PRESS
RELEASE
20 February 2002
For immediate release International Aid Organisation Meets in Hamilton
Rural women from all around the Pacific are
gathering in Hamilton next week.
The
women are members of international
aid and development organisation, Associated
Country Women of the World (ACWW),
who are holding their triennial South
Pacific Area Conference in Hamilton
from 25 February to 1 March.
The
organisation has 9 million members
world-wide and is set up to support
women who make a living from working
on the land. Each year it distributes
over a half million dollars in aid,
to various projects that will lead
to self-sufficiency and improved living
conditions for women and their families.
It has an advocacy role with the United
Nations and has been a strong voice
speaking out for the elimination of
gender-based discrimination.
The
Conference is being hosted by Rural
Women New Zealand, and will focus on
agricultural issues such as biosecurity
and climate change as well as social
issues. Keynote speakers include Merepeka
Raukawa-Tait (National Collective of
Independent Women's Refuges) and Dr
Morgan Williams, (Parliamentary Commissioner
for the Environment).
Margaret
Millard, Chair of the organising committee,
says that one of the unique aspects
of the organisation is the number of
countries and cultures who belong to
it. ''There will be women from as far
afield as Tuvalu and Papua New Guinea
attending this conference. Obviously
the issues for rural women vary enormously
from country to country, depending
on their resources and cultural perspectives,
but they are all committed to improving
the opportunities for women around
the world.''
New
Zealand women have key leadership roles
within the organisation. Jeanette Tarbotton,
from Ashburton, is the South Pacific
Area President and will be chairing
the Conference. Taranaki woman, Val
Tarrant, is the Chair of the Projects
Committee who is responsible for distributing
aid to the hundreds of communities
who make applications each year. Isla
McRae, Waikato, is a member of the
international Agriculture Committee.
All three women are ex-National Presidents
of Rural Women New Zealand.
ACWW's
World President, Hilda Stewart (Ireland)
and Deputy World President, Ursula
Goh (Sarawak) will be attending the
Conference.
The
Conference is being held at Novotel
Tainui in Hamilton, and members of
the public and the media are welcome
to attend selected sessions.
Contact:
Margaret Millard Isla McRae Novotel
Tainui
Ph: 06 329 6860 Ph: 07 834 2456 Ph: 07 838 1366
Sessions
open to the media:
Monday 25 February 8.00pm Official Opening
Tuesday 26 February 9.15am Keynote Address: Hilda Stewart.
11.45am Keynote Address: Russ Rimmington - Working with Communities
Thursday 27 February 11.00am Keynote Address: Merepeka Raukawa-Tait
1.30pm Environment Session with Dr Morgan Williams and Guy Salmon, NZ Ecologic
Foundation
Friday 1 March 10.30am Keynote Address: Rt. Hon Jenny Shipley -
'All Women are Leaders'
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