Rural Women speak about Development

Reframing development - women who will speak from Asia Pacific together to talk about alternative development frameworks. 2 short videos, Cambodia, and Burma.

Constraints on development - UN reviewed development and found fault - it left marginalized  out of poverty definition. No development without human rights.

Sustainable Development Goals - part of Rio +20 &  MDGs more human rights based.

Example of a farm workers in Philippines - women having the control and management of the land.

Land rights central to women's rights - Thailand.- Live in protected area where don't have legal right to land. Project to replace the poppy - not allowed to practice traditional practices. Can't read labels when using insecticide. Affected health. Father is paralyzed. Have no choice -

Kyrgyzstan - asserting their rights to development on the base of the experience of Rural Women's Association "Alga"

Widespread use of chemicals very harmful on health.No controls. No basic laws on chemicals in agriculture. High demand for development of legislation on agrochemicals handling and providing security measures for rural people.Rural women very much involved in ag. - hi risk for their health. Need controls of use and disposal of chemicals. 80% of rural women had symptoms of poisoning. Labels in Chinese. advocacy - radio and TV. Can be real agents for change. Great power for development.


Impact of militarization - in Burma.Ruling by military for last 40 years. Violation has increased since election. Using violence against women as a weapon of war. Shared story. 3 week old baby, mother and killed. 90 year old woman and 70 year old daughter raped. Number of displaced people around 60,000 people. Staying in camps. Rural women lost their land, lifestyle  Facing sexual harassment. In camps, water and sanitation not good.

West Papau - Military occupy since 1963 - Women and children traumatized. Looking for apology.

Cambodia - management body at local area. Women work together. Political participation for women? Based on interviews. Women reflect diversity. Come from rural areas - women interviewed. Number at the local level - women increased to over 20%.Some of the challenges - difficult to understand complexity of politics. Less supported by political party. Going thru rapid change in Cambodia.We all work together. I always prepare food for my husband, before i go to my work. All women need to struggle to achieve.Be confident in  speaking at commune meetings.Indicator of success be informed by women themselves.

Women's economic and social rights. Women's livelihood - coming from human rights - is there a human right to livelihood. Looking at it as a human right. Regionally and in our national constitution. Not a new topic. Depends on who you talk to. Concept of livelhood - right to food, is a key component, natural resources (water, land) , issues get tied to natural resources, markets - space where we trade goods, and trade labour goods.How do women enter markets. What gives women bargaining power. Loans important.