Dear Friends,

Warm spring greetings from all of us at the Global Fund for Women!

March was a busy month at the Global Fund as we celebrated International Women’s Day around the world. We were delighted to have sparked a campaign that resulted in over 50 celebratory events across the US to honor and recognize women’s extraordinary accomplishments for justice.

In the US, a newly elected Democratic majority controls the Congress and is seeking to make its mark on the critical challenges facing the US and the global community. The war in Iraq continues to take an unacceptably high toll on the lives, security and basic infrastructure of Iraqi citizens, particularly women and their children, while also exacting an increasingly high human, economic, moral and military cost for the US.

As Presidential contenders begin to outline their positions, the Global Fund for Women believes that it is critical for those of us who live in the US to realize that the world we live in is no longer limited by the boundaries of nations. At the Global Fund, we hear from women activists and leaders across the world who point out to us the myriad ways in which US policies affect their lives. They ask us to consider these questions as we look forward to the next Presidential election:

1. Is this a leader committed to solving the Middle East crisis from a vision that is inclusive, fair and pragmatic? Will this leader include women’s voices in the peace process not as tokens, but in recognition of the unique perspectives they bring?
2. Will this leader heed the changes in Latin America? Will this leader recognize that domestic issues like immigration are deeply linked to the economic realities and inequalities existing in countries from Mexico to Argentina?
3. Is this someone who really walks their talk on democracy? Will they stand up for true democratic practice – the inclusion of women in decision-making and the end to persecution of minorities like the Roma people of Eastern Europe and Central Asia?
4. Will this leader see India and China as more than market opportunities and address their growing ecological disasters and the frightening disappearance of girls as a result of strong son preference?
5. Is this a leader who sees in the 54 nations of Africa, a resource for transformation, not a testimony to despair? Is this someone who will stand side by side with peers like Liberia’s president, Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, who is taking action to ensure that rape is never used again as a weapon of war?

All around the world, let’s commit to supporting leaders who value the well-being and insights of all the world’s population – for indeed, women’s rights are human rights.

With the hope that spring brings to us all,

Kavita N. Ramdas
President & CEO