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408 THE BAHA’i WORLD
Participants in a Women ’s Institute held at the Regional Bahd ’1' Centre ofLaz‘riKunda,
Gambia, in 1987.
International Council of Women delegates from Korea and India listen to a speaker during a reception held to honour Laura Dreyqu-Barney, a Bahd ’z' and a member offhe [CW The event tookplace 0n 6 July 1988 at the UNICEF House in Washington, DC, as part of the celebrations offhe one hundredth anniversaiy 0fthe International Council of WOmen.
INTERNATIONAL SURVEY OF CURRENT BAHA’i ACTIVITIES
4. WOMEN’ s ACTIVITIES
In every age and cycle He hath, through the splendorous light shed by the Manifestations of His wondrous Essence, recreated all things...1
THE Revelation of Bahé’u’llah has given us a new Vision of what it means to be human; a whole new set of standards with which to View ourselves as men and women, and new ways of seeing the relationships between what ‘Abdu’l—Bahé called the “two wings of one bird”2 of humanity. "In this Day, ” Bahé’u’lléh Wrote, “the Hand of divine grace hath removed all distinctions. The servants of God and His handmaidens are regarded 0n the same plane. ” 3
This is the first time in religious history that a Manifestation of God has enunciated this principle, and from the Writings it is clear that before a Baha’i World Commonwealth can be brought into being a fundamental change in the status of women needs to take place. ‘Abdu’l-Baha stated: “...it is well established in history that where woman has not participated in human aflairs, the
outcomes have never attained a state of completion and perfection. ”4
The key to raising the status of womenw- indeed the key to raising all people up to “the greatness which might be theirs”5—is education. “Woman’s lack ofprogress and proficiency has been due to her need of equal education and opportunity. Had she been allowed this equality, there is no doubt she would be the counterpart ofman in abil— ity and capacity. The happiness of mankind will be realized when women and men co- ordinate and advance equally, for each is the complement and helpmeet 0f the other. ”6
During the Six Year Plan, Baha’i commu- nities sponsored or supported a wide range of educational activities as a way of promoting the equality of men and women, and helping to bring about the needed “organic change in the structure of present-day society....”7
SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS
The most basic laws and ordinances of the Baha’i Faith underscore the need people have for an education. For example: Bahé’is are asked to read from the Sacred Scriptures each day, Which requires literacy skills; are enj oined to seek truth independently, which requires thought processes free from super- stition and imitation; and are instructed to
.-l
Bahé’u’lléh, Gleanings from the Writings of Bahé ’u ’lldh (Wilmette: Baha’i Publishing Trust, 1976), p. 62.
‘Abdu’l-Bahé. Selections from the Writings of ‘Abdu ’l—Bahd (Haifa: Baha’i World Centre, 1978), p. 302.
Baha’u’lléh, extract from a previously untranslated Tablet; cited in Women, compiled by the Research Department of the Universal House of Justice, January 1986. p. 2.
N
U)
engage in some occupation—some art, trade or the like, which requires job training. These laws and ordinances apply to all Bahé’is, male and female.
In many parts of the world, for a variety of reasons, people have not received the education that would make it possible for them to comply with these laws. To help,
4 ‘Abdu’l—Bahé, The Promulgatz‘on ofUnz'versal Peace (Wilmette: Baha’i Publishing Trust, 1982), p. 134.
5 Paris T alks: Addresses given by ‘Abdu ’l-Bahd in Paris in 1911—1912 (London: Baha’i Publishing Trust, 1979), p. 133.
6 Promulgation, p. 182.
7 Shoghi Effendi, The World Order ofBahd’u’lléh (Wilmette: Baha’i Publishing Trust, 1974), p. 43.
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410
Baha’is have worked to found tutorial and
other schools, launch rural development
programmes, organize job training facilities,
establish educational radio stations, operate
agricultural and medical projects, and other
development proj ects. Most of these endeav-
ours have been designed for the whole
community. However, because women have
been oppressed in so many societies for so
long, some projects have been specifically
designed to help women gain confidence in
their abilities and develop skills.
In Zambia, where only twenty per cent of girls receive basic education, a Baha’i residential secondary school for girls named after the Hand of the Cause of God Mfisé Banani began development under the aus- pices of the William Mmutle Masehla Institute. This school was planned to offer a curriculum that would combine agricultural training with the University of Cambridge Exams Syndicate curriculum which would provide students with the International Gen- eral Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) at the end of grade twelve.
Promoting literacy among women was the focus of Baha’i activities in Cameroon, C6te d’Ivoire, France, Gabon, Guinea- Bissau, Papua New Guinea and Vanuatu, all of which reported either special literacy classes being held for women, or noted that women were making up a significant per- centage of those attending classes open for
THE BAHA’l WORLD
In Sarh, Chad, the “Roses Noires ”
5 women ’S group met regularly to learn prayers, discussfam- ily problems, receive lessons in hygiene, and learn sewing and embroidery skills. Photo taken on
8 June 1988.
anyone. The National Spiritual Assembly of India established more than two hundred tutorial schools during the Plan, many of Which were attended by girls and women.
The New Era Development Institute, based in Maharashtra, implemented the Government of India’s Ministry of Human Resources adult education programme. The effort introduced centres in sixty-one local communities and ran a series of evening classes that were largely attended by women. The subjects discussed included adult literacy and children’s education, health care, hygiene, animal husbandry and tree planting. Instructors were from the com- munities themselves.
The Rabbani School Rural Development Project, located near Gwalior in Madhya Pradesh, centres on the Rabbani School and more than twenty Villages in the immediate Vicinity. Development of the school included programmes for formal and non—forrnal education, agriculture, animal husbandry and health. Development of Villages includes the formation of women’s groups, and coop— eration in such ventures as land reclamation, nursery development, poultry farming, agriculture and veterinary services. Many women also attend sewing classes, Which include a component of functional literacy.
The combination of literacy classes and training in income—producing skills is the cornerstone of the programmes run by the
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INTERNATIONAL SURVEY OF CURRENT BAHA’I ACTIVITIES
Baha’i Vocational Institute for Rural Women. Started in Indore, Madhya Pradesh, in 1983, the project soon included two sub— centres, one in Manipur and one in Jhabua. In November 1986, a third course was started in Kalyanpura. In addition to adult literacy, vocational skills including weaving, sewing, knitting and embroidery have been taught. The initiative won national recogni— tion for the level of excellence it has sustained in its work.
Sixty women attended courses in sewing, cooking, child care and English held in Franceville, Gabon, during the Six Year Plan. In Ciskei, the Baha’is of Ngqumeya began a candle—making operation as an income-generating project for women. This effort was run as a cooperative enterprise, with part of the proceeds from each sale being returned to the group to purchase more wax. Following the early success of the initiative the women were invited by a gov- ernment official to demonstrate their skills to other Villages. In Sarh, Chad, the “Roses Noires” women’s group met regularly to learn prayers, discuss family problems, receive lessons in hygiene, and to learn sew- ing and embroidery. The group functioned under the direction of the Local Spiritual Assembly of Sarh.
Women often took part in——and benefited from—Baha’i development efforts focused on health and nutrition. For example, in Burkina Faso women made up about fifty per cent of the volunteers trained to serve their Village communities as part of the Hygiene and Nutrition Education Project. Started in 1984, the Project continued throughout the Six Year Plan to give basic training in nutrition, sanitation and hygiene, as well first-aid training and access to a “pharmacy box” containing a number of basic medications in each Village.
In Zambia, Primary Health Care training programmes for women were initiated in 1988: one-week courses were conducted in communities, while two-week courses were carried out at the William Mmutle Masehla
411
Baha’i Institute. In Nigeria, Baha’i women promoted the use of soya bean products to provide protein for families that could not afford to include animal milk, eggs or meat in their daily diets.
In Haiti, more than four hundred and fifty mothers were trained in the areas of family welfare, education and health care. Materials used in this programme included those de- veloped by the Ruhi Institute of Colombia, and the National Spiritual Assembly of Kenya.
In Tuvalu, the Baha’i women’s Nutrition and Home Gardening Programme operated continually during the Six Year Plan to help families improve their health and standard of living. It consisted of a vegetable garden competition among Baha’i households in Funafuti in which each family grew nine vegetables. In Tonga, women started a vege- table, fowl and pig farm on Tongatapu in 1989, and in Malaysia women were the prime workers in the small vegetable plots operated by the Baha’i community of Pengkalan Hulu, Perak.
In 1989, a Health Awareness Project was undertaken by the National Women’s Committee of Malaysia. The objective was to provide health and child development education for the mothers and families in the selected low income areas, and to expose the mothers to the benefits of health and child development practices. The first phase of the Project was to reduce the incidence of scabies, lice and worm infection among the families, to attract women to the centres, and to establish good and lasting relationships. The undertaking not only achieved all its objectives, but led to further development initiatives including dental care and literacy classes.
The very innovative project entitled “Traditional Media as a Change Agent”, which worked at the Village level, has been described in the article on Baha’i social and economic proj ects (see p. 179). The National Spiritual Assemblies of Bolivia, Cameroon, and Malaysia cooperated in this activity which
was funded through the Baha’i International Community by the United Nations Develop- ment Fund for Women (UNIFEM). The two- year enterprise commenced in October 1991. Baha’i communities in Brazil and Nigeria also joined the project.
The initiative sought to improve the status of rural women by using traditional media of music, dance and drama to stimu- late Village-wide discussion of women’s roles. Men were included in the consultation, and were asked to help identify factors which inhibited women from taking part in decision—making and other activities which would allow them to contribute positively to the growth of their families and their commu- nities. Early results were very encouraging,
THE BAHA’T WORLD
Richard and Mona Grieser, standing in the back row centre, with participants in the “T raditional Media as a Change Agent” project co-Sponsored by the Bahd ’z' Interna- tional Community and the United Nations ‘ Development F and for Women. Sarawak, Malaysia; 1992.
with all participating Villages responding positively to the challenge.
A women’s conference on radio program- ming was held at the Guaymi Cultural Centre in Panama from 31 August to 2 Sep— tember 1990, with the goal of consulting about broadcasting on Radio Baha’i Panama in relation to topics of special interest to women, such as the equality of men and women and the education of children. About 150 people attended, with men working in the kitchen and taking care of the young children so that the women could attend the sessions. The status of women was the subject of discussions aired on other Baha’i radio stations as well, in Peru, Bolivia, Ecuador, Chile, the United States, and Liberia.
CONFERENCES, SEMINARS AND PUBLICATIONS
The Baha’i Writings discuss three types of education: "material education”, which teaches people how to improve their physi- cal well—being; “human education”, which is concerned with knowledge of commerce, the sciences and arts; and “spiritual or moral education ”, which addresses values.1 If social and economic development pro— jects are among the types of “material” and “human” education, conferences could be included as types of “spiritual” education as
1 ‘Abdu’l-Bahé, SomeAnswered Questions (Wilmette: Baha’i Publishing Trust, 1981, p. 8.
they help deepen our understanding of the Baha’i dispensation.
Throughout the Six Year Plan, Baha’i conferences, seminars and workshops for women took place worldwide. Whether held under the open skies of a Village or in a metropolitan auditorium, women discussed issues pertinent to their roles as mothers, as peacemakers, and as Vital members of society.
In 1988, international Baha’i women’s conferences were organized in North and South America, and in the Caribbean. The event which took place in Dallas, Texas, from 8 to 12 August was attended by more
[Page 413]
INTERNATIONAL SURVEY OF CURRENT BAHA’i ACTIVITIES 413
Left: In Luxembourg, the Bahd’z’ Women ’S Union organized a conference
with concert held on
7 October 1988 and attended by about 130people.
Below: In Mexico, Rosalinda Espinoza de Frazelle is talk- ing about “Women and Peace ” during a Bahd ’1' women ’s conference held
in I 98 7.
mu
Wmsm
Above: In Bangladesh, Mrs Shirin Boman addresses a Baha ' ’1'
women ’s conference
held in Dhaka in 1986. _ ' ’JQ u Rzght: In Kenya, one of . 3 ““4 mfl‘qfimfi the friends makes (11147901'ntk.w:4w “1‘" : rm; not :7 ohm during the National Bahd’z’ _ . Q (uxqwu 13:45:;qu «mm Women ’5 Conference held E “if mm; netia . in the Nakuru Bahd’z’ ' IVLJ'WWQVJ‘? Wm“! 61 P3
Centre in F ebruary I989.
414
than one thousand women from sixty-five countries and all fifty states of the United States of America. Called “Global Peace, from Vision to Reality”, the gathering was sponsored by the National Spiritual Assem- bly of the Bahé’is of the United States. The professionally organized programme includ- ed a daily schedule of workshops, talks, and working sessions on ways women could en- hance their role in the global peace-making process. The meeting was widely publicized as reporters responded to its unusually diverse multiracial, multireligious quality which tangibly demonstrated the possibility of a peaceful global community.
One hundred and thirty women from seven nations of the Americas were welcomed to the International Women’s Conference in Paraguay which opened 011-15 July 1988. The gathering received full coverage for several days on both of the country’s tele- vision channels and in all three national newspapers. Representatives of the United Nations helped to organize the programme, and the Minister of Education and Religion sent a message of welcome. Mrs. Isabel Pavon de Calderon, a member of the Conti- nental Board of Counsellors, commented that the conference was “writing the history of women in Latin America”.
A strong feature of the Caribbean Women’s Conference, held on the island of Antigua, in the Leeward Islands, from 9 to
- (Co))fé1@yciai [yfefljacioya/Btzfid'i at; [unjQI ‘
EL MOWENTU HA LLEGADO7w [gmaidadDesarm/on Pal oerubns
THE BAHA’t WORLD
11 September 1988, was that fifty percent of the participants were not Bahé’l’s. The sessions attracted representatives from twelve countries and were given extensive news coverage.
The following year, Uruguay hosted an International Women’s Conference that was described as “charged with enthusiasm”. Conducted from 6 to 8 October 1989 in Montevideo, the occasion was co—sponsored by the National Spiritual Assembly and the Ministry of Education and Culture. Approxi- mately three hundred peOple from twelve countries took part, and messages of support were received from various Government authorities, Baha’i institutions, and women’s associations from other countries. The gath- ering was reported widely by the mass communications media.
The first initiative to form a European Baha’i Women’s Movement took place at De Poort Conference Centre in the Netherlands from 6 to 8 May 1988. Ten countries were represented by twenty-eight individuals, many of whom were members of National Baha’i Women’s Committees. Consultations were on ways the European Baha’i commu- nities could better understand the role of women.
As one result of these efforts, the Conti- nental Board of Counsellors in Europe sponsored seven international women’s con- ferences in 1990. The first took place in
alum
Uruguay hosted an
. International Bahd ’1' Women ’3 Conference co-sponsored by the National Spiritual
.‘ - Assembly and the Ministry ofEducation and Culture and held in Montevideo from 6 t0 8 October 1989.
[Page 415]
INTERNATIONAL SURVEY OF CURRENT BAHA’T ACTIVITIES
A Pacific Bahd ’1' Women ’3 Conference was held in Hilo, Hawaii, from 30 May to 7 June 1991, with seventy—sz‘x women from seventeen islands and countries border- _ 7 ing the Pacific basin ‘ takingpart. ' ‘
Iskenderun, Turkey, from 18 to 20 May, and its theme was “The Role of Women in the Fait ”. Participants came from many parts of Turkey and from other European countries, and the spirit reportedly was outstanding.
The second European women’s confer- ence was held in Fuscaldo Marina, Italy, from 8 to 10 June. The programme was excellent, the National Spiritual Assembly reported, and gave rise to participation in two ongoing teaching proj ects. One group of women went to Portici, Italy, to take part in intensive teaching activities there, while the other group travelled to Spain to join the teaching work among the Gypsies. “Both projects were carried out with great enthusi- asm”, the National Spiritual Assembly stated. Furthermore, the conference “incited the desire in the Baha’i families to participate in teaching activities not only as individuals but as Baha’i families”.
The Hand of the Cause of God Amatu’l- Baha Rfihiyyih _K_hanum attended the Euro- pean Baha’i women’s conferences held in Madrid, Spain, from 30 August to 3 Septem— ber, With more than four hundred Baha’is from twenty countries attending, and in Bastia, Corsica, from 7 to 9 September, With about five hundred participants from fifteen
7 countries. Publicity for the Faith was unprecedented in both countries.
The European conference for German- speaking women took place at Langenhain,
415
Germany, on 6 and 7 October 1990, and the one for Freneh-speaking women was held at the Baha’i Centre in Luxembourg from 26 to 28 October. Their theme was “The Role of Women in the Transformation of Society”. Approximately one hundred Baha’is from seven countries assembled for the meeting.
The last in the series of European wom- en’s conferences was conducted in Dublin, Ireland, from 2 to 4 November 1990. It was called “She Will Shine Resplendently”, and was attended by three hundred and fifty Baha’is. “Heartened by the response from men, whose huge presence contributed greatly to the spirit of unity, to the practical outcome of the conference, and to encour— agement of the women participants, a true feeling of ‘new beginnings’ was created for many.”
A Pacific Women’s Conference was held on the campus of the University of Hawaii at Hilo. It took place from 30 May to 6 June 1991 With seventy—six Baha’i women from seventeen islands and countries bordering the Pacific basin taking part. The theme was “Empowering Women to Achieve”, and the programme focused on: education for peace; permaculture; social and economic develop— ment programmes; health and nutrition; and, use of the media to support teaching projects.
In Africa, forty-four ethnic groups were represented among the two hundred people
[Page 416]
416
who assembled for the International Baha’i Women’s Conference held from 31 October to 4 November 1991 in Nigeria. Five mem- bers of the Continental Board of Counsellors and six members of the Auxiliary Board were among the guests. At the end of the meeting the participants resolved “to arise and meet the unique opportunities open to them; to take responsibility for the development of themselves, their families and the world”.
The President of the Republic of the Seychelles Islands, Mr. Albert Rene, “extended the warmest possible welcome” to representatives of the Bahé’is who had travelled to his country to attend the Region- al Baha’i Conference for Women on the college campus of Port Lanau in Mahe’ from 31 December 1991 to 5 January 1992. More than one-hundred and thirty believers from Madagascar, Reunion, Mauritius, and the Seychelles listened to talks and participated in workshops on themes including the role of women in the family, women and the edu— cation of children, the role of women in the Baha’i community, and women and peace.
Conferences featuring the principle of equality of men and women were sponsored by two chapters of the Association for Baha’i Studies during the Six Year Plan. In the United States, the North American chapter hosted nearly eight hundred people during its meeting held from 15 to 17 September 1989 in Irvine, California. The theme of the gath- ering was “Full Partnership: An International Conference on the Equality of Women and Men”. Seminars covered a range of interests including consultation and conflict resolu- tion, the arts, health, agriculture, science and technology, and intercultural issues. T here was an even attendance of men and women at the Conference, with the sentiment being Widely held that equality is not a women’s issue, but a human issue.
In Australia, the Association for Baha’i Studies’ eighth conference took place in Adelaide from 24 to 27 March 1989. A special one-day symposium featured “The
THE BAHA’i WORLD
Role of Women in an Advancing Civilization”. This consisted of presentations of invited papers by Baha’i and non—Bahé’i experts focusing on such areas of concern as women and power, women in the legal profession, and women, development and peace.
The first Association for Baha’i Studies conference in Papua New Guinea, conducted in September 1988 at the University Baha’i Club in Port Moresby, included a paper by a Papua New Guinean on “Equality of Men and Women: Traditional and Modern Con— cepts”. The Association’s second conference, held at the University of Papua New Guinea in May 1989, heard presentations on “The Effect of the Baha’i Faith on the Position of Women in the Mountain Brown Area of Papua New Guinea”, and “Women and Peace: An Anthropological Perspective”.
Extracts from the Baha’i Sacred Writings on the subject of women, compiled by the Research Department of the Universal House of Justice and released in English in January 1986, provided much of the basis for study of the issue during the Six Year Plan. Editions of the compilation received at the Baha’i World Centre Library during the period had been translated into Chinese, Dutch, Finnish, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Norwe- gian, Polish, Spanish, Swedish, and Turkish.
Newsletters by and for Baha’i women were another source of inspiration. A sample of the newsletters produced include Euro Bulletin (in English) from the National Com— mittee for Fostering the Equality of the Sexes, Republic of Ireland; From the Hearts of the Handmaidens (in English) from the Women’s Consultative Group, Lynnwood, Washington, USA; Bahai Josei Janaru (in Japanese) from the National Women’s Committee of Japan; Bahd’z’ Women (in Hindi) from the Baha’i Women’s Committee of Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India; Mujeres de la Nueva Era (in Spanish) from the National Baha’i Women’s Committee of Bolivia; and, Sauti ya Mama (in Swahili) from the Baha’i Women’s Committee for Upper Zaire.
[Page 417]
INTERNATIONAL SURVEY OF CURRENT BAHA’t ACTIVITIES
In the United States, Louise Profeit—Leblanc giving a presentation during the 14th Annual Conference for the Association for Bahd ’1' Studies held in Irvine Cali ornia,
15 t0 1 7 September, 1989.
417
EFFORTS TO PROMOTE EQUALITY IN THE WIDER COMMUNITY
The Teachings of Baha’u’llah are for all of humanity, and His principles have become part of the spirit of the age. In isolation, however, any one of His Teachings can become distorted and so the Faith’s clear perspective on the roles of women was often welcomed at public forums, and Baha’is’ experience in advocating equality was of- fered as an example to many governmental bodies. The Baha’i International Community participated fully in the work of the United Nations to promote the advancement of women (See also article on p. 522.) In addi- tion to working directly with United Nations’ agencies, Baha’i communities worldwide supported UN initiatives.
The United Nations’ International Wom- en’s Day was celebrated in Australia With a special service at the Baha’i House of Worship in Sydney in March 1989. Eminent community leaders were among the readers at the service, including the President and Vice President of the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom. In Nigeria, the Executive Secretary of the Baha’i Women’s Development Board was told that the paper she presented at the International
Women’s Day celebrations for the Kaduna State Ministry of Health in 1988, “Educate Women, Build a Nation”, would be published as a booklet and distributed through the local governments in Kaduna State.
Baha’is participated in activities marking National and International Women’s Days in Cameroon, Uganda, Guyana, and Ireland. In Thailand, the Bahé’is of Bangkok celebrated International Women’s Day 1989 with a two-hour programme in a popular shopping mall. Hundreds of people heard readings from the Baha’i Writings concerning women, and many pamphlets on peace and women were distributed.
In 1989, in the town of Rabaul, Papua New Guinea, National Women’s Day was celebrated with a music festival during which a Baha’i band, the Dawnbreakers, performed songs about peace, women, and a safe and happy home. Baha’is also set up a bookshop for the event and handed out flyers with songs, prayers, and Baha’i Writings. In Port Moresby, two Baha’is were invited to partic- ipate in planning the Women’s Day events, and one of them was chosen to be Mistress of Ceremonies. The Bahé’is took part in all the
[Page 418]
418
activities—reading Baha’i prayers, serving as judges for several events, presenting a short drama, performing traditional dancing, and singing in a choir.
Baha’i women of the Solomon Islands contributed to Women’s Week in 1988 by marching in a parade sponsored by the Honiara Council of Women. A Baha’i prayer was chosen as the first prayer for the official opening following the march, and the President of the Honiara Council—a Baha’i and the only female lawyer in the Solomon Islandswwas chosen to deliver an address. For National Women’s Day in Samoa in 1990, the Baha’is created a float in the shape of a bird completely covered with fresh flowers and a sign that read “Equality of Men and Women”. The Baha’i women walking in the parade with the float sang, “With two wings, we will fly...”.
Bahé’is were among those Who helped organize the first International Indigenous Women’s Conference, called “Finding Com- mon Ground”. Held in Australia in July 1989, and funded by UNESCO, the gathering was attended by more than one thousand women. The event began with a two-day celebration of the arts of indigenous peoples. Topics discussed during the conference included women and racism, education, and domestic Violence. The Baha’is of Australia were also represented at the “Recognition for Women in Australia” seminar hosted in July 1991 by
THE BAHA’i WORLD
' t In the Solomon Islands Bahd ’1' women and children present
their custom dancing during the Women ’s Week celebrations held in September 1988.
the House of Representatives Standing Com— mittee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs, Office of the Status of Women and the De— partment of the Prime Minister and Cabinet.
The State Minister for Religious Affairs of Bangladesh was among the dignitaries welcomed to the conference “Equality of Men and Women—a Prerequisite for World Peace” in Dhaka in September 1991. The president and general secretary of the Bang- ladesh Women Writers’ Association and journalists from several national newspapers were present as well. In Bermuda, during a public forum on “Women and Peace” which took place in February 1987, a Baha’i chaired a panel composed of the nation’s most prominent women including the Minister for Health and Social Services.
A Women’s International Luncheon was held on 9 November 1991 at the National Baha’i Centre in Nairobi, Kenya. This was followed by a panel of speakers who ex— plored the topic “Gender and Development”. Twenty—three prominent non-Baha’i women plus twenty-five Baha’i women attended the events, which received extensive media coverage. The Baha’i Women’s Committee of Fiji was represented at a national “Women in Development” conference in July 1986; a Baha’i stall displayed pamphlets and handi— crafts. In Céte d’Ivoire, Baha’is participated in a discussion of “The Rights of Women and Social Progress” conducted in December
INTERNATIONAL SURVEY OF CURRENT BAHA’T ACTIVITIES
1989 under the patronage of the Minister of Primary Education and the President of the Federation of African Jurists.
A representative of Zaire’s Ministry for Women Visited the National Baha’i Centre in December 1988 to learn more about the National Baha’i Women’s Committee. The delegate said she was touched by the talk given by a spokeswoman for the National Committee and impressed by the organiza- tion and extent of Baha’i women’s activities. In Uganda, a written statement on the Baha’i perspective on women was presented to religious leaders during a national seminar organized by the government in July 1989.
The President of Papua New Guinea’s National Council of Women, the President of the Morobe Women’s Association, the Regional Member for Morobe ProVince in the National Parliament, and the wife of the Prime Minister were among the leaders of thought who participated in the national conference co—sponsored by the Baha’i community and the Morobe Women’s Asso- ciation in July 1989. The event received significant media coverage.
The National Baha’i Women’s Committee in the Republic of Ireland gained affiliation with the Council for the Status of Women in 1988: the Council is a recognized body of the national Government. In 1989, the Baha’is of Papua New Guinea achieved representation on the National Council of Women, fulfilling
In Pakistan, (1 public meeting held in memory of Tdhirih was organized by the Local Ladies Commit— tee ofKarachi. Shown is the guest speaker, Mrs. Zahida Hina,
a renowned journalist and poet. 25 August 1989.
419
one of the goals of the country’s Six Year Plan. The Baha’i Women’s Committee of New Zealand was invited to become affili— ated with the National Council of Women in September 1986, and in the same year, Baha’is were asked by the National Wom— en’s Council of Vanuatu to help set up non—political, non-denominational women’s committee for the Port Vila municipal area. This was achieved in Port Vila and two Baha’i women were elected President and Vice-President of a committee of twelve.
The Malaysian Baha’i Women’s Com— mittee was an affiliate and active supporter of the National Council of Women’s Organi— zations, so When the NCWO celebrated its Silver Jubilee on 25 August 1988, Bahé’is played an important role. The event was attended by more than one thousand guests, including Her Maj esty, the Queen of Malaysia, and other prominent women. Baha’is helped to organize the celebration and produced souvenir programmes for each function. A Baha’i was one of three women selected to represent the women of Malaysia in a pledge—taking ceremony.
The Baha’i Women’s Committee of Singapore collaborated with the Singapore Council of Women’s Organizations, the
Nigerian Baha’i Women’s Development Board registered with the National Council of Women Societies, and Baha’is in Hawaii were asked to serve on the Governor’s
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Commission on the Status of Women. Through the National Committee on Women in the United States, the Baha’i Faith is affiliated With government and non-govemmental or- ganizations Which are active in the field of women’s issues.
In November 1988, Baha’is made major contributions held to mark the twentieth an- niversary of the National Council of Women
THE BAHA’i WORLD
In the Philippines, President Corazon Aquino (seated centre) ‘ and the Vice President 1 0f the All Nations Women ’s Group, Martha T aylor—a Bahd ’z’ (seated right) during the induction ceremony for the Group ’5 new ofiicers 0n 9May 1990.
(,1
in Fiji. The Baha 1 National Women’s Com- mittee organized a devotional programme, and the believers participated in a peace march, carrying a banner Which displayed a quotation from the Writings of Bahé’u’llah. An article submitted by the Baha’i National Council of Women was published in the F iji T imes, and Baha’i youth performed a musical drama before nine hundred peop1e.
CONCLUSION
T hrough the movement OfOur Pen ofglory We have, at the bidding 0f the omnipotent Ordainer, breathed a new life into every human frame, and instilled into every word afresh potency. All created things proclaim the evidences of this world—wide regeneration.1
Baha’u’llah has brought a new standard for What it means to be human, and has told us that education is the key to attain that station. This training is a process Which Will lead to “...the last and highest stage in the stupen- dous evolution of man’s collective life on this planet.”2 “So marvellous a conception finds its earliest manifestations in the efforts con- sciously exerted and the modest beginnings already achieved by the declared adherents of the Faith of Baha’u’llah Who, conscious of the sublimity of their calling and initiated into the ennobling principles of His Admin— istration, are forging ahead...”3
1 Gleamings, pp. 92-93. 2 Shoghi Effendi, World Order, p. 163. 3 11m, pp. 43-44.
During the Six Year Plan, Baha’is forged ahead by organizing activities to promote the equality of men and women including devel— oping proj ects focussing on the special needs of women, sponsoring conferences on the subject, publishing literature and forming Bahé’i women’s groups Which associated With other organizations pursuing similar aims.
Hence the new age will be an age less masculine and more permeated with the feminine ideals, or, to Speak more exactly, will be an age in which the masculine and feminine elements ofcivilization will be more evenly balanced.4
4 ‘Abdu’l—Baha, quoted in J .E. Esslemont, Bahd ’u ’Ildh and the New Era (Wilmette: Baha’i Publishing Trust, 1976), p. 156.
