KITAKYUSHU FORUM ON ASIAN WOMEN JULY 2007

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JULY 2007

Women
Today How Happy is
our Planet?

Nic Marks

head of centre for well-being,
the new economics foundation (nef)ultimate aims, ultimate costs

It measures the ecological efficiency with which,country by country, people achieve long and happy
lives. In doing so, it is the first indicator that strips
our view of the economy back to its absolute basics:
what goes in (natural resources) and what comesout (human lives of different lengths and happiness).

“There is no wealth but life” wrote John Ruskin
deep in the 19th century. While this may seem controversial to some, it is almost a truism. What else
can be of value to us as humans but our own lives
and our own well-being? It doesn’t take a rocket
scientist to recognise this. Aristotle argued thatliving and doing well is the highest good. Two millennia later, and the US Declaration of Independence entrenched the pursuit of happiness as a fundamental right for all citizens. When surveyed,
people across the world echo these philosophicalpositions ? the happiness and health of them andtheir families consistently ranks as more important
than religion, status and, by a long way, wealth.
So, if well-being is the ultimate aim of society,what is the ultimate cost in achieving this aim?
What is the fundamental input, without which
there would be no well-being, for all the rightthinking? Clearly, it is the planet we all live on
and its finite resources. With the environment at atipping point and many resources rapidly becoming
scarcer, human well-being has to be pursued whilst
simultaneously being mindful of the consumption of
the Earth’s resources that it often implies.
However, Western society for the last 70 years
has measured success, not by well-being, nor by its
ability to live within environmental limits, but by
the rise and fall of GDP, with the implicit assumption that wealth correlates somehow with well-being. This has proved to be ill-advised for two reasons. Firstly we now know that economic conditions are only a small aspect of overall well-being,and secondly that the two do not rise in tandem ?
economic circumstances are very important to thosein absolute poverty but less so once a threshold ofmaterial sufficiency has been achieved.

a long way to go
The results tell a depressing story. No country
can truly be regarded as successful. When achievable targets are set for each component of the HPI,
no country is able to reach all three. Either wellbeing is less than ideal. Or, in those countries enjoying high levels of well-being, the cost to the environment is too great - the country is living beyond
its fair share of the planet’s resources.
The Happy Planet Index is potentially a map fora new type of progress towards achieving sustainable well-being. However, like any tool, the HPI is
not foolproof. For example, the ecological footprint
is only a proxy for environmental impact and misses out some very serious failures of sustainability
such as soil erosion. Nevertheless, at nef we believe it is important to measure what matters, notjust what it is easiest to measure. The HPI is ourattempt to move policy makers in that direction.
As the component data improve, so too will the
HPI, allowing us to paint a better picture of whatsustainable well-being could look like. For one
thing, it is clear that Western growth-based economies are not the way forward. The countries thatfare best are typically those that have not fallen
completely foul to the full-scale obsession with material consumption that the West has, but thathave reasonable standards of living and sometimes
even better health than many ‘economically developed’ countries. They are countries that have maintained their traditions, their social capital, theirstrong family bonds, and their joie de vivre (or perhaps ‘alegría’), and that have an appreciation for
the natural beauty that surrounds them. If we are
to take sustainable well-being seriously, it is tothese examples that we must look.

a completely new indicator
Combining the aims of environmental sustainability and human well-being into one of sustainable, equitable, well-being intuitively makes sense.
This is the explicit aim of the Happy Planet Index(HPI) developed by the centre for well-being at nef(the new economics foundation) and launched inJuly 2006 to much global media attention. Conceptually, the HPI is an efficiency measure.

HPI＝ProfileHe has a degree in Management Studies from Cambridge University, a Master’s degree in Operational
Research from Lancaster University and a postgraduate diploma in Change Agent Skills and Strategies
from the Human Potential Research Group at the University of Surrey. He is also a qualified psychotherapist and a member of the International Society for
Quality of Life Studies - ISQOLS.

Life Satisfaction index × Life Expectancy index
Ecological Footprint index

You can find out more about the Happy Planet Index, and even calculate your own personal HPI score at: http://www.happyplanetindex.org/

No.50 July 2007

2

Current Issues Series
Population
and Gender (2)Mortality and Gender in
Developing Countries

Makoto Atoh
Professor, Faculty of Human
Sciences, Waseda University

If male and female children are treated equally, mortality rates of male infants (below one year old) andlittle boys (ages one to five) are generally higher
than those of female infants and little girls of thesame age. Scientists explain that this is because
male infants are biologically and genetically weaker
than female infants, as are male perinates (infantsin perinatal period: from 22 weeks of gestation to one
week after birth). Regarding children aged from one
to five, boys, more vulnerable to infectious diseases,
are also more prone to be involved in accidents.

tritious food than boys are, there is no definite datathat supports this assumption. On the other hand,
there is data definitely showing that boys are better
treated regarding medical treatment. In South Asia,
more boys receive preventive vaccinations. Moreover,fewer girls than boys are taken to clinics when they
have fever or diarrhea.
What are the causes of such discriminatory treatment against girls concerning health care including
medical treatment? Despite religious differences, allcountries in the so-called excess female mortality
belt feature strong patriarchal systems. Under thesesystems, men, who succeed family lines, control all
family members’ behaviors. Whereas men, being theheads of families, are basically engaged in one or another type of occupation to earn a living, fewer women support their families’ livelihoods. Instead, women are expected to dedicate themselves to housework, childbearing and raising children. Given thissituation, many families tend to prefer the birth ofboys. When resources are scarce, many families provide what little resources are available to boys rather than girls.

Studies of sex differentials in infant mortality rates
in developing countries show that during the 1970s
and 1980s, with a few exceptions, the mortality rates
of male infants were higher than those of female infants in most countries. On the other hand, mortality
rates of small children showed different trends. In
South America, the Caribbean, Sub-Saharan Africa,
and East and Southeast Asia, boys’ mortality rates
generally surpassed those of girls. On the other
hand, in China, South Asia, West Asia, and North
Africa, girls’ mortality rates generally exceeded
those of boys. Because of this, the latter regions are
sometimes called the “excess female mortality belt.”

In northern India and other regions, where there is acustom of offering a large dowry from the bride’s
family to the groom’s family, girls are even more discriminated against. The custom of giving a dowry indeed is one major cause of excess female mortality
rates. In some Indian states, however, the mortality
rate for girls is lower than that of boys. Girls born in
Kerala enjoy the lowest mortality rate in India, due
to the relatively high women’s social status in thestate. This status is attributable to the matriarchal
family systems in that region. In China, since themajority of Chinese people desire to maintain familylines, they would rather have a boy than a girl under
the current One-Child Family Policy. This tendency
of preferring boys often results in sex-selective abortions, contributing to a lower birthrate for females.
This, combined with mistreatment of little girls, isbelieved to result in an excess female mortality inthe country. In conclusion, excess female deaths attest to serious gender discrimination that appears invital statistics.

Since the 1970s, infant mortality rates have declined
in all developing countries. Concerning this trend,excess female mortality rates also started to improveglobally. The exceptions are China and South Asia,
where excess female mortality rates remain outstanding. According to UNFPA’s State of World Population 2006, under-five mortality (five who children
die per 1,000 babies born alive) were as follows: Africa-boys (155) and girls (143); Latin America and the
Caribbean-boys (33) and girls (27). In Asia, however,
the rate for boys (64), and for girls (66). The higher
mortality rate for girls is attributable primarily to
excess female mortality rates in the two most populous countries in the world: China-boys (30) and girls(41) and India-boys (84) and girls (88).
Such excess female mortality in these countries is attributable to the different treatment of boys versus
girls in those societies, or more strictly speaking, tothe discrimination of girls. It is commonly believedthat girls are discriminated against especially regarding dietary habits and medical treatment. Although it is highly likely that girls are given less nu-

3No.50 July 2007

Participating in the 51 st Session of the
UN Commission on the Status of Women
Hiroko Hara (KFAW Advisor)
Masako Ota (KFAW Senior Researcher)
The 51st session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW51) was held at the United Nations (UN) Headquarters in New York between February 26 and March 9,
2007. A total of 1,927 representatives from 234 NGOs
from around the world participated in the session. The
theme of the CSW51 was Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination and Violence against the Girl Child. Violenceagainst girls and women comprises physical, sexual andpsychological violence, committed at home and in society.
Violent acts include beating, rape, sexual abuse, sexual
harassment, human trafficking, forced prostitution andtraditional practices that negatively affect girls and women. Since girls (below 18 years old according to the UN
definition) are particularly vulnerable to such violent
acts, special attention needs to be paid to protecting them.

the CSW51. From the following day to the end of the 51st
session, NGOs from around the world organized many
workshops as parallel events. Hiroko Hara, Advisor of
KFAW, is Convenor of Japan Women’s Watch (JAWW)
which is one of the members of Asia Pacific Women’s
Watch (APWW). APWW, a network of NGOs, monitors
the progress on the implementation of the Beijing Platform for Action in the Asia-Pacific region. APWW held
meetings almost everyday during the two weeks and alsoorganized a workshop, “Violence against Girls – Stopping
the Scourge” on February 27. Around 80 participants engaged in lively discussions on the topic.
NGO Activities
The NGOs from all over the world, including APWW,
JAWW, KFAW and other Japanese NGOs, discussed
strategies for lobbying UN agencies and government delegates by organizing workshops as well as thematic and regional caucuses. They were trying hard to make agreed
conclusions more concrete and effective for the elimination of discrimination and violence against girls. They
also emphasized the importance of strengthening the UN
gender structure and securing sufficient funds in eachand every UN body. As one of the lobbying strategies, theNGO Linkage Caucus presented a letter of request for UN
reform to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and government delegates at the event celebrating International
Women’s Day on March 8. At the end of the CSW51, theNGOs decided to maintain close contacts and work together for the promotion of UN reform in favour of girls
and women.

One of the highlights of the 51st session was that many
girl representatives from all over the world came to New
York. Unfortunately, there was no Japanese girl representative. On March 2, the meeting titled “Girls SpeakOut” was held at the UN Headquarters, where seven girls
representing seven countries made statements on theirownexperiences
and the general situations of girls in
theirrespective
countries. Various
workshops in whichgirls played majorroles were also organized during the
March 2: “Girls Speak Out”
(at the UN Headquarters)
two-week session.

KFAW has participated in CSW sessions and been actively involved in the activities mentioned above since its
foundation. Thus, we have made contribution to the enhancement of women’s status and the empowerment of
women, as well as established the extensive network ofNGOs and people worldwide. KFAW will continue working for women and the vulnerable.

High-level Roundtables (inter-governmental meetings)
The High-level Roundtables means meetings where therepresentatives of the 45 member states of the CSW makestatements and discuss relevant issues. Dr. Yoriko Meguro, as the representative of the Japanese government’s
delegates, made statements about its national and international initiatives concerning violence and discrimination against girls.

Please visit the following websites for more information.
http://www.un.org/womenwatch/daw/csw/51sess.htm#documents (the official documents issued by theUnited Nations on the CSW51)
http://www.mofa.go.jp/announce/speech/un2007/un0702-6.
html (the statement by Dr. Yoriko Meguro, representative of Japan)

The agreed conclusions of the CSW51 reaffirm the Beijing
Declaration and Platform for Action, along with other international conventions and declarations on girls andwomen. These conclusions, which present the norms andpolicies on discrimination and violence against girls, urge
UN member states to take action under various themes
including poverty, education and training, gender stereotypes, health, HIV/AIDS, empowering girls and participation of girls. In addition to the agreed conclusions, four resolutions were adopted, such as, forced and early marriage.

February 27“Violence against Girls – Stopping
the Scourge”(at Church Center)

Parallel Events Organized by NGOs
“NGO Consultation: CSW at 51: Making Girls Visible”
was held by the NGO Committee on the Status of Women,
New York on February 25, prior to the official opening ofNo.50 July 2007

Hiroko Hara retired as the Chair of KFAW on March 31, 2007.

4

■ Study Tour Purpose
Australia, located almost due south of Japan, is a single
country spread across a vast continent. Besides its traditional Aboriginal culture, which has long maintained deepand close relations with nature, Australia also became acountry of immigrants with diverse multicultural backgrounds. From March 1 to 8, as participants of this study
tour, we visited Brisbane and Noosa in Queensland as well
as Boggabilla and Sydney in New South Wales to learn
more about the three themes described below.

▲Cultural exchange with Aborigines

Theme 3: Aboriginal Women’s Empowerment and Their
Human Rights
From Noosa, it was about 7 hour drive southwest to Boggabilla, where we visited Euraba Paper Company. This handmade paper mill was established by Aboriginal women toachieve their economic independence. Since this area is a
production center for cotton, women workers use cotton
waste as a primary material to produce simple handmade
paper. This paper has a different tactile quality from thatof Japanese mulberry paper. The Aboriginal women founded the mill with support from both public and private sectors. They have continued the operation of the paper millwith the cooperation from the nearby cotton mill. More recently, with technical instruction from artists, the women
have also successfully commercialized their products as
artworks. As an example of the best practice of women’sbusiness in this region, the women papermakers won theAustralian Prime Minister’s Award in 2000.

Theme 1: Urban Development through Effective Use of Arts
In Brisbane, we visited the Queensland College of Art.
Since the 1990s, Queensland’s state government has been
allocating 2% of its public facility construction budget tothe installation of art objects. As a result, many artists
have become involved in construction projects. Besides theenhancement of urban landscapes, the City’s utilization of
the arts in urban development is aimed at promoting employment; activating the local economy; fostering culture
and improving multi-cultural understanding among citizens. All of these measures then contribute to greater social stability. In short, the use of art objects in urban development is part of an original policy implemented by theState of Queensland. Through this commitment, Queensland aims to vitalize communities; enrich residents’ daily
lives; and foster warm relationships among residents. We
were deeply impressed with the many works of modern art
which were organically integrated into the urban landscape around Brisbane.

■ Tour Impressions
When we visited the Aboriginal women, they seemed at
first to be puzzled over what to do with us. We were thefirst Japanese they had ever encountered. After we demonstrated tea ceremony procedures as well as how to fold paper cranes and other items, however, they became more relaxed and friendly with us. Eventually, they allowed us totry our hands at a papermaking process at the mill.

Theme 2: Domestic Violence
In Noosa, a center on the Sunshine Coast of Queensland,
we studied various initiatives that have been introduced toaid victims of domestic violence. Noosa has three temporary
shelters, called Safe Houses, in the vicinity of police stations. Financial aid is provided to DV victims staying atthese shelters. We learned that many Aborigines who moveinto the city are tormented by a sense of having lost theirown identity. Consequently, an unfocused anger and lack ofself-confidence often drives Aboriginal men toward acts ofviolence against women and children. Although the situations affecting Aborigines and Japanese men are different,
it is common that men who lack self-confidence vent theirfrustrations on the more vulnerable women. Moreover, Aboriginal men, women and children suffer discrimination fromgeneral society.

During this study tour, we were able to experience thegrandeur of Australia’s natural environment and its geographical scale. We also met some extremely generous andcharming people. Today, relations between Japan and Australia are strengthening in trade and various other areas.
Through this study tour, we were able to learn about otheraspects of Australia that are unknown to the majority ofJapanese people.

▲Gallery of Modern Art in Brisbane▲Noosa Regional Art Gallery

5No.50 July 2007

J I C A

Seminar on Gender Perspective in
Environment and Development
OutlineThe Kitakyushu Forum on Asian Women, entrusted by
the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA),
annually organizes the Seminar on Gender Perspective
in Environment and Development.
The purposes of this Seminar are to deepen participants’ understanding of women’s roles in environmental
protection and sustainable development; provide participants with basic knowledge necessary for reforming
their countries’ systems from gender-sensitive perspectives; develop participants’ skills in resolving women’s
problems; foster participants’ ability to effectively carryout environment and development related initiatives
from the standpoint of government or NGOs; promoteparticipants’ understanding of the importance of environmental including sustainable development education,and enhance participants’ capacity as leaders of various
related projects.

Participants at Nagano Green Space

ParticipantsThis year’s seminar, the 12th in the series, was heldfrom January 29 to March 6, 2007, with a total of nine
participants from the following nine countries: Bangladesh, China, Iran, Mali, Paraguay, Peru, the Philippines, Syria and Zimbabwe. The participants were governmental officials responsible for environmental problems and women’s issues; NGO staff members as wellas university faculty members from various academic
fields.

At Water Quality Research Laboratory

Individual Programs
In the classes on “introduction of gender issues” and“development education,” participants held role-playdiscussions, each speaking on behalf of a story character.

Seminar Programs

The Seminar also included lectures concerning Kitakyushu City. As one of the Japan’s leading industrial
cities, Kitakyushu once suffered from serious environmental pollution. Among the lecturers was a woman
leader of an activity to combat that pollution. She introduced her own grassroots experiences related to thatstruggle. In addition, the “environment supporters,”
who are committed to environmental education at Kitakyushu Environment Museum, explained about theireducational activities. This was useful for participants
seeking to introduce environmental education activities
in their own countries.

The Seminar, held primarily at JICA Kyushu, comprised lectures and workshops on environment, development and women’s issues. Japanese governmental officials, professors and members of NGOs and other volunteer groups held classes, using various techniques,
including workshop and activity techniques. Participants engaged in field visits as well as listened to local
people’s experiences and perspectives.

The Seminar programs were also held in Tokyo, Hiroshima and Minamata (Kumamoto Prefecture). In Hiroshima and Minamata, participants listened to an atomic
bomb victim and to a Minamata disease patient respectively. This disease, a neuropathy, afflicts people whohave eaten fish contaminated by methylmercury. Bothspeakers hoped that they would be the last ones in theTraining session held at Kitakyushu Environment Museum

No.50 July 2007

6

volving professional women as leaders in environmental
issues; 2) breaking institutional standards based on
genders to make visible women who work with or makedecisions about these resources; 3) incorporating entire
communities in biodiversity conservation, and 4) creating an approach which balances economic, social andnatural components.
Green Peru is working on the following initiatives toimplement these countermeasures: 1) using biologicaldiversity in a sustainable way for carefully designed
ecotourism. This in turn protects the area; involves local
people as partners and direct beneficiaries; pays for ongoing costs of protection and generates jobs for local
people. 2) training women of different communities(Yine Yami, Machiguenga and other ethnic groups), in
crafts manufacture to enhance their familial economic
contribution; 3) acquiring cloud forest land as private
reserve. Green Peru now owns 4,500 hectares. This acquisition protects the cloud forest as a habitant for future species. Through carbon sequestration applied tothis area, Green Peru is also helping to reduce global
warming and improve biodiversity preservation in
Peru.
Finally, Green Peru’s Action Plan to improve ourecotourism reinforces management concerning the decrease of CO2 emissions and noise contamination. Specifically, this involves the implementation of solar panels in the different lodges managed by Green Peru andits conservation network. Green Peru needs the participation of an experienced enterprise which has knowledge and technology. Green Peru also needs funds in order to pay for solar panel equipment, installation andtraining by experts. After obtaining the equipment,
Green Peru needs to train women and men involved in
its operation. Persons in charge of each lodge will be responsible for the continued monitoring of the solar panels.

world to experience such tragedies. Their speeches werevery impressive to all the participants.

Country Report andAction Plan Presentation Meeting
During the seminar period, all participants preparedfeasible action plans pertaining to themes of their own
choice. They will carry out these plans in their own
workplaces after returning home. The participants gave
presentations on their action plans at the Country Report and Action Plan Presentation Meeting, held at theend of the Seminar. Local residents, invited to attend
this meeting, voted for the plan they supported themost. This kind of initiative was a first for this seminarseries. The action plan introduced by Ms. Victoria Vilma Blanco Zamalloa of Green Peru, an NGO received
the greatest number of votes.

Below is a summary of her plan.

Victoria Vilma Blanco Zamalloa (Peru)
Southern Rainforest General Manager
Conservation Association for the Southern Rainforest

Theme : Bioviversity Conservation
Since 1995, I have been working at the Conservation
Association for the Southern Rainforest (Green Peru).
Green Peru works to protect the uniquely intact tropicalrain forests of southeastern Peru, one of the most biologically diverse areas in the world.
We have been developing different areas of actionthat are part of our long-term biodiversity conservation
strategy: 1) conservation of wilderness areas combinedwith the study of sustainable economic activities, 2) territorial ordering through land titling of low-density rain
forest residents, 3) media awareness campaigns and environmental education, 4) pure and applied scientific research, 5) ecotourism projects along with the participation of local people and 6) land acquisition in specificareas to create private reserves for protection.
In Peru, the major environmental problems in therural area are: soils and biologic biodiversity lost related
to erosion, deforestation, headwaters contamination,and the inadequate use of the natural resources. These
problems have negative effects on the entire rural population, decreasing the possibilities for good quality lifestyles. Regarding women, this has repercussions, prejudicing their roles as caretakers of food production, distribution, and management within their families andtheir communities. Usually women are defined or define themselves as housekeepers. This masks their roles
as daily administrators of natural resources.
The countermeasures for these problems are: 1) in-

In conclusion, not only the Green Peru’s presentation
but also all of the action plans were instructive concerning environmental problems and initiatives. One audience member commented about how good it was that
the Green Peru plan combined tropical rain forest protection activities with the creation of job opportunities
for local people. Other participants action plans gave
the audience ideas about measures against air pollution
and increasing solid waste and water shortage. They
also suggested initiatives concerning public health andhygiene, environmental education and the situation of
women in farming village.

Participants at the seminar’s final session

7

No.50 July 2007

ReportFOREIGN CORRESPONDENTS REPORTS(access other foreign correspondents’ reports: http://www.kfaw.or.jp/english/16th_report.html)

Theme : Women and Disaster
Women Facing
Environment Hazard Disasters

Mateo de Huanchor, Province of Huarochiri, Lima. In
October 2000, a special report for the General Office of
Health in Peru established that 100% of population of
Mayoc was affected by heavy metals like coal in levels
higher than those that can be tolerated by human bodies. In March 2001, 293 citizens were evaluated in San
Mateo. Results showed that 67% of these people hadhigher lead levels in their blood; 48% had cadmium;
39% had arsenic and 28% showed higher mercury levels. Further studies showed that 6,000 citizens wereaffected by different kinds of toxics and suffered contamination. Some consequences of these negative effects were: chronic dermatitis, kidney malfunctions,chronic malnutrition, increased chances of skin cancer
and delays in mental development. 86% of children inthis area showed impaired intellectual development.
Overall, the evidence clearly showed the detrimental
effects of the town’s environmental hazards.

Carmen Ledesma (Peru)
Risk management to promote women’s development
in rural areas is a process of adopting policies, strategies and practices oriented to reduce the risks of disasters and minimize their effects. The aim is to reduce
vulnerability of the female population that occupies
territory stricken by natural disasters and socio-natural phenomena, such as, floods and draught, landslides, and other environment hazards. Natural disasters are very common in rural and Andean regions in
Peru.
This article introduces the experiences of womenin San Mateo de Huanchor (a town located around 90
kilometers east from the capital of Peru 3,500 meters
above sea level). San Mateo de Huanchor must addressenvironment hazards. These hazards were caused byprivate mines’ emission of waste and air pollution. Research shows that the worst consequences of mine pollution affect children and women, especially, women
working in rural areas and their families.
In 1998, a coal mine owned by Lasiandra Profane
started production in San Mateo de Huanchor. Mine
waste was delivered to the free land near the city without any protection. Private and public universities conducted research 2000-2003 on this situation. The results of these studies called for help from specialized
health and civil rights organizations to check the levels of pollution and health of population sectors.
A Committee of Victims was set up and managed bywoman who started to work with local authorities aswell as regional and national development institutions.
The purpose of the committee is to inform these entities about these kinds of disasters as well as stop thedisasters to avoid further destruction.
This committee and CODEMADES, a popular organization of San Mateo, have designed strategicplans, including budgets with risk management criteria and punishment for violations of environment laws.
It is necessary that the local citizens, experts andauthorities in general to consider daily risk reduction
criteria in their decision making processes. This is important for the promotion of safe investments. It is also
important for the improvement of human rights mechanisms and rural
economy areas vulnerable to natural
disasters.

▲Air pollution from mineral toxics

No.50 July 2007

Future Solutions
An official demand was sent to Inter-American
Commission of Human Rights/Organization of American States about the violation of basic human rights
like the right to live in Peru. The demand was accepted by Commission in 2003. The Commission called on
Peru to assume responsibilities. It also asked Peru toadopt immediate measures to resolve the conflict anddeal with the demands of the affected population including the indemnity for victims.
Civil society and the women of San Mateo Huanchor handled environmental disaster issues by actively engaging in legal mechanisms:- Moving town toxics immediately out of Mayoc/San
Mateo- Addressing the impact of environment hazards on
victims- Designing with all involved actors a development
plan to rescue San Mateo’s environment and ecosystem
Finally, in July of 2004, government, private sector,
and those mines responsible adopted to move the toxics
to another special place in order to protect the local
people and rivers. These parties also agreed to cover
the necessary cost. This experience in a local community showed that women leaders can definitely have input in decision making concerning issues of injusticeand disasters caused by irresponsible investment. This
leadership was able to finally protect or put in place anirreversible mechanism
for the decontaminationof their lands. At thesame time, the community’s possibilities for
growth and sustainable
development were enhanced.
▲Mineral toxics impact on a local

San Mateo de Huanchor Disaster Victims
The zone of conflict is the town Glorieta de Mayoc of San

8

Pakistani Women Speak Up
for their Rights

HIV/AIDS Pandemic:
Averting Disaster
Prabha Thacker (Nepal)

Tehreem Hasan Syed (Pakistan)

Nepal’s demographic situation is characterized by
predominant gender inequity with a growing threatof HIV. Early marriage amongst girls is still prevalent. Despite the government’s efforts to curb childmarriage, the Maoist insurgency, which has lasted
for a decade or more, has further triggered not only
a fear psychosis but also a need to have daughters inconflict affected regions, particularly, marry early. In
addition, the exodus of IDPs (Internally Displaced
People), including mostly married adolescents andyoung able bodied girls, fleeing human insecurity
and violence, is growing. While men in remote mountain areas have been migrating to India, young wives
and single women have been forced to migrate forhuman security to urban/semi-urban market centers
within Nepal. Unfortunately, this does not provide
them with a safe refuge because they become vulnerable to sexual exploitation and violence.
In Nepal, social discrimination against women begins from childhood and continues throughout theirlife cycle. Moreover, a women's sexual health is most
exploited during the early reproductive years of herlife. Dictated by religious and cultural norms including an obsession with purity of the female body, giving daughters in marriage at an early age is stillseen in certain rural regions as the heavenly duty ofcaring parents. This perspective is found in those rural regions of the country where caste and tradition
based hierarchies foster the exploitative practices
against women. Mareover, social pressures as wellas gender disparities and vulnerabilities due toyoung age have further caused powerlessness among
young women. Nowhere is this more pronounced
than in this sub-population’s exposure to HIV/AIDS.
Presently, HIV/AIDS in Nepal is largely transferred through heterosexual contact. And male migrant
workers, returning home either permanently orotherwise, are the main carriers of HIV/AIDS. If
their returnee husbands are found to be infected,
women are blamed and stigmatized by family andcommunity. As silent victims, these women must livewith their shamed bodies. Furthermore, treatment toprevent transfer of infection from HIV infected women to their unborn children is not yet available inmost health institutes, except in the government run
Maternity Hospital in Kathmandu.
The above trends exemplify how HIV/AIDS may
become the leading cause of death among the young,particularly, women. In addition, the general threat
to human life and its heavy toll on the country’s social and economic development, is also great.
Although substantial progress has been made towards gender equality in the social, economic and legal fields through legislation, policy and programs, it
is still likely that adolescent married and unmarried females will be major victims of the HIV/AIDS
pandemic. This is due to the sexist structure of Nepalese society. That is unless a vigorous and broadbased response is mounted as soon as possible.

Suriya has seven children-five daughters and twosons. Until recently, she had not set foot outside herhouse. Circumstances forced her to start managing
her life. Her husband was a hard working car mechanic who asserted that “no wife of mine will everwork.” Despite desperate pleas from Suriya that sheshould be allowed to work to improve their living
conditions, he never accepted these pleas, considering them below his ego and authority. Many families
in Pakistan suffer from this kind of male attitude.
The family was hardly able to make ends meet whendisaster struck their household. The head of the family, an Alpha Male, was after all a human, fallible tothe ups and downs of life. Later, he was diagnosed
with acute arthritis and became almost paralysed by
the disease. The debility made it difficult for him towork properly.
The responsibility for his care, which became thefirst priority of the family, had to be borne bravely.
Besides their time, care and dedication to him, money was also needed to manage the medical bills. Fora family dependent on the male head of the household, a totally different situation became even moredifficult. Bold steps had to be taken. Suriya had been
forced to move out and start working. As her husband’s way of thinking about Suriya’s working outside the home had not changed, this change generated fights and tension between them. The husband
hurled insults freely because Suriya was behaving
against his wishes. A couple must realize that anything can happen to any one of them. Presently, Suriya is employed as a nurse in a private hospital. She
received training from one of the programs initiatedby Ministry of Women Development (MoWD).
In Pakistan, women are an integral part of theeconomy. However, their participation rate is lower
then men’s due to cultural taboos and the non-availability of suitable jobs. In addition, although womenare not excluded from participating, they remainrather invisible and at a disadvantage. One of themost positive developments during this administration has been the emergence of a changed perspective regarding women’s participation and development. Stress on female literacy, gender equality andwomen participation is being encouraged. MoWD is
engaged in formulating new and innovative projects
to uplift Pakistani women from all strata of life. Disaster and tragedy is still there but now the chancesof dealing with them are better than before. Womenin Pakistan are speaking up now for their rights.

▲Suriya is working at a local hospital as a nurse

9No.50 July 2007

UgandaNew Foreign
Correspondents
In 1991 the Kitakyushu Forum on Asian Women (KFAW) establishedthe foreign correspondents system in order to build broad networks withpeople in overseas countries, particularly in the Asia and Pacific region.
This year KFAW was pleased to receive 23 applications for FY 2007 foreign correspondents. Of these 23 applicants from 15 countries, KFAW selected nine from eight countries. As a result, the total number of past andpresent foreign correspondents has reached 227 in 34 countries. Throughits network of foreign correspondents, KFAW will continue to provide upto-date information from various parts of the world.

Ms. Namande Grace, an educational
expert, works at Community Effort toSupport Children (CESUC). After completing studies at the National Teachers College, she taught 1997-2005.

Burkina Faso

Theme : Women and Community Activities
In Europe and the U.S., the numbers of women who stand for national
elections and women who become national policymakers are increasing.
They fact is truly encouraging from the perspective of promoting genderequality. The ratio of women among policymakers, however, is still low.
Moreover, there is a great gap among regions. In this context, KFAW
hopes that more and more women will exert leadership in national politics as well as in large enterprises/organizations. At the same time, we at
KFAW believe that women’s activities at the community level are equallyimportant. With this in mind, we have selected “women and community
activities” as this year’s theme for reports from foreign correspondents.
One example of a successful community activity is the women’s anti-pollution campaign held in Kitakyushu City. During the 1960s, industrial
activities that underpinned Japan’s high economic growth caused serious
air and water pollution in Kitakyushu. Harmful substances discharged
from factories even caused residents’ health problems. To combat the pollution, women of Kitakyushu initiated an anti-pollution campaign withthe slogan: “We Want Our Blue Skies Back.” This campaign, finally helped restore the present clean environment in communities throughout
Kitakyushu.
We hope that foreign correspondents will report on many other cases
in which women have successfully exerted strong leadership in community activities. We are also interested in more cases in which women havehelped vitalize their communities through their active participation incommunity planning and policymaking. Moreover, we hope to receive reports on community activities designed to achieve gender equality, alongwith reports on the social impact of those activities.

Kenya

Mr. Justus A. M. Mutie, an expert on
development issues, is currently Deputy Director of Development of Gender
for the government of Kenya.

a wheelchair, she lived alone in a 60-squaremeter apartment with two rooms, a kitchen,
and bathroom. She receives free medical treatment and daily-life assistance. Whereas Denmark’s care system for the elderly is similar to
those in Sweden and other Nordic countries,
Denmark places particular priority on visitingcare. In Denmark, different from Sweden, aspecial committee decides whether patients receive free visiting care and necessary nursing
services.
According to the same Japanese lady, mostof the care workers are migrant workers whocame to Denmark from Iran, Africa and Eastern Europe. One staff member who takes careof her is a man from Ethiopia. Regardless of

THE FORUM WINDOW
Becoming Old in a Foreign Country- Providers and Recipients of Care Services In April 2007, the Japanese government
started to open the door for nurses and care
workers from the Philippines. To study the situations of such migrant workers in Europe, I
visited Denmark in 2006. During that trip, I
had an opportunity to visit a Japanese woman
living in an apartment for the elderly in Copenhagen.
The woman in her mid-sixties, was suffering from advanced Parkinson’s disease. Using

No.50 July 2007

Ms. Karimatou Jocelyne Vokouma/Boussari, the Secretary General of
the Women Promotion Ministry, hasalso been a journalist and a humanrights’ advisor. She participated in the2004 JICA Seminar on Gender Mainstreaming Policies for Government Officers in Japan.

10

Uzbekistan

Ms. Asuka Kawano is a researcher on
education and culture in “Maharra”,
an Uzbekistan traditional community.
She will focus on modern Uzbekistan
as it relates to women and their community activities.

Nepal

Ms. Bharati Pokharel has worked as ajournalist for the past nine years. She
has especially reported on events
where women have been made victims
of gender-based discrimination and violence.

Vietnam

Ms. Le Thi has researched about women, gender and family studies for along time. She has been an advisor to
the Swedish and Danish Fund for Promotion on Gender Equality in Vietnam. This is her fifth time as a KFAW
foreign correspondent.

India

India

Singapore

Ms. Swapna Majumdar, a journalist,
writes on development issues from agender perspective. She also contributes to reports for development policies by members of the Indian parliament. This is her tenth time as a
KFAW foreign correspondent.

Ms. Satoko Chaterjee works at the Development Research Communicationand Services Centre (DRCSC). This
centre contributes to rural development, environmental agriculture aswell as education. She was in Cambodia before India as a Japan International Volunteer Center (JVC) volunteer.

Ms. Gloria A. Rosanow, an Indonesian,is based in Singapore. She has an avid
interest in social issues, especially, religion, ethnic relations, collective memory, culture and marginalized communities.

nationality, she explained that all care workers
are Danish governmental staff members who
have received sufficient training. The only
problem she has is that she cannot use new
medication as much as she would like to. Even
though she is provided with free medical treatment, she cannot access desired medicines due
to a budget limit. However, as she can consult
with her caseworker, whenever she is not happy with her care workers, there are no problems
with these caregivers. “Do you sometimes feelthat you’d like to go back to Japan?” I asked
her hesitating as I was not sure how she would
react. “Why do you ask?” she exclaimed. She
then responded confidently, “I’ve been here for30 years and have many friends here. In Den-mark, foreigners can lead comfortable lives,
since our human rights are fully respected.”
I was deeply impressed by her firm standand independent attitude. Simultaneously,
I could not help but compare her situation
to that of elderly people both Japanese andnon-Japanese in Japan, particularly, those living alone. I also worry about how these seniors,
foreign migrant care workers who are coming
soon and Japanese care workers can work together smoothly. At the same time, the newpolicy will make Japanese private homes andcare institutions global workplaces.
Masami Shinozaki
KFAW Chief Researcher

11

No.50 July 2007

ISSN 0918-8266Greetings from New Chair & President
It is my great pleasure to announce that on
April 1, 2007, I assumed the Chair of theKitakyushu Forum on Asian Women(KFAW). I am determined to continue myservice to further reinforce KFAW’s
activities, and to achieve our common global
Chairgoals: Equality, Development and Peace.
Yoshiko Misumi
Since KFAW’s establishment, I have servedin different capacities to further our goals ofraising Asian women’s social status, promoting theirpartnership and mutual development under the motto:“Learning about Each Other, Sharing and Helping One
Another.” Since fiscal 2006, KFAW has been committed to
global campaigns to promote the U.N. Decade for Education for
Sustainable Development (ESD), serving as the Secretariat for
the Kitakyushu ESD Council. On this occasion I would like toexpress my sincere gratitude to all who have offered me theirgenerous support, cooperation and advice over all those years.
And I would like to request your continued support of andcooperation with KFAW s activities.

It is my pleasure to announce that in April
2007, I was entrusted with the presidency of
the Kitakyushu Forum on Asian Women. I
was also appointed as the Director of theKitakyushu Municipal Gender Equality
Center “MOVE.” Until March 2007, I was a
President
faculty member at Fukuoka Women’s
Kuniko Yoshizaki
University, teaching American literature(by women writers) and feminist criticism.
Seventeen years have passed since the founding of theKitakyushu Forum on Asian Women. Over the past years, theForum has been committed to comprehensive studies of Asian
women as well as to various activities designed to help raise
Asian women’s social status. Currently, the Forum is also
committed to the Education for Sustainable Development(ESD) program led by the United Nations. I am determined to
do my best to fulfill my tasks with regard to thesecommitments and would appreciate your generous support
and cooperation.

KFAW 2008-2009 RECRUITMENT OFFOREIGN CORRESPONDENTS

COVER PROFILEKFAW is pleased to announce its 2008-2009 recruitment offoreign correspondents for the purpose of expanding KFAW’s
network with other countries in the Asian Pacific region andcollecting overseas information on women’s status.
● Number of recruitment: nine
● Qualifications :①Applicants must live in another country outside of Japan. (However, there
is no limitation as to one’s nationality or sex)
②Applicants must be able to participate for one year and turn in reports(including an application report) three times a year either in Japanese or
English.
● Application :Applicants must prepare the following items and submit them to KFAW :①Report: up to 1,200 Japanese letters or 700 English words.
Theme : “The elimination of all forms of discrimination and violenceagainst the girl child ”②Application form: You can download it from our web site.
③Photographs : Photograph/s related to the report with an explanation.
Please do not clip the photos in any way. The photos must be clearlyvisible. Submitted photos will not be returned. (This is absolutely
required. Please do not forget to forward it by post or e-mail.)● Compensation: 8,000 yen per report.
● Deadline date :Applications posted by or on February 29, 2008 will be accepted.

Location of
Kitakyushu

Veterinarian

Ms. Yukari Sotohira has
loved wild animals since her
childhood. Now as a veterinarian, she saves animal life
at a zoo in Kitakyushu. She
treats animals not only insideof zoo but also from theoutside. In the latter case,this involves wild wounded animals which people
bring in. She regards veterinarian’s work as“conveying life”. This means saving animal’s lives
and maintaining the species. Treatment of woundedanimals also show people the importance of life. In
short, she is a “life messenger” for recovered andcheerful animals.

Beijing Pyongyang

ShanghaiSeoul Osaka Tokyo
Kitakyushu
Fukuoka

KITAKYUSHU OTEMACHI BUILDING 3F
OTEMACHI 11-4, KOKURAKITA, KITAKYUSHU, 803-0814 JAPAN
PHONE＋81-93-583-3434 FAX＋81-93-583-5195

Hong Kong Taipei
Hanoi
Vientiane

Dhaka

Yangon Bangkok

E-mail: kfaw@kfaw.or.jp URL: http://www.kfaw.or.jp/english/index.html

ManilaKFAW

Phnom Penh
Kuala Lumpur
Singapore

Jakarta

Ms. Yukari Sotohira

Port Moresby

The Kitakyushu Forum on Asian Women (KFAW) was established in
October of 1990 with a special government fund for revitalization projects.
Subsequently, in 1993, the KFAW was recognized as a foundation by the
Ministry of Labor. The purpose of the KFAW, through various projects, is topromote the improvement of women's status as well as their mutual
understanding and cooperation in Asia.

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