The 2005 Global Exchange Forum entitled "Understanding Women's Social Capital" was organised by the Foreign Policy Centre and Barrow Cadbury Trust (in association with the Canadian High Commission). It was held on Friday 16 September 2005 at Canada House, Trafalgar Square, London.
By focusing on the three priority areas of: economic empowerment, peace and reconciliation, and civic regeneration, the Forum provided an opportunity to discuss and exchange experiences from around the world about the ways in which women's networks have worked best, and how to confront some of the problems that arise when women's organisations, NGOs and various levels of government work together. The event drew on a series of partnerships developed between global NGO partners (including the Self Employed Women's Association - SEWA and ASHA both in India, Campaign for Female Education - CAMFED, the Trust for the Protection of Early Childhood, Mama Cash among others) and groups supported by the Barrow Cadbury Trust in the UK, such as Women Acting in Today's Society - WAITS (Birmingham).
The conference opened with addresses from His Excellency Mel Cappe, Canadian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom; Mel Cappe. In addition, conference speakers included leading experts such as Maxine Molyneux (the University of London), Amanda Ellis (World Bank), Senator Mobina Jaffer, (Canadian Government), Haleh Afshar (University of York) and Valentine Moghadam (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization .UNESCO). UK political speakers included Baroness Anita Gale, representatives from the Her Majesty's Treasury, the Women's National Commission, the Women and Equality Unit as well as other key UK government departments.
The conference helped us explore key issues, including the role of gender perspectives in democracy promotion around the world. In addition, by drawing on good practice undertaken by grass root groups from around the world, we explored innovative and alternative forms of sustainable policy interventions.
A report on the event will be published in due course.
Download the report (1.24 megabyte PDF; need help viewing PDFs?)