Warm New Year's Greetings! Every new year holds promise – and we were hoping that 2008 would move our world closer to global peace and justice. At the Global Fund for Women we look to and support women's leadership to further these aspirations. Yet, 2007 ended on a somber note with the assassination of a prominent woman leader, Benazir Bhutto, during a campaign rally. And in Kenya, 2008 began with the news of contested election results that set off riots and resulted in the murder of at least 500 people, including horrifying incidents of violence against women.
Both instances of violence reflect the failure of the state to protect its citizens at a crucial time — elections. While elections play a key role in any democracy, they are not sufficient indicators of a vibrant democratic society. In far too many parts of the world, the election process itself presents a serious challenge to security and public safety, often particularly harmful to women and their families. Here in the United States, we are also in the midst of an election year, where issues of women’s participation and leadership are being openly discussed in the context of a Presidential election with a viable woman candidate. Studies around the globe have shown that significantly increased levels of women's participation and leadership along the political spectrum are necessary for transforming the terms of political debate and implementing policies that advance the human rights and well-being of all people. In Rwanda, a parliament comprised of 48 percent women has translated into an extraordinary commitment to health insurance coverage for all Rwandans.
Across the world, Global Fund grants support women’s rights groups that seek to increase women's participation in the political process and help train and prepare women to be viable political candidates. In Turkey for example, KADER: the Association for Supporting and Training Women Candidates registers women to vote, advocates for social reforms and has created an infrastructure to develop women's leadership. In Cambodia, Global Fund Board member Mu Sochua parlayed her experience as a grassroots leader into the arena of politics, as she became the first-ever female Secretary General for a political party, the Sam Rainsy opposition party. In her words, "for Cambodian women politics equals dignity, change and power."
At the Global Fund for Women we don’t simply hope for a world in which participation in the political process affords women and men dignity, change, and power; we make the investments to turn the dream into a reality.
Thank you for standing with us as we do so.
Workplace Giving allows employees to regularly donate to non-profits of their choice through payroll pledges that are deducted from their paychecks. The Global Fund is honored to have many employees support our work through this process.Vera Zlidenny, a regular and committed donor to the Global Fund, says workplace giving helps her manage her budget while also doing good for the community. 
With a $10,000 grant from the Global Fund for Women, the Slovak-Czech Women's Fund, the Reconstruction Women's Fund of Serbia and the Women's Fund in Georgia will embark on an exciting first-ever collaboration in 2008 entitled "Learning Bridges." Led by young, feminist women, these funds mobilize financial resources and support feminist groups in their respective countries.
Save the Date! June 5th, 2008
