MEDIA ADVISORY

Women Raise Their Voices
Against Conflict in South Asia
WHEN: 8:15 to 11 AM, November 28

WHERE: IDRC Auditorium, 14th Floor, 250 Albert St. Ottawa, Canada

WHY: Forum on Women and Leadership: Voices for Security

OTTAWA—Six women activists and journalists from Nepal, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and India will meet at a South Asia Partnership Canada Forum to tell Canadians how they are demanding a voice in defining national security policies in one of the most conflict-ridden regions in the world. These extraordinary women include:

· Ms. Nelofer Pazir (Afghanistan), journalist and lead actor in the movie Kandahar.
· Ms. Rita Thapa (Nepal), feminist activist and recent winner of the University of Toronto’s “Dame Nita Barrow Award” for her work encouraging Nepalese self-reliance.
· Ms. Ayesha Haroon (Pakistan), Journalist of the Nation in Islamabad.
· Ms. Shobha Gautam (Nepal), Activist and Field Researcher in districts affected by the Maoist uprising.
· Ms. Kabita Chakma (Bangladesh), Activist in the Chittagong Hill Tracts conflict.
· Ms. Selvadharshini Thevanesan Croos (Sri Lanka), activist with the Cordaid Resources for Peace Project. Over the last year, Ms. Croos has visited over 100 communities in conflict-ridden Northern Sri Lanka, listening to the concerns of community-level groups.
· Dr. Paula Banerjee (India), author and faculty member of the University of Calcutta, as well as an informal activist Calcutta Research Group. She recently worked with the UNHCR on refugee rehabilitation in India.

Participants will share their experiences and strategies with Canadian Non-Government Organizations, academics, students, and government officials.

For more information, contact:
Peter Moore
Communications Officer
South Asia Partnership Canada
613-241-1333 ext. 228

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