Press Release

Capacity Building Session in the Lead-Up to PrepCom 3

On September 13, 2003, men and women from around the world congregated for a day-long session on Effective Lobbying and Advocacy for Change and Gender Equality. This workshop was specifically geared to those working on the WSIS process and was organized by the WSIS Gender Caucus, a multi-stakeholder organization working to ensure that gender equality and women's rights are integrated into WSIS, its processes and its outcomes. A comprehensive background on the Gender Caucus formation in May 2002 along with its goals programs and benchmarks was provided to the entire group by Lettie Longwe, Programme Director of AMARC Africa and a founding member of the Gender Caucus.

One of the highlights of the day was the keynote presentation by Ms. Susan Nkomo, CEO in the Office on the Status of Women, The Presidency of South Africa. Ms. Nkomo spoke from the perspective of someone who had formerly been an advocate in Civil Society and was now a government official. She presented an insider's perspective to the effective lobbying of governments and those negotiating text on national, regional and global levels.

The day-long workshop attracted global interest and was reflective of the diversity of the WSIS Gender Caucus. Participants came from the Americas, the Caribbean, Africa, Asia and Europe. Attendees provided overwhelmingly positive feedback. Talent Nyati, a participant from Zimbabwe specifically volunteered her pleasure at being engaged in such a participatory process unlike her experience of similar processes where she is normally expected to attend and listen passively without engaging with other participants and without providing input.

The principal workshop facilitator was Patricia Keays, a trainer with years of experience in implementing gender mainstreaming from a change management perspective within many organizations - including the UN system. Ms. Keays is a part of the Capacity Development Group and during the day-long proceedings used her hallmark style, a highly participatory approach whereby workshop attendees are given considerable time to share experiences and insights.

In an attempt to approach gender advocacy from a holistic perspective, the organizers took an unprecedented step and incorporated relaxation sessions led by Cathy-Mae Karelse. Ms. Kaerlse is a London-based Ayurvedic practitioner who facilitated brief exercises geared to help participants focus and lessen the impact of the intense activity required in the PrepCom 3 process.

Another highlight of the day was the introduction to Internalised Sexism, a presentation given by Dr. Gillian Goddard, a behavioural change consultant from Trinidad and Tobago and a member of the Gender Caucus Steering Committee. The presentation generated such a strong interest that follow up sessions have already been requested in several countries worldwide.

Several Gender Caucus Steering team members, the GC Advocacy Specialist and the GC WSIS Events Coordinator went on from the workshop to the PC3 activities in the following weeks. For more on the Orientation Session and on other Gender Caucus Events see www.genderwsis.org. For the information pack used in the session please see http://www.genderwsis.org/referencematerial.html

Download this press release here.

For further information please contact the WSIS Gender Caucus Project Manager in Geneva, Ms. Bernadito Vigano, (Tel) 41-79-310-1303 (e-mail) bvigano@genderwsis.org