MAKING THE CONNECTIONS: INTERNATIONALLY, NATIONALLY AND LOCALLY

Over the past decade, and at three recent United Nations conferences, women around the world have emerged as a dynamic force in the global arena. As a result, women's realities and experiences throughout the world have been brought to the attention of governments, financial institutions and policy makers.

As the 21st century approaches, women can bring an international dimension to local advocacy efforts, and a local dimension to global efforts. Political tides are turning all over the world. Fundamentalism restricts women's freedom from the villages of Afghanistan to urban abortion clinics in the U.S. As women agitate for the right to a legal abortion in Brazil, the United States congress is attempting to restrict certain abortion methods --- a decision that should be solely in the hands of physicians and the women concerned. Throughout the world, women who have the least education, resources, and social status suffer the most from limited access to reproductive and sexual health care.

At IWHC we work to make connections between women in the United States and women living in Southern countries while we work to change the face of American foreign policy and assistance. We believe that the United States has the power and influence to ensure access to cash --- but right now, foreign assistance accounts for considerably less than 1% of the U.S. budget.

Through our focus group research and communication with colleagues, we have found that many American women feel disconnected from foreign policy decisions; as a result, we have organized conferences and meetings to address foreign policy through a women's lens.