Progress for all celebrated on International Women's Day

“Equality for women is progress for all” was this year’s theme for International Women’s Day (IWD), a sentiment launched by the United Nations and embraced wholeheartedly by our Cooperation Circles (CCs) around the world. But even before IWD began on March 8^th, URI women’s rights leaders began uniting in the spirit of the day, eager to learn about each other’s inspiring work

In late February, Elana Rozenman of Israel-based TRUST WIN CC (Women’s Interfaith Network) joined Qutub Jahan Kidwai, URI Asia West Zone coordinator, in the rural Indian town of Shirwall, near Pune. 

Qutub introduced Elana to a women’s empowerment program she was leading for lower caste, rural Indian women that helped them get out of their homes and gain tools to improve their lives. There, women were able to receive free legal council to know their rights, also learning valuable skills to advance themselves in the work force.  

The two women later led a group to the home and museum of Savitribai Phule, a progressive female activist who championed women’s rights in India under British rule. In 1848, she founded the first school for girls in Pune, becoming the first female teacher in India. 

“It's wonderful to see how Qutub and URI are carrying on this tradition,” Elana said upon reflecting on her trip.

URI India: speaking up for women's rights

A few weeks later, Qutub was busy in Mumbai for a day of powerful panel discussions organized by Beyond Sarhad CC, Nirmala Asharam and the Jesuit Network of India—the first time the Jesuit community in India had ever celebrated IWD.

In Mumbai, roughly 900 women including local theologians, female medical practitioners, and lawyers took part in a public forum on women’s rights. As a Muslim Islamic researcher, Qutub explained her role as a woman in peace building. 

“URI's Women’s Initiative has been one of the most important tools in developing interreligious leadership roles for women on a grassroots level,” she said.

The CCs Gulshan Foundation and Ekta Sangathan organized events as well in Satara and Gujarat, respectively. In Satara, 250 women were in attendance for a panel discussion on women’s rights that included few lawyers and female government officials.

Dalit Hindu and Dalit Muslim women participated in Rangoli competitions, or floor decorations made with colored rice, flour, sand, and flower petals, with the theme “Women they want to be.” 

The panel emphasized women’s roles in nation building through peace and communal harmony work. The message of the speakers was clear: women can be a powerful force in interreligious unity in many ways. An example given was the role of women as mothers in promoting values to the children of the world. Youth can then become agents of change as they embrace those values and create unity despite diversity.

URI Pakistan: empowerment through unity

In Lahore, Pakistan, regional coordinator Sabina Rifat gathered together nearly 200 participants on International Women’s Day. The event was held at Peace Center, a community space where her Women’s and Kids’ Education (WAKE) CC has spent many joyous gatherings in the past.

Miss Zoyia Maria, the secretary of Peace Center, welcomed all the guests and launched the day’s events with Muslim, Christian, and Hindu prayers.

Highlights of the day included staged tableaus by children meant to encourage women to be strong; speakers sharing stories of their improved quality of life thanks to vocational trainings (many held by WAKE); and tailored clothing made through these trainings on display. Girls from Youhanabad also gave a dance performance, and garlands of roses were presented to every woman in the program as a symbol of the love and joy of being female. 

Women from all walks of life participated that day: educated and illiterate, rich and poor, young and old, working and domestic; with Muslim, Christian, and Hindu faiths represented. The CCs ABC4ALL, Global Mission Awareness, and Youth and Peace were also in attendance.

URI Africa: sharing stories and partnering to be stronger

URI Great Lakes region held a powerful day of speaking and testimonials with the help of regional coordinator Despina Namwembe and the Twekolere Women’s Development Association CC.

In Kampala, Uganda, the dialogue event was held with more than 50 attendees under the theme “Inspired by my faith for positive social change.” There, women were given a safe space to discuss gender issues such as workplace discrimination, domestic abuse, and the lack of rights allowing them to own property.

As Despina points out, however, there was also a lot of laughter involved as women shared their triumphs and successes: “Women could make jokes out of a particularly sad story while laughing at their own naivety,” she said.   

Religious leaders, women’s rights activists, university students, civil society members, and other community members were in attendance, representing Hare Krishna, Muslim, Bahai, Orthodox, Anglican, Catholic, Pentecostal, and Jewish practitioners.

Among the speakers was Hon. Lucy Ajok, a member of Uganda’s parliament from Lira, and Rev. Canon Hellen Oneka, one of the first female clergy members in Uganda. Both women shared stories of how they were discriminated against while working for women’s equality in their own districts.

One attendee, Hadija Nalunga, teared up as she admitted it was her first time joining a women’s meeting: “Thank you URI for inviting me and giving me the chance to hear from other women,” she said. 

At another International Women’s Day event, also in Uganda, Faiths Together CC leader Micheal Buyondo helped organize Faiths Together’s Women Network Committee (WNC) event in the Mukono District, with the theme “In partnership with men and boys for empowerment of women and girls.”

The celebrations began in the morning with a prayer by Rev Bakaluba Mukasa, a member of Mukono’s parliament. A charity walk from Seta Church of Uganda to the villages of Namilyango, Bajjo, Bugoba and Bukerere then began with Police Captain Olivia Mirambuki commanding the police parade.

The girls of Faiths Together Uganda cultural troupe later performed a drum piece and other cultural dances to inspire other young girls. This performance was particularly moving, as Ugandan men and boys usually played the drums used.

Meanwhile in Nigeria, Interfaith Women Council in Kaduna held a day of Interfaith Solidarity Prayers. URI Global Council Trustee Elisha Buba Yero joined the wives of the Executive Governor of Nigeria, as well as the wife of the Deputy Governor, in addition to top government women and politicians. All participants joined together to pray for peace in the world, for victims of violence in Nigeria, for good governance, for the young people of Nigeria, and for a change of heart for all who are planning evil.

URI Europe: Uniting men and women to speak about gender

On March 7, 2014 representatives of two NGOs of Novosibirsk, Russia, including four people from our Euro-Asia URI CC, came together to celebrate International Women’s Day. The celebration began with tea and later included short discussions on the subject of “The role of women in society.”

Dmitry Oficerov (Coordinator of the United Peace Federation, Siberian branch) was the first to speak. He gave his analysis of the modern gender situation with some data from the UN and ended with “the way to solve problems is better gender relations.” He sees it as a way of appreciating eternal values: spiritual, cultural, and familial.

Galina Ermolina (coordinator of Euro-Asia URI CC) later spoke, focusing on the leading role of women in spiritual life and society. “The equality in the relations of Yin-Yang should become the key point of our future as humanity,” she said. Galina showed a slide program using the pictures of the famous Russian painter and Peacemaker, Nikolai Roerich.

Later, everyone listened to poetry and music. The day ended when everyone prayed for Peace in the Ukraine and expressed a wish that the women of Ukraine would try to do the best in calming the current political situation.

URI in the Americas: celebrating diversity, honoring traditions

URI Latin America and the Carribean's Qewña CC, based in Jujuy, Argentina, celebrated IWD with music and dance performances from local indigenous women. Nearly 80 people gathered to enjoy a traditional breakfast of buñuelos. A highlight of the event was a group of blind folk singers named los Ojos del Alma (Eyes of the Soul). 

In the United States, URI at the United Nations ambassador, Monica Willard, organized a workshop on the spiritual empowerment of women and girls during the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) events at UN headquarters.

Rev Dr Chung Ok Lee from Won Buddhism opened the event with a prayer. Consolee Nishimwe shared her story of how faith saved her during the Rwanda genocide, and Sande Hart shared the mission of The Compassion Games. URI at the UN representative Rev Deborah Moldow lead a flag ceremony to close the event. 

URI in the Middle East and North Africa: sharing skills, learning from history

In Jordan, the MENA Women's Initiative celebrated the International Women's Day with the Holy Land Institute for the Deaf in Salt (near Amman) by conducting a cooking session for deaf girls, continuing the ongoing program "The Interfaith Kitchen.”

The Interfaith Kitchen began last fall as part of URI MENA’s International Day of Peace celebrations. MENA Women’s Initiative coordinator Nour Nahleh has led the group of 14-20 year-old young women in order to empower them through cooking and business skills.  

Each program consists of different cuisines and chefs from different nationalities such including: Jordanian Muslim, Jordanian Christian, Palestinian, Syriac Orthodox, Armenian, Circassian, and Syrian Lebanese. Each female chef teaches the girls a famous dish from her country.

Back in her home country of Israel, Elana Rozenman took part in a moving celebration for Israeli and Palestinian women in Jerusalem. The event included a screening of Women of Cyprus with the film’s director, Vasiliki Katrivanou, a member of the Greek Parliament.  

The was film about Turkish and Greek women from opposite sides of the tragic Cyprus conflict, who have been haunted by violent upheavals and forced displacement and now work together to promote reconciliation. A panel of Israeli and Palestinian women discussed the film and it's relevance to their current situation.  

In the evening, Muslim, Christian, and Jewish Palestinians and Israelis gathered with Vasiliki for a Shabbat dinner to welcome and honor the female spirit.  

The Muslims and Christians had never attended a Shabbat meal before and appreciated the inclusive spiritual energy of the meal and discussion. 

Co-sponsors and speakers were TRUST WIN, Parents Circle-Families Forum, Itach Maaki-Women Lawyers for Social Justice, and HeartPath Women: Jerusalem Peacemakers. 


URI Executive Director Victor Kazanjian, in a letter of support for International Women's Day, said:

"This year’s theme is 'Equality for women is progress for all,' and it rings ever true in the year-round activities of our Cooperation Circles committed to addressing women’s issues.  This theme resonates within the hearts of the women we are proud to call members of the URI family."