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[Back to index of May 2008 articles] Summit Commits to Ending Global Poverty By Anne Carson On April 13, Washington National Cathedral played host to the Breakthrough Summit to end global poverty. Sponsored by the cathedral and the Women, Faith and Development Alliance, the gathering drew 2,000 registered participants and a myriad of dignitaries from around the world. The need for a renewed focus on the plight of impoverished women was sounded early by Thoraya Obaid of Saudi Arabia, executive director of the United Nations Population Fund, who spoke at the 10 a. m. Dean’s Forum. Obaid explained that many women, isolated in rural villages, do not have a choice about reproduction. For this reason, she said, her organization has pledged an additional $500 million to maternal health. Her statement “One woman is dying every minute as we speak,” she said. In introducing Agnes Abuom of Kenya, at the 11:15 a.m. Eucharist, Cathedral Dean Samuel T. Lloyd III urged the congregation to “pretend we are worshipping in Kenya.” With lively prompting from South African music director Garmon Ashby and African choral music led by the swaying Cathedral Choir of Men and Girls, Abuom’s message of solidarity for sisterhood in the household of God took voice. Following the Eucharist, the formal program opened with an evocative prelude by the Afghanistan Humayan Khan Ensemble. Then a procession of drummers from the Coyaba Dance Theater ignited whirling Wesley dancers who moved to the powerful music of the St. Thomas Gospel Choir from Philadelphia. An immense screen displayed poignant images of women and girls as Lloyd stated the summit’s purpose: To do something soon and dramatic to address, through the empowerment of women, the key issues of extreme poverty, of the one billion plus people who live close to death every day. Lloyd introduced the summit’s co-chairs: former U.S. Secretary of State, Madeleine Albright; former Prime Minister of Canada, Kim Campbell; Co-chair of the Religions for Peace African Council, Sheikh Shaban Mubaje; General Secretary of the Lutheran World Federation, the Rev. Ishmael Noko; and former President of the Republic of Ireland, Mary Robinson. “Wasn’t it wonderful to see women dancing joyfully in the cathedral?” said Robinson, her face alight. “Every development expert knows: If you want to empower a country, empower the women!” The summit, two years in the planning, was co-sponsored by a number of prominent anti-poverty organizations including InterAction, Women Thrive Worldwide and the World Conference of Religions for Peace. Highlights of the gathering included Archbishop Desmond Tutu declaring, via video, that “Women bear an unjust burden. … Religion has too often been used as a tool to oppress women.” He called for courageous religious leadership to address the continued injustices against women such as child marriages and genital mutilation. William Vendley, secretary general of Religions for Peace, spoke of the tragedy of the gender battle that rages daily. “Women of faith are already on the front line fighting poverty—fighting with all they have, and they fight it with faith,” he said, adding that one billion dollars in commitments had already been pledged to the WFDA by 70 organizations. Albright, the keynote speaker, who played a critical role in organizing the event, told the gathering: “We do not accept poverty as an inevitable part of the human condition. We do not accept that 500,000 women should die every year because of avoidable complications in pregnancy. … Appalling abuses are still being committed. … I say it is criminal, and we each have an obligation to stop it! “I have been in public life for more than three decades,” she said, explaining that academics often say that poverty cannot be eliminated. “But, let’s be clear,” she said, “what we have the ability to choose, we have the power to change!” As Albright ended her presentation, she asked the audience to remember the central premise to every movement for positive change. “Every life counts!” she proclaimed. “Every life counts!” Bhuvana Nataraji of the Growing Opportunity Finance in India spoke hauntingly of desperately poor women who were empowering themselves by learning to save one handful of rice a day. “I am here to tell you that women can change the world, one woman at a time, one handful of rice at a time,” she said. Ashley Judd gave a moving presentation as the Global Youth AIDS Ambassador, alongside other global youth leaders, including Alice Hope, an HIV positive young woman from Uganda. Speaking haltingly through tears, Judd emphasized how empowering adolescent girls is the key to ending poverty, that if a real, sustained peace is to be attained, “we must protect, educate and empower girls.” “Patriarchy must be challenged,” said Bishop John Bryson Chane in his closing remarks, and Robinson assured those present that this unprecedented alliance would answer its commitments. “I actually believe we will, because we must!” she said. [Back to index of May 2008 articles]
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