Sharing spirit of women’s persistence toward justice development
By Tipakson Manpati
KALASIN, 2 JUN 10 -- A number of development projects funded by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) in Asian countries have been proved by people who have witnessed and adversely affected by them, and in some cases admitted by bank staff themselves, to have significant flaws and human rights violations.
Women are particularly vulnerable. They are affected in more complex ways than men in development projects with regard to tradition, religious beliefs and social structure, the latter still being male dominated in many cultures.
The Gender Working Group of the NGO Forum on the ADB organized a workshop in Manila and in San Pablo, Laguna from 22-24 March 2010. The workshop gathered women from various
communities and organizations in Asian countries, namely the Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, India, Armenia, Kazakhstan, and Mongolia. They shared their knowledge, skills and experiences in resisting development-induced injustices and in monitoring ADB projects and policies.
Women’s Day of Persistence was launched on the first day of the workshop. Different creative ways of persistence were shown in the forms of singing, poetry reading, dancing, interpretive movement, drama and photo exhibit.
Dawan Janthrahassadee, a community leader in Klong Dan, Thailand performed an interpretive movement accompanied by inspiring words for empowering women.
“I am a woman. I am like an ivy. I grew up from the ground. I am dynamic and flexible. I adapt myself to environment surrounding me. I learn to grow strenuously,” said Janthrahassadee. “When it is time I will bear flower. My flower will blossom and then it will give fruits. My fruits have seeds and it will fall on the ground. The seeds will continue to grow from the ground and produce new seeds -- new generation.”
Regarding gender inequality in different societies, women’s suffering is often invisible among traditional and cultural beliefs, gender segragated data, and development discourse; the latter often has been promoted for the betterment of people’s lives. In fact, many development projects do not fully provide mitigating measures to avoid their negative impacts on people’s livelihoods, and affect their self-reliance in providing food for their respective families and the subsistence economy based on a healthy environment.
In addition, gender inequality has gone worse s development projects are usually profit-driven without a holistic view and comprehensive prudence in improving the situtation of human rights and democracy in society.
Alfina Mustafaina from Indonesia shared information on the ADB-funded Madrasah Education Development Project. Her study shows that the project has actually contributed to the increasing Islam fundamentalism which led to inequality and injustice, rather than improving women’s quality of life and empowering them to achieve gender justice in society.
Women are an essential part in organizing and managing natural resources to support their families’ daily expenses. Endeavoring hardships caused by development projects stir up the number of women standing up to play an important role in resisting unjust development.
Ming Chhin, a member of a community affected by Highway One Project in Cambodia, is one of those who have been fighting for justice. For many years, she has been struggling for fair compensation. She has brought a light of hope and strength to other community members in dealing with difficulties and burdens which they have suffered.
Representing her entire community, she modestly said, “We would just like to ask for development projects that will not make people’s lives worse off than before.”
Sharing knowledge, skills and experience among women kept on going after the workshop. Many plans have been made aimed at strengthening women’s network which are a source of hope and basis for moving forward and sharing spiritual strength.
The increasing number of women leading struggles in several unique ways to pursue real justice in development and in society will empower a lot more women and encourage more men to realize and practice gender equality.
By Tipakson Manpati
KALASIN, 2 JUN 10 -- A number of development projects funded by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) in Asian countries have been proved by people who have witnessed and adversely affected by them, and in some cases admitted by bank staff themselves, to have significant flaws and human rights violations.Women are particularly vulnerable. They are affected in more complex ways than men in development projects with regard to tradition, religious beliefs and social structure, the latter still being male dominated in many cultures.
The Gender Working Group of the NGO Forum on the ADB organized a workshop in Manila and in San Pablo, Laguna from 22-24 March 2010. The workshop gathered women from various
communities and organizations in Asian countries, namely the Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, India, Armenia, Kazakhstan, and Mongolia. They shared their knowledge, skills and experiences in resisting development-induced injustices and in monitoring ADB projects and policies.Women’s Day of Persistence was launched on the first day of the workshop. Different creative ways of persistence were shown in the forms of singing, poetry reading, dancing, interpretive movement, drama and photo exhibit.
Dawan Janthrahassadee, a community leader in Klong Dan, Thailand performed an interpretive movement accompanied by inspiring words for empowering women.
“I am a woman. I am like an ivy. I grew up from the ground. I am dynamic and flexible. I adapt myself to environment surrounding me. I learn to grow strenuously,” said Janthrahassadee. “When it is time I will bear flower. My flower will blossom and then it will give fruits. My fruits have seeds and it will fall on the ground. The seeds will continue to grow from the ground and produce new seeds -- new generation.” Regarding gender inequality in different societies, women’s suffering is often invisible among traditional and cultural beliefs, gender segragated data, and development discourse; the latter often has been promoted for the betterment of people’s lives. In fact, many development projects do not fully provide mitigating measures to avoid their negative impacts on people’s livelihoods, and affect their self-reliance in providing food for their respective families and the subsistence economy based on a healthy environment.
In addition, gender inequality has gone worse s development projects are usually profit-driven without a holistic view and comprehensive prudence in improving the situtation of human rights and democracy in society.
Alfina Mustafaina from Indonesia shared information on the ADB-funded Madrasah Education Development Project. Her study shows that the project has actually contributed to the increasing Islam fundamentalism which led to inequality and injustice, rather than improving women’s quality of life and empowering them to achieve gender justice in society.Women are an essential part in organizing and managing natural resources to support their families’ daily expenses. Endeavoring hardships caused by development projects stir up the number of women standing up to play an important role in resisting unjust development.
Ming Chhin, a member of a community affected by Highway One Project in Cambodia, is one of those who have been fighting for justice. For many years, she has been struggling for fair compensation. She has brought a light of hope and strength to other community members in dealing with difficulties and burdens which they have suffered.
Representing her entire community, she modestly said, “We would just like to ask for development projects that will not make people’s lives worse off than before.”Sharing knowledge, skills and experience among women kept on going after the workshop. Many plans have been made aimed at strengthening women’s network which are a source of hope and basis for moving forward and sharing spiritual strength.
The increasing number of women leading struggles in several unique ways to pursue real justice in development and in society will empower a lot more women and encourage more men to realize and practice gender equality.
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