Celebrating Mountain Women

To be held in Nepal

The UN's proposed International Year of the Mountains (IYM) 2002 has presented a unique opportunity to highlight the realities of life in the mountains and put women on the mountain agenda. In this context, ICIMOD and the Mountain Forum plan to hold a global conference, 'Celebrating Mountain Women' (CMW), to launch a long-term programme for mountain women at ICIMOD. This international conference is a chance to celebrate the drive, spirit and diversity of mountain women everywhere.

The conference will bring together indigenous women, donor agencies, policy-makers and planners, entrepreneurs, and researchers to share the problems and progress of mountain women. Such a face to face interaction will facilitate dynamic solutions and an action programme that will help to overcome a wide range of neglect and poverty that plague many mountain areas of the world.

During the planning meeting for this event, held in Kathmandu from May 8-10 2001, the organizing committee elected women representing various parts of the world to form a Steering Committee (SC). These members will advise, guide, support, assist and inform the Secretariat staff throughout the year. In addition, the SC members will organize regional meetings in their respective regions.

The planning meeting also proposed five thematic areas as a basis for activities:

* Natural Resources and Environment,
* Health and Well Being,
* Entrepreneurship,
* Legal, Political and Human Rights, and
* Culture and Indigenous Knowledge.

These themes will receive focus through research presentations, policy discussions, best practices,songs, stories, theatre, videos, and so on.

For further information