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Mission impossible: solving the problems of sustainable development... without women... Representing almost half of the world's population, women have a voice when it comes to making decisions. They play a major role in many sectors of society. Sustainable development is not achievable without the active involvment of women. They continue to be the instigators for change but we must listen to them, let them speak and fund their endeavours. In 1976, the United Nations declared it the decade for women. By letting women have their say, a step forward had been taken. Since then, women continued to play an important role with respect to the environment and development. In 1992, at the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro, women succeeded in having a chapter dedicated to women and sustainable development in the final agreement, Action 21. At the International Conference on Human Rights in 1993 and the International Conference on Population and Development in 1994 at the Global Summit for Social Development and also at the fourth International UN Conference for Women in 1995, women have delat with environmental, population, human rights, poverty and gender issues. This active involvement allowed women to see to it that their needs were taken in consideration. However, women in decision-making positions are still rare. In order for them to take part in decisions, a critical mass still needs to be achieved. Besides their small influence in decision-making, women must also deal with financing issues. Development projects that deal with environment and women are not easily financed. In Canada, the politics of funding has changed considerably. In the past, organizations would receive money directly to finance their activities. Today the money is given project by project. According to Catherine Boldt, director of the International Research Institute on Women "associations and organisations are in competition with one another in regards to who will receive funds for the best project. We are not working together for the same cause, it's a bit ridiculous." For organisations who are not linked to university systems, financing is hard to find. Other financing resources are necessary. Creating a joint account for all women associations could be an idea. "This would allow us to have more money for more disturbing issues like abortion. Now it's very difficult because nobody wants to be associated with those kinds of issues" says Mrs Boldt. The Samuel Rubin Foundation, run by Mrs Cara Weiss, 62, found a way to help people. The funds of the Foundation come from profits made by a private company. Mrs Weiss uses this money to finance different projects. In 1995, she gave the money to young women so that they could go to the Beijing Conference. For her, it's important to allow young people to participate in events like that. It's a social responsability and countries of the North should do the same things in regards to countries of the South; take responsibility once and for all. It's hard for women to obtain money and it's even harder when you're a young woman. You need to "take initiative, be very persuasive and creative. We have to have confidence and persevere. Women have a lot to say." In the future, it will be the turn of today's young women to carry the torch. There is still much to do but the mission is possible. The International Women's Tribune Centre has a web site for more information : |
