The Women, Faith, and Development Alliance is launching their Breakthrough Summit this Sunday, April 13, in a move to end global poverty.  EW applauds many things about this historic alliance, such as a large networking event for faith-based women’s groups, the summit being open to the public, and free registration.  Obviously, getting lots of people together to make a gender-based statement against poverty from a(n inter)faith-based perspective is something EW can get behind! 

We do, however, wonder what purpose this summit will achieve.  The most we can find is that different organizations will be announcing their committments to support women and girls in the fight against poverty–and that’s great–but where are our Christian denominations in this picture?  Why isn’t the summit being broadcast over the internet?  EW is eager to learn where this alliance will go, and what documents will be put forth in response to the summit. 

The following announcement is being circulated by the Women’s Faith and Development Alliance. It is not a disability-specific event. But if any We Can Do reader is able to attend, then it could be an opportunity to informally remind other participants at the event about the needs of women and girls with disabilities in international development. If you are already in Washington DC then it is free to attend. But you do need to register in advance.

***YOU ARE INVITED***
Sunday, April 13, 2008 (2:30-5:30pm)
Washington, DC, USA

Washington National Cathedral and the Women, Faith and Development Alliance Present
Breakthrough: The Women, Faith, and Development Summit to End Global Poverty

70% of the world’s three billion poor people are women and girls. We must act now to empower women and end poverty!

Come to the Breakthrough Summit, the first high-level event bringing together the women, faith, and international development communities—as well as policymakers and other global leaders— to launch the Women, Faith, and Development Alliance’s (WFDA) global campaign to make investing in women and girls a priority in the fight against global poverty.

Join our distinguished Breakthrough Co-Chairs as they issue a call-to-action to assembled guests and all global citizens, urging them to join the campaign and get actively involved:

• The Honorable Madeleine Albright, Former U.S. Secretary of State
• The Right Honourable Kim Campbell, Prime Minister, Canada (1993)
• Her Excellency Mary Robinson, Former President, Republic of Ireland; Former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (1990-1997)
• The Reverend Doctor Ishmael Noko, General Secretary, Lutheran World Federation
• Sheikh Shaban Mabuje, Grand Mufti, Uganda
• Ashley Judd, Global Ambassador, YouthAids (invited)

Hear from our honorary Co-Chairs, who are offering important support for our efforts:

• Her Majesty Queen Noor of Jordan, Chair, King Hussein Foundation
• Her Excellency Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, President, Republic of Liberia (Honorary)
• His Grace Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Anglican Archbishop Emeritus, South Africa (Honorary)
• Dr. Muhammad Yunus, Founder Grameen Bank, Bangladesh (Honorary)

Individuals, families, colleagues, community groups, clubs, and members of all religious communities are invited to attend the April 13th event, learn more about the global plight of women and girls, hear commitments for women and girls from key public figures, participate in interfaith prayer, listen to live music, and visit an exhibition area to see and purchase Fair Trade and women-made products from around the world.

For more Summit information, to obtain your free ticket to the Summit, or to sign up for WFDA updates, please visit www.wfd-alliance.org or call (202) 537-3184.

Be part of this once-in-a-lifetime gathering. Attend the Breakthrough Summit and join WFDA. Help change the lives of millions of women and girls around the globe.



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