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INLW was represented at the Meeting by Joaquima Alemany (Past President), Khadija El Morabit (Vice President for MENA region), Lysbeth van Valkenburg (Treasurer) and Margaret de Vos van Steenwijk (President).
On Thursday afternoon, we kicked off with the discussion on the importance of working together between political parties, NGO’s and Networks in different regions. Within Liberal International we distinguish different regional liberal networks like CALD (Asian liberal Parties) ALDE (European Liberal parties) Relial (Latin American), ALN (African Liberal Network), ALF (Arabic Liberals) and Libseen (East European).
President of the International Network of Liberal Women (INLW), Margaret de Vos van Steenwijk, has delivered a joint LI-INLW statement to the 27th Session of the United Nations Human Rights Council on September 15th 2014. She stated that the Istanbul Convention on Preventing and Eliminating Violence against Women and Domestic Violence should be adopted in a Global Framework. Her text which was shortened when spoken is to be found under the link to the actual video of her oral statement.
The original non shortened message of the campaign which INLW and LI want the international community to hear is:
LI Vice President on the Bureau, Baroness Kishwer Falkner, Baroness Falkner of Margravine, of LI full member Liberal Democrats, has met with a delegation from LI full member International Network of Liberal Women (INLW) in the Houses Of Parlament, London. Read more on the website of Liberal International
Margaret de Vos van Steenwijk, Flo Clucas, Marianne Kallen and Corina Fusu
Thursday April 24th from 1.30 till 3.30 INLW held its statuary General Meeting with INLW members in the Manhatten Hotel.
On the evening of Thursday May 24th INLW organized “MEET and GREET Drinks” in Café Restaurant Floor.
INLW had submitted a resolution to the 59th LI congress in Rotterdam on the Istanbul Convention calling liberal parties party to the Council of Europe to press on their governments to sign, ratify and implement this very important Convention on preventing and combating violence against women.
Liberal parties from outside the Council of EU should urge their governments to introduce into their own legislation the content of the provisions of the Istanbul Convention.
Furthermore LI now calls upon all governments to work towards a worldwide UN Convention on preventing and combating violence against women taking the CEDAW as a possible model. By signing, ratifying and finally implementing this still utopian Convention, preventing and combating violence against women will form an integral part of every government policy world wide. And that is our aim!
The resolution was unanimously adopted by the Liberal International Congress on May 26th.
It is the intention of INLW together with ALDE GEN to launch a campaign on this subject. Cooperation of all involved is called for!
Ingrid de Caluwé and Marianne Kallen are pleased to see Margaret de Vos van Steenwijk President of INLW and Flo Clucas, President of ALDE GEN shake hands with each other on the occassion of the launching of the partnership between INLW and ALDE GEN. Behind them are stated goals for the partnership.
In the last part of the Fringe Meeting INLW and ALDE GEN officially announced their decision to become partners. In working close together both organizations will be able to strengthen each other.
- Both ALDE Party GEN and INLW will work together to ensure that women and men are able to reach their full potential.
- We will work together to highlight and combat all forms of violence against girls and women.
- We will work together to bring forward appropriate campaign and policy proposals to encourage women and girls get involved in politics and in the decision making process at all levels.
26th of May at the end of the LI Congress: Liberal International’s new President, Juli Minoves surrounded by his admirers; a.o. left Joaquima Alemany, past Pres. INLW; to right of Juli Minoves, Margaret de Vos;Anne Chen, DPP Taiwan; Soesila Verhagen; Kaba Fofana; Marie Louisa Florensa, Secretary General INLW
The Board of INLW knows Juli Minoves well as he has always been a staunch supporter of INLW and its work for gender equality and women’s human rights.
INLW organizes Meet and Greet Drinks on Tuesday 23rd April 8.30 pm at Café Restaurant Floor, Rotterdam.
MEET AND GREET DRINKS for Liberal International Congress participants and INLW and Womens Network of VVD. Dutch liberals want to meet the members of the Liberal International family and vice versa. So after the harbor tour, come and join us all for drinks in Restaurant Floor. If you feel like dinner by that time you will able to get some dinner at this restaurant at that time as well.
INLW Participation
INLW will participate with a number of her members in this LI Congress. The theme of the congress is “Enhancing Global Trade”. Therefore we chose to follow the theme at our Fringe Meeting which we will be able to hold on Saturday 26th April at 9 am in the Doelen, the congress venue . The theme of this INLW “Morning Debate on Global Trade and Women”. Different aspects will be covered and we hope to have a good discussion using predetermined statements.
Speakers will be:
- Ingrid de Caluwé, MP VVD spokesperson on Development Cooperation
- Flo Clucas OBE, President of the ALDE Gender Equality Network,
- Hakima el Haiti, Minister of Environment, Marocco MP party (to be confirmed),
- Soesila Verhagen, INLW Board member, development specialist,