IRI Trains Women on Importance of Political Participation

January 28, 2005

In December, IRI and the Chinese nongovernmental organization (NGO), Rural Women Knowing All (RWKA), held a training seminar for 21 Chinese women who were recipients of the Women’s World Summit Foundation’s (WWSF) awards for outstanding creativity in rural life. WWSF is a humanitarian non-governmental organization that serves to empower women, children and other NGOs. The Chinese laureates were honored for their leadership potential and their accomplishments in contributing to the improvement of life in their communities under adverse conditions.

The December training conducted by IRI and RWKA was designed to encourage these Chinese laureates to learn the importance of political participation and means of involvement in local politics. The training included lively discussions on the need to accelerate democratic reforms in rural China, and the need for autonomous rural organizations that can truly represent the interests of their members.

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