"Concerned about a rising incidence
of environmental calamities around the world," Abzug came together with an
international group of activists to form WEDO in 1990. That year she was
shocked to find that documents for the upcoming United Nations "Earth
Summit" made no connection
|
source |
film clip (hi rate) |
film clip (low rate)
|
between
protecting the
planet and empowering women. In response, WEDO created the first World
Women's Congress for a Healthy Planet where, in 1991, 1,500 women from 83
developed and developing countries met to create their own agenda. WEDO
then organized a strong caucus of women advocates at the Earth Summit
itself, successfully ensuring that the official documents included key
segments of the women’s agenda.
Demanding that the UN no longer function without "a
strong voice
for women," WEDO then began organizing the Women’s Caucus and
preparing documents for every UN meeting. And while WEDO continued to push
for commitments on paper, it also vigilantly monitored governments on their
actions. As Abzug often said, "We’ve had a lot of words on equality.
Now we want the music, which is action." From the
Beijing World
Conference on Women to co-sponsoring the
First World
Conference on Breast Cancer, WEDO, with Bella’s leadership, became
a powerful international network, working on both global and grassroots
levels to empower women.
|
