The first two days were focused on international issues; the third day, with support from the women of the world, was focused on Liberia’s National Plan of Action. Today continues drawing the relationship among national, regional and international efforts to advance women’s rights in all arenas. This morning we had exactly the powerful start needed to make that connection. We saw a production of Speak Truth to Power. Right after the performance, President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and presented awards to representatives of the Liberian women’s organizations that had made peace possible and now continue to press for gender equity in every sector of society. I was deeply moved by the gorgeous symmetry of global and national commitment to basic human... more

Today, while Colloquium workshops continue, another historic event is part of the program. Tonight the film Pray the Devil Back to Hell about the Liberian women’s peace movement responsible for ending the brutal 14-year civil war wasshown. This was the first time it is being screened for the public in Liberia. Radio stations have been promoting this for the last several days and many Liberians came to the Samuel K. Doe Stadium. Tomorrow Liberia’s President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf will present awards to representative of the women who organized the amazingly powerful, courageous and ultimately successful effort to bring peace to their country. This morning the women – dressed in white, as they did during their entire campaign – marched into the stadium to... more

Half a dozen concurrent thematic sessions – each with a half dozen panelists and a moderator before tea; another dozen break-out sessions – also with panelists, moderators and rapporteurs delving deeper into the themes before lunch, each charged to develop concrete action steps; an afternoon session with several remarkable segments including, among more:Presidents Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and Tarja Halonen signing a new Monrovia Declaration 2009 calling on all to celebrate and draw strength from women’s leadership at all levels. I couldn’t help but think that this was building – with gender equity and making it global this time – on the historic Monrovia Declaration 1979 commitment by African heads of state and government “to promote the economic and social development... more

Carol Jenkins, President of the Women’s Media Center, is the MC for this International Colloquium on Women’s Empowerment, Leadership, Development, Peace and Security being held in Samuel K. Doe Stadium in Monrovia, Liberia co-hosted by Liberia’s President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and Finland’s President Tarja Halonen. This is what I texted Carol first thing this morning, “I’m sitting at stage left end of front row reveling in seeing you on the podium as the MC!” Lynn Sherr and her colleague Meagan Townsend are shooting a four-part series on the conference for World Focus, a new, nightly international news program produced by WLIW and WNET in New York with the aim to provide in-depth global news to American viewers. Their pieces will... more

Leaving lodging now to sounds of music coming from every direction and vendors in full swing everywhere: how wonderful to see Liberia returning to its past vitality after enduring such a devastating war.  While I know all people of this nation still are deeply traumatized, I am profoundly moved by everyone’s spirit of generosity and hope.  They so believe that with the US having a new administration, there is renewed promise for their nation.   We can not let them down: Liberia is a model of possibilities of post-conflict recovery, ripe with opportunity and fraught with challenges. We must encourage international support from nation-states, NGOs, the business community and the continued presence of the United Nations Mission in Liberia.  We can not... more

In the morning light, five hours after arriving, I see we are on a bustling street in downtown Monrovia: wonderful people from the Liberia Host Committee – Precious, Samuel, Emmanuel, Ruth and Johnson helping us in every way.  I must join my colleagues here from Sweeden, Somalia, Ethiopia, the UK and US to go to the Stadium for the start of Colloquium.  When I return to my lodging, I hope to have many wonderful pictures & stories to share. I also was thrilled to learn that Melanne Verveer has been named US Ambassador-at-Large for Global Women’s Issues. She’d led Vital Voices Global Partnership that supports women leaders who promote political, social, and economic progress in their countries. She took a lead in... more

First lesson learned: better charge camera battery before departing on a 29 hour voyage! I wish I could show you pictures from the magnificently chaotic and gorgeous scene of much of an entire plane of Colloquium participants disembarking in the dark; beautiful young singers & drummers greeting us, small handwritten welcome signs; drinks & snacks; & a group of powerful women organizers – all of us – asking each other “do you know what we do? Where we stay? How we get our bags?” Women from Kosovo trying to help women from Tokyo, women from Zambia hugging their friends from the US, women from Ghana sitting with women from Vietnam, Benin and Nepal. I am brought back to 1985 Nairobi... more

I am a blog virgin and this is my first!   For many years, as a consultant I’ve been encouraging all my clients to learn about and utilize the many tools and platforms the Internet provides to allow them to increase their impact and many have done so to great success.   As I also teach courses at graduate schools, I’ve taught my students the same, bringing in experts from the field as guest lecturers to share the latest cutting edge information.  I simply familiarized myself on all this well enough to be able to describe where to look for guidance and how to begin.  I always have known that I have to walk the walk, not just talk the talk, if... more