Revolutions have consequences.
Since the beginning of the year, we've seen longstanding and repressive regimes fall in North Africa, and continuing protests across the Middle East and Gulf. In real time, we are watching people struggle with how to structure new institutions, build democratic governments and rebuild (or build) a non-governmental civil society. They are all fighting to shape new futures.
It's both exciting, and a bit scary to watch. But a key question in each country is how much space there will be for women to participate fully in each of these nascent democracies. In many cases, women were critical actors in these revolutions and fought side by side with men. Many were bloggers; activists; leaders and logistics experts. Reports from Libya are that on Friday, September 3 Martyrs' Square was filled for part of the day with only women to celebrate the fall of Colonel Gaddafi and their role in that battle.
Read the whole article at Huffington Post, published 20 September
Revolutions have consequences.
Since the beginning of the year, we've seen longstanding and repressive regimes fall in North Africa, and continuing protests across the Middle East and Gulf. In real time, we are watching people struggle with how to structure new institutions, build democratic governments and rebuild (or build) a non-governmental civil society. They are all fighting to shape new futures.
It's both exciting, and a bit scary to watch. But a key question in each country is how much space there will be for women to participate fully in each of these nascent democracies. In many cases, women were critical actors in these revolutions and fought side by side with men. Many were bloggers; activists; leaders and logistics experts. Reports from Libya are that on Friday, September 3 Martyrs' Square was filled for part of the day with only women to celebrate the fall of Colonel Gaddafi and their role in that battle.
Read the whole article at Huffington Post, published 20 September