International Women's Health Coalition

January 2006 Gala

"The issue of the role of women in society—the issue of the health of women and the issue of the equity of women—to my judgment is at the core of the issue of peace and development."
—James D. Wolfensohn, former World Bank president

"Every time you stand in support of IWHC, you are also standing in support of women of the world."
—Bisi Adeleye-Fayemi, co-founder and executive director of the African Women's Development Fund, IWHC board member

UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan with IWHC board chair Kati Marton and IWHC board member Dr. Bernard Kouchner.

On January 19, 2006, the International Women's Health Coalition held its Fifth Annual Gala at Cipriani 42nd Street in New York City. Hosted by actress and activist Glenn Close and attended by nearly 500 guests, the event raised $1 million. We honored James D. Wolfensohn for his leadership on reducing global poverty, advancing the health and rights of women and girls, and empowering civil society organizations during ten years as President of the World Bank. Mr. Wolfensohn's speech addressed the centrality of women's health, empowerment, and participation to the struggle for development and social justice, and emphasized IWHC's critical role in promoting gender equality in partnership with women worldwide. In recognition of Mr. Wolfensohn's dedication to girls' education and empowerment, IWHC will makea 2006 grant in his name to the Camerounian organization Adolescence, Idea, Action (AIA).

IWHC board chair Kati Marton and 2006 gala corporate chair Paul J. Fribourg present honoree James D. Wolfensohn with a grant to IWHC colleague organization AI

Founded by a teacher, AIA provides primary and secondary school girls from a low-income area of Douala with vital information on their health and human rights.

Throughout the evening, speakers' remarks touched on a common theme: "Stand Up and Speak Out". IWHC presented a special tribute to Mukhtaran Bibi, a courageous woman from a remote Pakistani village who overcame tremendous personal adversity to become an advocate for women's human rights. Mukhtaran Bibi was introduced by New York Times columnist Nicholas D. Kristof, whose columns brought her plight and subsequent activism to the world's attention. Bisi Adeleye-Fayemi, co-founder and Executive Director of the African Women's Development Fund and a member of IWHC's board of directors, also addressed the crowd. She related her recent

New York Times columnist Nicholas D. Kristof with Mukhtaran Bibi (right) and physician and human rights activist Amna Buttar, Mukhataran Bibi's translator for the eveni

experience at the inauguration of Liberian President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, reiterating the African women's movement's commitment to nurturing "ten more Ellens" to become national leaders over the next ten years. Guests also heard from IWHC board chair Kati Marton, who highlighted IWHC's unique role in global struggles to advance women's health and rights, and IWHC president Adrienne Germain, who outlined three key challenges the Coalition will address in the coming year.

Read the speakers' remarks:

Remarks by Kati Marton,
Chair, IWHC Board of Directors
Women represent over half the world's population. We are not a special interest group. more>>

Keynote address by James D. Wolfensohn, former World Bank president
I believed and still believe that there is no way that we can address the question of equity and social justice, that we can address the question of economics, that we can address the question of poverty, until all of us—the men and women in this room and millions and hundreds of millions outside—understand that the role of women has been grossly underestimated and under-reflected in many societies around the world. more>>

IWHC board members Mabel Bianco of FEIM, Argentina (left) and María Isabel Plata of Profamilia, Colombia.

Remarks by Adrienne Germain, President, IWHC
IWHC is taking on three major challenges this year. We are determined to persuade world governments to strengthen their policies and invest their money to protect girls and women from HIV/AIDS, we will intensify our work to protect sexual rights, without which no woman can be healthy or safe, and we expect to make major progress in our work with adolescents. more>>

Remarks by Bisi Adeleye-Fayemi, Board member, IWHC; Co-founder and Executive Director, African Women's Development Fund
We can't accomplish our vision for the women of Africa—and for women all over the world—without empowering women and girls. We can't actualize this vision if millions of women and girls all over the world have no control over their lives. No control over their bodies. If they live in abject poverty, lack access to education, are HIV-positive, or are caring for family members who are AIDS victims. The business of promoting and protecting women's rights worldwide is unfinished business. more>>

Remarks by Mukhtaran Bibi, Pakistan, with an introduction by New York Times columnist Nicholas D. Kristof
I believe that oppression and cruelty against women will not end until women raise their voices against these things themselves. more>>

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Meeting Global Challenges: Healthy Women, Healthy World IWHC's Fifth Annual Gala, January 19, 2006