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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).
This year LI chose to go to South America to hold their congress. They were delighted afterwards that it was a successful 64th Congress, held in Santiago, Chile. This historic congress, LI’s first-ever in South America, brought together over 200 dedicated leaders and delegates representing 50 member parties from across the globe, united by the mission to champion liberty, democracy, and justice. As economic uncertainties grow and political polarization deepens, the world looks to responsible, progressive leadership to foster open societies, protect human rights, and ensure prosperity through fair governance.
Our board members who were present Judith Pallares, Josephine Wu Vuylsteke and Lysbeth van Valkenburg-Lely had the honor of attending this Liberal International 64th Congress from November 29 – December 1, under the inspiring theme of “Uniting Liberals to Reunite Democracies”. This event brought together influential leaders and advocates from around the world to discuss the future of democracy and the role of liberal values in shaping a more inclusive and equitable political landscape.
Continue reading(Version in English below)
Chers Famille, Amis, Collègues de “Mère Kaba Fofana” et Communauté libérale de Côte d’Ivoire,
C’est avec une profonde tristesse que nous faisons nos adieux à notre chère amie, notre collègue estimée et bien-aimée Madame Kaba Yaya Fofana Fanta. Sa disparition laisse un vide immense qui sera ressenti par tous ceux et celles qui ont eu la chance de la connaître et qui ont été touchés par son engagement indéfectible en faveur des droits des femmes et de l’inclusion. En ces moments difficiles nous, le Bureau Exécutif du Réseau International des Femmes Libérales (INLW), vous adressons nos sincères condoléances et partageons votre peine.
Madame Kaba Yaya Fofana Fanta n’était pas seulement une militante distinguée, elle était une figure emblématique dans le domaine des droits des femmes et de plaidoyer pour les valeurs libérales. Son engagement indéfectible pour la promotion et les droits des femmes et des filles a été un phare d’espoir pour beaucoup, et son courage remarquable et son dévouement ont laissé une empreinte indélébile tant sur la scène nationale qu’internationale. Pendant des années, son leadership en tant que Vice-Présidente du Réseau International des Femmes Libérales (INLW) a été marqué par ses discours passionnés et son détermination inflexible pour la justice et l’égalité, que ce soit lors des événements de la CSW- la Commission de la Condition de la Femme à l’ONU à New York ou lors des réunions et événements du Liberal International en Afrique en Côte d’Ivoire et au Sénégal ou dans d’autres pays du monde. Même lorsqu’elle a quitté la vice-présidence pour siéger en tant que membre sage de la Commission Consultative de l’INLW, son influence est restée profonde.
The 67th session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW67) was held from March 6-17 2023 at the United Nations headquarters in New York City.
There were several members present during the CSW.
At the end of the first week we also held our postponed General Meeting. At this meeting our vice-president Maysing Yang ended her board membership and was appointed in our Consultative Committee.
The International Network of Liberal Women INLW joins the important message for women’s rights in Shadow Report 2.0 (link) to the CEDAW Committee. The large number of signatures from non-governmental organizations underscores the significance of reporting. There is still much work to be done before gender equality in the Netherlands is achieved. Together, we are committed to achieving this goal and safeguarding the rights that all women and girls in the Netherlands have under the UN Convention on Women.
The report helps the CEDAW committee talk to the Dutch government constructively. It will occur in February 2025. During the 89th meeting of the CEDAW Committee, the Dutch government will talk constructively with the committee. This session was originally scheduled for October 20, 2024, but was postponed due to circumstances.
The UN Convention on Women in brief
The Istanbul Convention is a short name for the Council of Europe’s Convention on preventing and fighting violence against women and domestic violence. The Treaty entered into force on August 1, 2014. The aforementioned legislation has been in effect in the Netherlands since March 1, 2016.
At the start of the 68th session of the Commission on the Status of Women Margaret de Vos and Lysbeth van Valkenburg were present at the start. The priority theme of this year’s CSW was “Accelerating the achievement of gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls by addressing poverty and strengthening institutions and financing with a gender perspective”. It gave all speakers the opportunity of again stressing the fact that finance is an important issue especially for women to strengthen their position and give women possibilities to earn their own money.
The executive director at the UN, Sima Bahous started the morning with the following observations:
“We are here today because we, collectively, know that the backlash against gender equality is on the rise. Long-established, universal human rights and women’s rights frameworks are being challenged. National and multilateral policy discussions are marred by paralysing polarization. Hard-won gender equality gains are at risk and already being reversed. And advocates of equality face escalating hostilities, compromising their abilities to effect change. This is happening against a backdrop of cascading crises, from a planet on fire, to the wars and violence in Gaza, Sudan, Ukraine, Haiti, and many other places in the world.
Continue readingOn March the 22nd World Waterday the UN Water releases a press report
One of the important highlights subject is:
Girls and women are the first victims of a lack of water
The first impact is the deterioration of living conditions, leading to heightened food insecurity and health risks. Water scarcity also has consequences on social development, particularly for girls and women. In many rural areas, they are the primary water collectors, spending up to several hours a day on this task. Reduced access to water supply exacerbates this burden, which undermines women’s education, economic participation and safety. This may also contribute to the higher secondary school dropout rate among girls compared to boys.
Also “Having to have sex in exchange for drinking water”. It happens, and it’s unacceptable! In a debate a Member of the Parliament in The Netherlands (ms Stieneke van der Graaf) stood up for the women and girls who are faced with sextortion due to water scarcity. A motion to ensure access to safe water for women and girls was adopted with broad support from the House of Representatives on July 5, 2023.
This year a few organizations in the Netherlands wants to collect at least 80,000 signatures and present them to the United Nations Special Rapporteur so that governments are held accountable for this human rights violation and to ban sextortion. This is an important next step in the fight against sex for water!
#WorldWaterDay
Read the full press release: https://unes.co/lt3ogj
https://www.unesco.org/en/articles/water-crises-threaten-world-peace-report
| Version française ci-dessous | النسخة العربية أدناه |
Refugee Women in the Tindouf Camps
The International Network of Liberal Women – INLW is alarmed by the vulnerability of refugee women in the Tindouf camps,
Concerned by the very high tension in the Tindouf camps and the outbreak of an unprecedented cycle of sit-ins and demonstrations within the camps,
Alarmed by the violence suffered by women refugees in the camps by the militias, considering the seriousness of the conditions in which women live in conflict zones, particularly in the Tindouf camps.
We support the efforts of the United Nations to implement Security Council Resolution 1325 on women, peace, and security.
We call on States to consider the normalization of gender-based violence and the worsening of human
trafficking which has serious repercussions on women
and girls.
We condemn the instrumentalization of women and the use of sexual violence as weapons of war used to implement political agendas and exercise power on the ground.
We condemn the involvement of civilian women in armed combat operations, under duress.
We call for the release of women sequestered in Tindouf camps against their will.
We call for action to remove the injustice and unfairness suffered by women detained in the Tindouf camps, allowing international organizations defending women’s rights to look closely at this situation, and to be able to organize hearings for victims of violence and rape, in order to prosecute criminals responsible for raping women, torturing them, and insulting their dignity.
We encourage all initiatives to support women’s freedom and the protection of their fundamental rights and freedoms.
Continue readingDuring the extra General Meeting of INLW December, 20th 2023 the members agreed to nominate Khadija Oum Bachair El Morabit as our new President. She accepted the nomination.
Her position as president will be re-confirmed in November 2024 during the regular GM.
The Board gives thanks to Mrs Jayanthi Devi Balaguru for all her work and commitment to INLW. We wish her all the best.
January 2024