Non- state actors in public diplomacy: The International Women’s Movement
Non-state actors have been gaining more and more power in the realm of international politics and diplomacy, in the course of recent years. In my last post, I presented an example of citizen diplomacy. Today, I would like to emphasize the impact of non- governmental organizations. There are hundreds of NGOs actively participating in the creation and improvement of world politics. They often draw attention to issues either neglected or unnoticed by state actors. I personally find the International Women’s Movement as one of the most significant and influential actors in the international arena.
The movement itself dates back to 1800, however it has been increasingly active in the wake of globalization processes and threats posed towards women which are associated with it. The United Nations announced the period 1975- 1985 as ‘the Decade of Women’. The year 1975 was officially proclaimed by the General Assembly as The Women’s Year with various worldwide projects promoting equality, peace and improvement of women’s lives. What is more, there were also held several international conferences in most cosmopolitan cities of the world: Mexico City, Copenhagen, Nairobi, Beijing. In 1975, in Mexico City, one hundred thirty three countries sent their representatives. During this conference ‘ Declaration of Mexico on the Equality of Women and Their Contribution to Development and Peace’ and ‘ World Plan of Action for the Implementation of the Objectives of IWY’ were discussed. In Nairobi, in 1985, a document titled ‘ The Nairobi Forward- Looking Strategies for the Advancement of Women’ were adopted.
This decade totally dedicated to women’s affairs changed the attitude of states in terms of addressing the threats and problems that women have to face on a daily basis. Project, organizations’ expansion, researches, betterment of communication, coordination and exchange of information became the main goals. Nations acknowledged women’s satisfactory position in societies as indispensible to establish sustainable development. In 1979 Convention for the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women was introduced. By 1990, one hundred countries officially joined the idea. By some authorities the UN is actually seen as the godmother of the women’s movement.
Thanks to the women’s movement several serious issues were raised. Human trafficking for prostitution, sex tourism, mail ordered brides, female genital cutting and human rights, abortion, equality of sexes, the problem of pregnancy at work and many many more are being tackled by women organizations. Hence, for instance, female genital cutting was found one of Human Right’s abuses.
I believe that the most significant aspect of the International Women’s Movement is raising awareness among people and building courage and confidence in women. Having achieved political interest among states, the Movement proved itself to be of both social and political relevance.
Bibliography:
L.Lechner and J. Boli, ‘ the Globalization Reader’, Wiley- Blackwell, 2012
G. Ritzer, ‘Globalization. A Basic Text’, Wiley-Blackwell,2010
Public and Cultural Diplomacy 2 
Also, it is important to mention there are more women than men yet they still get marginalised.
There are many parts of the world where violence is on the increase as more women challenge the status quo. In a recent documentary in on Al Jazeera English aired in April 2012 (read and watch it here: http://www.aljazeera.com/programmes/101east/2012/04/201242482823627221.html) highlights that as India becomes richer it’s problems increase. As more women join the workforce and an increasingly educated and westernised youth more women are being raped and sexually harassed, so much so that New Delhi is known as the “rape capital” of India. It is all due to the fact that more women have become independent and working thus challenging the traditional patriarchal society (creating a clash between traditional and modernity). Women with the discrimination and violence where the problem is the same but it has a new setting so it is a lot more complicated?!
Nations have improved but basic forms of discrimination still go on such as salaries. More women representation.
Perhaps national governments need to take responsibility on the issues that affects their female population,
Increasingly as austerity bites in these uncertain financial times women will have a hard time promoting their causes.
Women have their work cut out for them and the NGOs and governments so complacency cannot be tolerated.
i enjoyed your post and i could not agree more that the woman approach to international issues (inequalities, human rights etc.), has helped redifine the way in which international politics were viewed, along these lines there are still many issues to be addressed and perhaps these initiatives will finally lead to more practical results (eradicating poverty, abuses), but more importantly perhaps it will create what the world of politics doesnt have- and that is emapathy .