INLW is an association of women from countries world-wide who support the principles of liberalism.
Membership is open to all liberal groups, parties and organisations, as well as individual persons, who support INLW aims.
The activities of INLW are inspired also on the principles of the United Nations Charter and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. INLW performs these principles which are the basis of the Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination against women (CEDAW).
It has just been announced that
INLW Deputy President Hakima El Haiti is to be Minister of Environment in the Government of the Kingdom of Marocco.
She is the first ever woman to be Minister of her party Mouvement Populaire. International Network of Liberal Women (INLW) is very proud to have her in the management board of INLW.
“This iis a very important achievement for you, Hakima and for Morocco and for women in general.” said Secretary General Marissa Florensa. She continues “A woman like you in this important post, with your knowledge and experience, will be a paradigm that will encourage other women to work hard in order to obtain their position in the modern society and specifically with posts like this one, in which it is possible to work in favour of women, families and society in general.”
Congratulations Hakima, All the Board of INLW, think you will be succesful in this important post and we wish you all the best therein!
INLW dinner discussion-evening on “Women’s Role and Security” was a great succes!
On Monday 16 September at 6.30 p.m. the International Network of Liberal Women (INLW) organised for the first time in the Netherlands a meeting in the Hague et the Carlton Ambassador Hotel , Sophialaan 2, The Hague. The subject to be discussed was:
“Women’s Role in Peace and Security”
After a welcome drink, where the guests who came from all over the Netherlands could meet each other, one was invited to take a seat at one of the dinner tables.
Margaret de Vos van Steenwijk, President of INLW, thanked those present for taking the trouble to travel quite far to attend this evening.
She welcomed the various speakers and introduced Mrs. Elisabeth van der Steenhoven, Director of the Gender platform WO=MEN based in the Netherlands, who was to give a comprehensive power point introduction to the topic. She explained the role a country can play, like in the case of the Netherlands, to execute UN Security Council Resolution 1325, on women, peace and security, which was adopted on October 31st 2000. This resolution recognizes that women have an active role to play in conflict prevention, management and resolution of armed conflicts and calls on international peace organisations to involve women fully in conflict resolution, peacekeeping and peace-building. UNSC 1325 also recognizes the existence of specific violence directed against women and girls in armed conflict and its implications for sustainable peace and development. She explained that in the Netherlands all relevant actors, like relevant Ministries, official entities as the police force and NGO’s have signed the National Action Plan, which gives the basis for policy and action on this topic.
The following speakers took up the subject from there.
Ingrid De Caluwe: Dutch MP, VVD, portfolio holder of international cooperation, among others stressed that the Dutch government should keep giving a good example and accomplish all the promises set in the National Action Plan; With other parties in Parliament she will keep an eye on the government so that they keep to their word.
Hans van Baalen: Chairman of the VVD Delegation in the EU Parliament and President of Liberal International, put the subject in the International prospective. He stressed that he himself had also learnt in the years in the different arena’s in which he has worked that policy making is done better by mixed teams of women and men. He thanked INLW for being one those helping him to realise this in the past.
Air commodore Theo Ten Haaf: Deputy Director of Operations at the Ministry of Defence in the Netherlands, presented the Dutch perspective on gender in peace and security operations. In their view women are still under-represented in peace negotiations, mediation and conflict resolution worldwide. Women’s participation in peace building processes is vital in bringing stability and peace for the entire population: men, women, boys and girls. We need female personnel in our mission areas and we need local women around the table. This is essential in achieving our goals, he went on to say; one needs a male’s and a female’s perspective while operating and trying to find the best solutions.
In the 3-D policy in operations: Diplomacy, Defence and Development the Netherlands see women as agents of peace, reconciliation, economic growth and stability. The Netherlands are fully aware of the content, the meaning and the importance of the UNSCR 1325 and have implemented gender into operations from operational staff down to unit level. Gender is embedded during pre-deployment training, in mission planning & execution, in re-deployment and in evaluation.
To the question asked: Has gender made operations effective? The answer is unambiguous: yes! Putting a gender perspective in operations leads to better and more balanced decisions, increases the credibility and acceptance of the operations, increases awareness by the troops and enhances a better protection. Gender in operation? It has very little to do with equal opportunity. The role of women in peace and security operations is part of the core business!
Makes police more approachable; Improves the information position;Improves de-escalation in conflict situation;Decreases violence and discrimination against women. Helps establish role models; gives women uniforms.
Women were trained as officers with high potential as well as in lower ranks. They were able to establish positions for women in the organisational plan.As a result network meetings are held aiming at promoting women in leadership roles during periods of conflict and reconstruction.
The various speakers after dinner reacted on each others input and the attendees developed a good discussion with the speakers.
INLW received many enthusiastic reactions after this dinner: Wonderful speakers and a very interesting and important topic, discussed in a nice setting in a great format. To be repeated!
A delegation of the INLW Board, consisting of Margaret de Vos van Steenwijk, Khadija El Morabit, Soesila Verhagen and Christine de Saint Genois, participated at the Executive Committee Meeting of Liberal International which was held from Friday 12th of April till Sunday 14th of April 2013 in Hotel Phoenicia in Beirut, Lebanon.
The theme of the conference was:
“Liberalism” and “traditional values”: Defining a winning liberal agenda in today’s changed world
-On the Sunday morning the 14th at 10 am till 12 am INLW took part in the Dahrendorf Round Table organized by the European Liberal Forum and INLW. The Session title was
” All on Board-Promoting Women in Private Enterprise”.
-At 12pm till 2 pm INLW organized a Round Table Discussion on:
“WOMEN’S VOICES FROM LEBANON ND THE MENA REGION:
Actual Situation and Challenges that Women Face and Steps to be Taken.”
CSW57 COMMISSION ON THE STATUS OF WOMEN (UNITED NATIONS-ECOSOC) from 4th till 15th of March 2013
INLW was represented with a delegation at the 57th CSW. THe theme of this CSW was “Preventing and Eliminating all forms of violence against Women and Girls.
Congress Theme: Promoting Private Investment – Enhancing Social Responsability
During the Liberal International Congress in Abidjan INLW held its General Meeting, where new Board members were chosen and installed.
In conjunction with the 57th Liberal International Congress which was held in Manila from June 16th till June 20th 2011 INLW held its General Meeting and Management Board Meeting at the Peninsula Hotel. A Round Table was organized together with the CALD Women’s CAUCUS on the theme of “Free and Fair Trade and Women’s Human Rights”. This joint roundtable table discussed “Benefits of free and fair trade for women”, “Women’s human rights: the externalities of free and fair trade”, “Policies for women: national, regional and global responses”. Continue reading
The International Network of Liberal Women, shares this part of the new publication of United Nations about the International Women’s Day:
“Recognizing the critical role and contribution of rural women, the theme of International Women’s Day 2012 is Empower Rural Women – End Hunger and Poverty.
Human rights defenders acting against discrimination, often at great personal risk to both themselves and their families, are being recognized and acclaimed on this day.
Human rights defenders speak out against abuse and violations including discrimination, exclusion, oppression and violence. They advocate justice and seek to protect the victims of human rights violations. They demand accountability for perpetrators and transparency in government action. In so doing, they are often putting at risk their own safety, and that of their families. Continue reading