the Women's Alternative Economic Summit.

We are pleased to report that over the past year, the network with women and NGOs in Africa has been strengthened. The Advocates now seek better ways and means to increase communication at local levels, to provide more opportunity to listen to the concerns and needs at field level so as to be better able to promote effective response at international and national levels.

We urge the Commission, therefore:

  • to support African women's perspectives in dialogues among UN agencies, governments and NGOs in the search for improved methods of popular participation in African recovery and food security.
  • to ensure active participation of women in policy formulation and provide appropriate channels for information exchange in all aspects of food security, including land tenure, water, energy, environment and health.
  • to encourage men to recognize and support the valuable contribution of African women farmers to food security and impress upon them that food security is the business of everyone in the community.
  • to urge UN agencies, governments and NGOs to recognize and utilize grassroots knowledge and traditional methods when introducing appropriate and new technology.
  • to urge governments to include the actual work done by African women farmers in statistical reporting for the GNP.
  • to assist the networking process by seeking the support of United Nations bodies and national governments in strengthening the role of the African Women's Development and Communications Network (FEMNET) in coordinating the flow of information among various African women's organizations concerned with women's development.
  • to identify, advocate and urge the incorporation of environmentally sound policy strategies which promote sustainable development in Africa.
  • to include the concerns of African women farmers in planning for the Fourth UN Development Decade.
  • to identify local African organizations working with and for women farmers and support their efforts.
  • to press elected representatives and policymakers to favor those programs that directly lessen the burdens of the African woman farmer.

Strategies for the Advancement of Women in Africa

Strategies for the Advancement of Women in Africa

Statement to the Fourth Regional Conference on the Integration of Women in Development and on the Implementation of the Arusha Strategies for the Advancement of Women in Africa Agenda Item 5: Implementation of the Arusha Strategies for the Advancement of Women in Africa Beyond the End of the United Nations Decade for Women: regional perspectives

Abuja, Nigeria—6 November 1989

The Baha'i­ International Community regards the emancipation of women as one of the most important, though less acknowledged, prerequisites of world peace. Consequently, for over a century, Baha'i­ communities have been making a steady contribution in fostering the principle of equality. In addition, since 1970, when it gained consultative status with ECOSOC (United Nations Economic and Social Council), the Baha'i­ International Community has welcomed and consistently supported the efforts of the United Nations to improve the status of women throughout the world, participating fully in the activities of the UN Decade for Women, including representation at the world conferences as well as the regional preparatory meetings, such as those held by the Economic Commission for Africa.

Baha'i­s have also initiated a wide range of activities in Africa to enhance the status, involvement and responsibility of women in development. They choose development goals that advance the entire community. Consequently, Baha'i­ development efforts most often focus on education, primary health care and hygiene, and improving food production. All of these areas require the full participation of women. Since Baha'i­s consider education essential for human progress, Baha'i­ communities without schools often establish schools for children and literacy programs for adults, particularly women. At the end of 1987, there were 139 tutorial schools, 4 formal schools, and 25 preschools in Baha'i­ communities in Africa. The education of girls is given the highest priority. In Kenya, a set of illustrated books to educate mothers has been developed and translated into French and Swahili for widespread use on the continent. The Baha'i­ commitment to education often benefits the larger community. In Swaziland, the National Baha'i­ Child Education Committee developed a successful training program for Baha'i­ preschool teachers. The program was adapted for nationwide use, and it is now being offered by the government under the administration of the Baha'i­ committee.

Health education benefits everyone. Baha'i­s in Zambia, Chad, Burkina Faso, Zimbabwe, Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda, Zaire, and Kenya have organized programs to train villagers to serve their communities as volunteer primary health educators, emphasizing child survival, growth and development, oral rehydration, immunization, diet, sanitation, water quality, and first aid. Most courses train 10 to 30 villagers at a time, with about a third being women. Most of the educators are recommended for the primary health training by the Baha'i­ council in each village. Often, the council appoints a health committee to assist the educator in her/his work. The Baha'i­ International Community is supporting these efforts by distributing to interested communities in Africa "Facts For Life,"the health education materials developed by WHO (World Health Organization), UNICEF (United Nations Children's Fund) and UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization).

Improving food production is a major concern of Baha'i­ communities in Africa. Women are urged in the Baha'i­ Writings to study "the industrial and agricultural sciences, seeking to assist mankind in that which is most needful." In many African nations, Baha'i­ women are taking the initiative to educate themselves and to work with other African women to improve their ability to provide for their families. Baha'i­ women of Zaire, including women of several Bayanda (Pygmy) tribes, have sponsored women's institutes for this purpose. In Cameroon, women are improving their skills at two regional women's centres. In Togo, regular conferences have brought women together for consultation on family, health and agricultural issues. In Kenya. at least 44 active local Baha'i­ women's groups and 6 regional women's committees have been involved in such projects as tree planting and water catchment.

Underlying all these activities in Africa are two main principles on which Baha'i­ social and economic development efforts rest, and from which Baha'i­ communities benefit directly: (a) Spiritual principles are the most beneficial and practical basis for community action, since a community's advancement ultimately depends on the pure motives and good deeds of its members. (b) Communities can unify and make fundamental changes in their social and economic conditions by practicing the art of consultation.

Applying the first principle means encouraging individuals to put into practice the ethical and moral teachings promulgated by religion. Thus, pure intentions, an attitude of loving service toward all people, and rectitude of conduct in dealing with others are important goals of Baha'i­ development. This is development in which every woman can participate, from which every family will benefit, and by which every community will be strengthened.

Applying the second principle means learning to work together by relying on the art of consultation. As practiced in Baha'i­ communities, consultation is a method of discussion whereby all members of a group are encouraged to give their views dispassionately and to listen to all other views in the same manner. Decisions are arrived at through unanimous or majority view. Often the result is something entirely new, grown from the seeds of the differing opinions. When, through this process, the group achieves unity of thought and purpose, the community is able to make fundamental changes in social and economic conditions. Because of its power to unite and develop communities, consultation is a valuable tool for promoting popular participation. In light of the forthcoming Conference on Popular Participation -- Putting People First -- to be held in Africa in 1990, we are pleased to share our experience in the use of this skill.

At the United Nations, the Baha'i­ International Community is presently serving as convenor for the Advocates for African Food Security: Lessening the Burden for Women. The Advocates is a unique umbrella organization of NGOs (non-governmental organizations), intergovernmental organizations, and UN agencies which formed in 1986 to aid in Africa's economic recovery and development. The Advocates seek to promote, particularly at national and international levels, greater awareness of the critical role played by women farmers in securing food for Africa and actions by governments and NGOs to support and assist them. The October 1989 Advocates Symposium, held at United Nations Headquarters in New York City and attended by over 200 people -- including many United Nations and government officials, addressed the issue of "Women's Participation: The Critical Element in Food Security."

The Baha'i­ International Community is convinced that broad participation combined with frank and open consultation are as useful internationally as they are locally. At the local level, the efforts of Baha'i­ communities to engage women and men, young and old, in loving and frank consultation about shared concerns could suggest a way to unify and empower African communities. At the international level, the initiative of the Advocates for African Food Security to link NGOs together with various sectors of the UN system on the basis of a shared concern could suggest a pattern of cooperation applicable to many issues. The Baha'i­ International Community and its Baha'i­ communities of Africa are committed to the full economic recovery and development of Africa. We welcome opportunities to work together in appropriate ways with other agencies to that end.

Women and Development

Women and Development

Statement to the thirty-third session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women Agenda Item 5, Priority themes: (b) Development: Women and education, eradication of illiteracy, employment, health and social services, including population issues and child care

Vienna, Austria—30 March 1989

In the last ten years, Baha'i International Community economic development projects on several continents have experienced success in areas of interest to this Commission: improving the material well-being of women, their families and their communities; winning the support of men for the principle of equality and the development of women; generating and sustaining grassroots participation; and educating women to a new sense of their own capacities and worth.

We would like to share briefly the principles and strategies that are proving effective in one such project, the Faizi Vocational Institute for Rural Women in India, in the hope that the experience of this project will assist the commission in its efforts to promote effective implementation of the Nairobi Forward-Looking Strategies and bring about lasting improvement in the situation of women.

The Faizi Vocational Institute for Rural Women promotes positive social change while teaching income-generating skills to women of the tribal areas of southwestern Madhya Pradesh state. Guided and supported by the national Baha'i council of India, and funded partially by the State of Madhya Pradesh and the Government of India, the Institute provides residential study followed by marketing assistance. At the institute, rural women can develop their intellectual capacities, strengthen their commitment to their families and communities, and learn useful crafts. Back in the village, follow-up support ensures that the benefits of the training are sustainable.

The basic concepts of education and social change that guide Baha'i development projects, the Faizi Institute included, are that the world is in transition to a more stable, cooperative, and mature condition; that development happens through both individual transformation and the creation of new social structures; and that participation and service, as expressions of the inherent nobility of human nature, constitute both goals and strategies for development.

The advancement of women is, in the Baha'i view, essential for social progress. The Faizi Institute, therefore, encourages women to develop the full range of their capacities -- economic, intellectual and moral. Women trainees are assisted to see themselves as equal in capacity to men, to discover their innate abilities, and to see new ways of contributing to the welfare of the community. As educated mothers, they also gain a new sense of the importance of their role in re-shaping tribal societies. This holistic approach to the education of rural women takes several forms.

Daily informal discussions among the women stimulate self-expression, sharpen thinking skills, and awaken an awareness of both problems and possibilities. These discussions may on one day address problems such as caste prejudice or alcoholism and on the next address the contributions women are making to world development, the establishment of peace, and scientific thought. Classes offer skills and information of benefit to the women and their families. Literate women trainees tutor the illiterate ones; health and hygiene information are included with discussions of the spiritual and moral education of children; and useful village technologies, such as a fuel-efficient, smokeless stove, are introduced.

In Baha'i communities, promoting the equality of the sexes is considered to be the task of both men and women, and one that can be achieved fully only if the goal is shared by everyone. Thus, one aspect of the Institute's programme is an effort to foster in male family members a desire for women's advancement. Baha'i institutions lend crucial support. Members of the national Baha'i council of India and other respected Baha'i consultants speak to the men of the village about the principle of equality, and they urge husbands to take pride in their wives' accomplishments. Moreover, they discuss with the men how they, as husbands and fathers, should vigorously defend women's rights, protect women's interests, and promote the development of women's capacities. Local Baha'i councils, composed of both women and men, also lend their support by helping select the trainees, monitoring the institute's programs, and offering suggestions for improvement.

Economic development and ethical development are viewed as complementary and highly integrated activities. Income-generating skills can best be learned and used in a context of human dignity and honor, of trustworthiness and mutual support; hence, these values are emphasized in the Institute's programme. The conscious integration of economic development with the promotion of civic values is especially critical in a crafts training programme, as economic ventures may be crippled by corruption or lack of trust. The Institute values the influence of personal morality and seeks consciously to cultivate it in both staff and trainees.

The director of the project is an impressive role model, especially since she, too, grew up in an Indian village. Having embraced the vision of a world of cooperation and equality, she set about bringing that vision to life. Her wisdom, determination and energy have been responsible for much of the success of the project. When the trainees see her example, they become aware of new possibilities within themselves. In the same way, the trainees, having gained a new sense of optimism and a consciousness of unity and human solidarity, become catalysts for change in their own villages.

Baha'is are convinced through faith and experience that spiritual principles are truly practical. By using consultation, the local council, the women trainees, and the staff work together to determine, often through trial and error, how to apply the relevant spiritual principles. Patience is indispensable. In the early days, the program faltered for lack of assistance in marketing. Consultation led to the addition of extensive follow-up with graduates in their villages. Now the Institute, often in conjunction with various private and state agencies, continues to assist the village women to acquire sewing and knitting machines, looms and other tools needed for their new activities; to secure contracts for production of finished products; and to receive raw materials for their work.

The consultative process itself promotes personal growth and collective solidarity. Women and men together learn to gather facts, to identify the relevant principles, to express ideas clearly, to listen respectfully to the opinions of others, and to arrive at a decision that everyone can support. Because this approach to consultation is at the core of any Baha'i project, the process is as important as the achievements; the changes in attitudes as important as the development of skills; the intellectual, spiritual and emotional growth of the trainees as important as the economic growth of the community.

Women Farmers and Food Security

Women Farmers and Food Security

Joint statement to the thirty-third session of the United Nations Commission on the Status Of Women, Agenda Item 5, Priority themes: Women and education, eradication of illiteracy, employment, health and social services, including population issues and child care. Submitted jointly by the following non-governmental organizations in consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC): Category I Organizations: International Alliance of Women - Equal Rights, Equal Responsibilities, International Council of Women, International Federation of Business and Professional Women, Soroptimist International; Category II Organizations: Baha'i International Community, International Federation for Home Economics, Pan Pacific and Southeast Asia Women's Association, World Union of Catholic Women's Organizations, Advocates for African Food Security: Lessening the Burden for Women

Vienna, Austria—29 March 1989

The Baha'i­ International Community, convenor of "Advocates for African Food Security: Lessening the Burden for Women" [see explanatory note at the end of the statement], a coalition of non-governmental organizations, is pleased to address the 33rd session of the Commission on the Status of Women regarding the influential role of women in guaranteeing African food security. The Advocates was formed following a UNIFEM initiated symposium on African woman farmers concurrent with the Special Session of the United Nations General Assembly in 1986 on the Critical Economic Situation in Africa. The Advocates' aim is to coordinate action to maintain a global focus on the role of women in activities necessary for countries to achieve full food security. Membership in the Advocates has expanded from the fourteen founder organizations to over thirty. The Advocates work on practical ways to lessen the burden of women in the areas of food, health, water and energy, in order to free their potential to produce crops, not only for their families, but for national food security.

At the Commission's 32nd session, the Advocates urged the Commission to take all possible steps to ensure that women's concerns would be taken into full account at the mid term review of the United Nations Programme of Action for African Economic Recovery and Development 1986-1990, and that the needs of African farm women be given the highest priority in the recommendations addressing the issue of food security in African recovery and development.

It is with pleasure that we note in the Final Statement of the Mid-Term Review a promising increase in awareness of the crucial contribution made by women to the establishment of food security. Para 47 states "The traditional role of women as producers of a significant proportion of food should be protected and strengthened when new agricultural production methods are introduced. More attention must be given to ensure that women have access to agricultural extension services, credit, land titles and, not least, new technologies." Para 52 refers to the role and contribution of women in the developing process as of crucial importance, and to the necessity for African countries to "allocate substantial resources to make it possible for women to participate more fully as active economic agents in development programmes, especially in rural areas."

It is of some encouragement to the Advocates that the efforts of concerned United Nations bodies, such as the Commission on the Status of Women, National Governments, and non-governmental organizations (NGOs), for example, those participating in the Advocates project, are having impact on the thought and actions of governments and peoples. There are hopeful indications that development policies may be becoming more responsive to the needs of women farmers.

The Baha'i­ International Community, therefore, on behalf of the Advocates, appeals to the Commission on the Status of Women to support activities that will ensure that the present momentum continues toward bettering the lives of farm women, and thereby enhancing their contribution to food security.

In particular, we urge the Commission members to:

  1. Ensure that women and NGOs are full participants in all aspects of the Conference on Popular Participation, which the United Nations, as an outcome of the Mid-Term Review, decided to hold in Africa in 1990. Assurance is needed that opportunity will be given for NGOs and individuals to make recommendations of people and organizations to receive invitations to attend.
  2. Seek support and assistance of United Nations bodies and national governments in strengthening the role of the African Women's Development and Communications Network (FEMNET) in coordinating the flow of information among various African women's organizations concerned with women's development.
  3. Provide opportunities to better prepare African women leaders of NGOs for more effective participation in development planning meetings in the area of food security.
  4. Support the strategy developed by participants from 11 African countries at the All African Women NGO Leaders Workshop sponsored by UNIFEM and the International Federation of Business and Professional Women in Accra, Ghana, in January, 1989.

Notes

The following organizations are founding members of the "Advocates": African-American Institute; Baha'i­ International Community; Church Women United; CODEL, Inc.; Committee of NGOs on the UN Decade for Women; Institute of Cultural Affairs; International Women's Tribune Center; Lutheran World Federation; Lutheran world Relief, Inc.; National Council of Women of the US; Oxfam-America; Save the Children Foundation; Trickle Up Program; World Council of Churches (CCIA). Serving the Advocates in an advisory capacity are staff of the Non-Governmental Liaison Service of the United Nations (NGLS); the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP); the United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM); the International Research and Training Institute for the Advancement of Women (INSTRAW); and the Organization of African Unity (OAU).

Participation of Women in the South Pacific

Participation of Women in the South Pacific

Statement to the 28th Conference of the South Pacific Commission

Raratonga, Cook Islands—10 October 1988

On behalf of the Baha'i­ International Community, I wish to thank the South Pacific Commission (SPC) most warmly for the invitation to attend its 28th Conference.

As an international non-governmental organization in consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council since 1970, and with UNICEF since 1976, the Baha'i­ International Community has been part of the expanding global process of NGO cooperation with the United Nations and with its Agencies. Our collaboration with the United Nations has proven to be mutually beneficial. And we feel this is true also of our relationship over the past several years with the South Pacific Commission, where our collaboration has, for example, taken the form of co-sponsorship of a health education programme and support for the youth programme, including sponsorship of resource people for youth workshops held in the Cook Islands at Aitutaki and in Niue Island.

Recently, this relationship was further strengthened through participation in the SPC's Fourth Regional Conference of Pacific Women, held in Suva, Fiji, 17-23 September. The Baha'i­ International Community's Governing Council, upon receiving information about the Conference from our Representative in the Pacific, deemed the Conference important to the work of promoting social and economic development of women in the region. It was agreed that Baha'i­ representation to the Conference should include as many Pacific Island communities as possible. Fourteen women from eleven island Baha'i­ communities attended the Conference - a number of them grass roots women, one from South Malaita in the Solomon Islands, for example.

The Fiji Government, which hosted the meeting, did an excellent job organizing the Conference, thus facilitating the discussions of the substantive issues. In addition to the recommendations that came out of the workshops, the Conference was worthwhile in providing opportunity for sharing valuable information, and for developing further the process of networking in the Pacific between governments and non-governmental organizations, in relation to women's activities.

A post-conference meeting was held in Suva for the Baha'i­ representatives. In-depth discussions were held on such topics as health, nutrition, youth activities, leadership training and networking with other NGOs. On the first day, Dr. Allan Phillips gave a workshop on learning disabilities to the representatives and to medical doctors, nurses and teachers in Suva. As a result of this workshop, Dr. Phillips has been invited to conduct a similar workshop at the Fiji Medical School.

Baha'i­ Representatives returned to their countries prepared to report to their communities all they had experienced at the Women's Conference, and to consult with their Governing Bodies about future activities.

The Baha'i­ International Community gave strong support to the Conference, drawing on its hard-won resources to sponsor the women representatives because it believes that the well-being of humanity, the realization of social and economic development and the establishment of world peace require the recognition of the equality of men and women as a spiritual principle, and the consequent participation of women with men in all fields of human endeavor.

Baha'i­ communities in the Pacific region, most of them at grass roots, are currently engaged in such a process of integrating women into all aspects of community life and decision-making. We would like to share from our own experience some of what we have found valuable.

  1. In Baha'i­ communities, both men and women, as an act of faith, are committed to implementing the principle of equality. Both are engaged in developing attitudes that are appropriate to equal status for women. Men, in fact, through membership in Baha'i­ communities, are learning from experience that when women become fully incorporated into the life of the community, everyone benefits.
  2. From the beginning of the Baha'i­ community, women have been involved in the electoral process of its institutions. The elected local councils which guide Baha'i­ community affairs have done a great deal to encourage the participation of women and nurture respect for diverse views. These grass roots organizations involve the community in identifying needs, devising plans, and carrying them out. Among their concerns are the education of children and the implementation of service projects that benefit the whole community. Baha'i­ women all over the world are increasingly being elected to these local councils, exercising the responsibilities of membership and thus gaining experience in decision-making.
  3. Regular participation of Baha'i­ men and women in the consultative process accustoms them to solving problems collaboratively. Consultation requires that each person offer his or her views freely to the group in the search for an answer that will provide for the well-being of the entire community. Once offered, however, these views no longer belong to the person, but are regarded as being the property of the group. The decision reached through this process is, likewise, accepted as the product of the group and not of any individual.
  4. One step in the direction of greater participation for women has been the formation of women's consultative groups. In these groups, women, who have often been isolated from one another, can share experiences, practice consultation, encourage each other and develop plans. This experience prepares them for service on local elected councils and encourages them to express their views. The groups also provide a place for literacy training, spiritual and intellectual growth, and for the dissemination of information on health, nutrition, child care and other practical information.
  5. Encouragement from the community is essential. Plans generated by these consultative groups are submitted to the elected council for consultation, approval and subsequent recommendation to the community for action. The development of a community spirit in support of their initiatives gives the women courage and creates the moral and psychological climate for dynamic and harmonious change, which is the goal of all Baha'i­ development projects.

The Baha'i­ International Community takes pleasure in offering these brief comments and suggestions towards a framework for the full integration of women into all aspects of development and society. We extend to SPC - as we have in the past - in the spirit of warm cooperation, the experience and assistance of Baha'i­ communities throughout the Pacific in achieving a better quality of life for the peoples in the region. We look forward to a continuance of the cooperative, productive relationship which we have had with SPC in many areas of mutual concern during the past several years.

La Integración de la Mujer en el Desarrollo Económico y Social de America Latina y el Caribe

La Integración de la Mujer en el Desarrollo Económico y Social de America Latina y el Caribe

TEMA 4 DEL PROGRAMA: Revisión y evaluación crítica de algunos aspectos de la condición de la mujer en la región, incluso su integración en el mercado laboral, mujeres jefes de familia y el papel de la mujer en el comercio en el Caribe.

Ciudad de Guatemala, Guatemala—27 September 1988

Ciudad de Guatemala, Guatemala
27­ al 30 De Septiembre de 1988

Como bien se sabe, la discriminación sistemática contra la mujer no sólo hizo de ella la víctima principal de una pobreza en expansión, sino también suscitó actitudes malsanas en el hombre. Por el hecho que a la mujer se le niega educación y capacitación técnica, que ella está restringida por la familia el trabajo y las estructuras sociales que favorecen al hombre y que a demás se la excluye del proceso de la toma de decisiones a todo nivel, ella frecuentemente tiene que trabajar en el sector no-formal de la economía como comerciante y vendedora ambulante de comida, sin protección de la legislación y sin beneficio de las mejoras generales de las condiciones laborales, mientras tanto, el hombre desarrolla actitudes de superioridad y hábitos de opresión que lleva de la familia al lugar de trabajo, a la vida política y, en última instancia, a las relaciones internacionales.

Estudios llevados a cabo durante la Década de las Naciones Unidas para la Mujer han mostrado, sin embargo, que la integración de la mujer en los proyectos de desarrollo ya existentes no mejora necesariamente sus condiciones de vida. Si los proyectos en sí no toman en cuenta las necesidades reales de la mujer, su participación no puede ser de mucha ayuda. Desde luego, las soluciones efectivas a problemas locales, puesto que requieren a menudo recursos de gobiernos y de agencies externas, tienen que ser generadas en consulta con aquellos a quienes se espera servir ­- hombres y mujeres. La mujer, por lo tanto, no tiene que ser incluida sólo como ejecutante y beneficiaria de los proyectos de desarrollo, sino también como autora y planificadora.

Como verdaderos asociados, la mujer y el hombre tendrían que identificar juntas las necesidades de la comunidad y responder creativamente con soluciones apropiadas. Un proceso de desarrollo social y económico promovería no sólo el bienestar material sino también el bienestar espiritual de la comunidad. Desde el punto de vista de la Comunidad Internacional Baha'i, la mujer puede contribuir a la solución de problemas con cualidades especiales, de valor particular en la planificación económica, e incluso con aquellas cualidades que incrementan sus capacidades de creadora de paz y con la sabiduría derivada de su conocimiento de asuntos sociales fundamentales como los domésticos y otros. Este enfoque humano de mayor integración tomaría, por supuesto, en consideración el papel crucial que desempeña la mujer como madre, educadora, nutricionista, promotora de salud y proveedora de apoyo emocional para toda la familia.

La importancia de la educación no se puede enfatizar demasiado. La educación de las mujeres de todas las edades es particularmente importante, porque es uno de los medios más eficientes de difundir el beneficio del conocimiento en todos los niveles de la sociedad, ya que la mujer es la primera educadora de los niños. Más aún, la educación eleva la condición de la mujer, permitiéndole participar más en los asuntos de la comunidad. Finalmente, el desarrollo de sus talentos y habilidades capacitará a la mujer para contribuir con su percepción y sensibilidad especiales a todas las esferas de actividades humanas.

La mejora de la condición de la mujer también requerirá un cambio de las actitudes del hombre. Este cambio de actitud tiene que ser una de las metas de la educación. Los niños y las niñas deben criarse con el principio de la igualdad de los sexos, y tienen que aprender desde muy jóvenes a desarrollar sus capacidades de cooperar. Los medios de comunicación pueden ayudar a promover actitudes de igualdad y presentar modelos de roles positivos tanto para el hombre como para la mujer. El teatro popular, los títeres y otras estrategias creativas pueden involucrar a la comunidad en foros abiertos en los cuales se examinarían y cambiarían aquellas actitudes que no promuevan la salud y el bienestar de la sociedad.

La Comunidad Internacional Baha'i cree que el bienestar de la humanidad, la realización del desarrollo social y económico y el establecimiento de la paz mundial requieren el reconocimiento de la igualdad del hombre y la mujer como un principio espiritual y, por consiguiente, de la participación de la mujer con el hombre en todas las esferas de actividades humanas. Miles de comunidades locales Baha'is en América Latina y el Caribe están involucrados en este proceso de integración del hombre y de la mujer en todos los aspectos de la vida comunitaria y en la toma de decisiones. Quisiéramos compartir con Ustedes algunos de los puntos de nuestra propia experiencia que nos parecen valiosos.

  1. En las comunidades Baha'is, tanto el hombre como la mujer, como acto de FE, están comprometidos en la implementación del principio de igualdad. Ambos se ocupan en desarrollar actitudes apropiadas a la condición de igualdad de la mujer. De hecho, el hombre, por su pertenencia a una comunidad Baha'i, está aprendiendo por experiencia que cuando la mujer está integrada del todo en la vida comunitaria, todos se benefician.
  2. Desde el inicio de la comunidad Baha'i, la mujer se involucró en el procedimiento electoral de las instituciones de dicha comunidad. Las asambleas locales elegidas que guían los asuntos de la comunidad Baha'i han contribuido mucho a fomentar la participación de la mujer y a nutrir el respeto por los diversos puntos de vista. Estas organizaciones de base involucran a la comunidad en la identificación de sus necesidades, en la elaboración de planes, y en la realización de los mismos. Entre sus inquietudes están la educación de los niños y la implementación de proyectos de servicio que benefician a toda la comunidad. En el mundo entero, se está eligiendo cada vez más a mujeres Baha'is en estas asambleas locales, de tal modo que ellas ejercen responsabilidades en calidad de miembros y ganan así experiencia en la toma de decisiones.
  3. La participación regular del hombre y la mujer Baha'is en el procedimiento de la consulta los acostumbra a solucionar problemas en colaboración. La consulta requiere que cada persona brinde sus puntos de vista libremente al grupo, en búsqueda de una respuesta que provea el bienestar de la comunidad en su conjunto. Sin embargo, una vez que estos puntos de vista se han dado, no pertenecen más a la persona quien los ha dado, sino que están considerados como propiedad del grupo. La decisión a la cual se llega por este procedimiento queda, asimismo, aceptada como el producto del grupo y no de algún individuo en particular.
  4. Un paso hacia una mayor participación de la mujer ha sido la formación de grupos consultivos de mujeres. En estos grupos, las mujeres, quienes estaban a menudo aisladas unas de otras, pueden compartir sus experiencias, practicar la consulta, darse ánimo y elaborar planes. Esta experiencia las prepara para el servicio en las asambleas locales elegidas y las anima a expresar sus puntos de vista. Estos grupos también constituyen un lugar para la alfabetización, el crecimiento espiritual e intelectual y para la difusión de informaciones sobre la salud, la nutrición, el cuidado de los niños y otras informaciones prácticas.
  5. El incentivo de la comunidad es esencial. Los planes ideados por estos grupos consultivos se someten a la asamblea elegida que va a consultar, aprobar y hacer recomendaciones subsecuentes a la comunidad que los va a llevar a cabo. El desarrollo del espíritu comunitario en apoyo a sus iniciativas, les da a las mujeres el coraje necesario y crea el ambiente moral y psicológico posibilitando un cambio dinámico y armonioso, lo cual es la meta de todo proyecto de desarrollo Baha'i.

La Comunidad Internacional Baha'i tiene el agrado de brindar estos breves comentarios y sugerencias a favor de un marco permitiendo la integración total de la mujer en todos los aspectos del desarrollo y de la sociedad. Estamos dispuestos a extenderle a la CEPALC, en el espíritu de cálida cooperación, la experiencia y asistencia de las comunidades Baha'is en toda América Latina y el Caribe para lograr una majar calidad de vida para los pueblos de dicha región.

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