Eurasian and Asian Women Civil Society Leaders Learn Advocacy Skills

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 12, 2007

Washington, D.C. - The International Republican Institute’s (IRI) Women’s Democracy Network (WDN) conducted advocacy training for women civil society leaders from Bangladesh, Cambodia, East Timor, Indonesia, Kyrgyz Republic, Malaysia, Moldova and Ukraine in Jakarta, Indonesia from August 28-31, 2007. The seminar provided training and networking opportunities to both women nongovernmental organization leaders and aspiring leaders. For many participants, this was the first opportunity to engage with their counterparts from a different part of the world and discuss issues that transcend regional boundaries.

Deb Sofield from Greenville, South Carolina, served as trainer for the advocacy skills workshops. In addition to her private business as an executive speech coach, Sofield was able to convey lessons learned from her work as an elected official on the Greenville City Council. During the two-day seminar, Sofield conducted training sessions on how to more effectively lobby government officials and project planning. As part of the project planning session, working groups drafted sample advocacy project, which they then presented in a mock City Council setting.

Dr. Siti Musdah Mulia, recipient of the U. S. State Department’s 2007 Woman of Courage award, spoke to participants about her efforts to promote, defend and restore women’s rights from the perspective of religion through a renovation of Islamic laws, including the marriage law. Dr Siti had proposed a number of changes in the law to ensure, among other things, equality in the positions of husband and wife, prohibition of child marriages, unofficial marriages, polygamy and the registration of all marriages. "I only wanted to see the restoration of the humanistic and women-friendly principles of Islam," she said.

The Women's Democracy Network is an initiative established by IRI to foster relationships among women leaders from around the world, and to provide them with opportunities to share experiences and develop the skills needed for professional advancement. The network encourages and supports women working to advance civic and economic participation in their countries and to create regional networks to strengthen their development.