On the occasion of International Women’s Day

Canada’s International Development Research Centre (IDRC)

is pleased to invite you to a Public Event:

MEETING THE BEIJING COMMITMENTS FOR EMPOWERING WOMEN:

 A SOUTH ASIAN PERSPECTIVE

By Dr. Ratna Kapur

Monday, March 7, 2005

From 12:00 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.

IDRC Auditorium

250 Albert Street, 14th Floor

Ottawa, Ontario

Since the Platform for Action was adopted by consensus in 1995 at the Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing, women’s movements around the globe have made progress in securing women’s basic human rights, especially in the areas of violence and equality. Yet much remains to be done. In this talk, Ratna Kapur will address the shortcomings of strategies adopted in pursuit of the Beijing agenda. She will also describe how the struggle for equality has at times reinforced orthodox agendas in countries such as India. For example, sometimes women have to choose between their rights to gender equality and their rights as members of minority religious groups. Ms. Kapur will draw attention to some of the new strategies that may be needed if the Beijing agenda is to remain meaningful and transformative.

A discussion will follow the presentation.

Biography

Ratna Kapur is Director for the Centre for Feminist Legal Research in New Delhi. She has worked for over 20 years in the area of human rights and feminist legal studies. She has held human rights chairs and taught at various law schools in North America, the UK, and India, and has also worked with non-profit organisations to advance the cause of women’s human rights, especially in South Asia. She has recently published a book entitled Erotic Justice: Law and the New Politics of Postcolonialism (Glasshouse Press, Cavendish Publishers, 2005).

Lunch will be provided.

Seats are limited. Please confirm your attendance by March 2, 2005 with

Carla Yanez at (613) 236-6163, ext. 2027 or by email: cyanez@idrc.ca