Reflect. Reconnect. Reenergize.
From November 11-12, 2024, I had the honor of representing the Institute for African Women in Law (IAWL) at the 7th Annual Reykjavik Global Forum (RGF), a gathering of women leaders around the globe to discuss pressing issues on women’s rights across different sectors. This year’s forum brought over 200 women and male allies representing over 60 countries and 100 organizations. IAWL was part of a coalition of organizations powered by Co-Impact and supported by Purpose, working to launch a global campaign on women in leadership in law.
On the eve of the conference, we had the privilege of visiting the home of the President of Iceland, Halla Tómasdóttir (Second Woman President of Iceland), where we were warmly welcomed and listened to her speak about pressing global issues. She introduced her husband, who she calls “The First Dude.” I enjoyed meeting and briefly conversing with President Mary Robinson (First Woman President of Ireland, 1990-1997).
Over the next two days, the forum provided an important platform for me to Reflect, Reconnect and Re-energize.
Reflect:
I participated as a main stage conversationist in the cozy setting dubbed “Grandmother’s Living Room”. I presented on the panel Redefining Women’s Leadership in Law: Beyond Stereotypes and Echo Chambers, together with my co-panelists, US Rep. Teresa Leger Fernandez (D-New Mexico) and Chuman Bubu-Mdlulwa, Fellow, Clooney Foundation for Justice. Sabrina Mahtani moderated the panel. In discussing the question- Could you speak about 1-2 groundbreaking solutions or strategies that have worked to move from singular historical firsts to institutional and substantial change for all women? I offered two reflections on two strategies used by IAWL:
Data-driven storytelling: Storytelling has become a common word in feminist circles. As I pointed out in my earlier blog, Why I use legal narratives to center African women in law, the art of storytelling is an intrinsic part of African cultures. Consequently, as a socio-legal feminist-womanist activist-scholar, I use data-driven evidence to tell the stories of African women in law. When the story is told with facts, theory, and empirical evidence, no one can deny that women in law are good leaders and have had several impacts in law and in society. Legal narratives are essential to moving from singular firsts.
Data-driven activism: We must not end only at storytelling. We must use data-driven evidence deployed through storytelling to engage in feminist/womanist activism. The Gender Equality in Law Campaign (GELC) of IAWL is an example of a data-driven campaign based on a research study—Gender Equality in Law Across Africa: Is the Glass Half-Full? We also used the qualitative data from the survey to create an expert-informed Gender Equality in Law Model Policy for organizations to adopt to change their institutional practices. The GEL Campaign has gained continental recognition, going from Accra to Addis, and gaining the support and attention of legal organizations, bar associations, judiciaries and educational institutions.
I concluded my reflections with two proverbs — the South African proverb, “when you strike a woman, you strike a rock” and the Chinese proverb, “when sleeping women wake, mountains move.” I connected these two proverbs to the conference theme- Power, Together for Action, because women are awake and marching for gender equality!
Reconnect:
The RGF was a powerful venue to reconnect with old friends while making new connections. During the visit at the residence of the President of Iceland—Halla Tómasdóttir, I listened to her powerful vision for women’s rights, gender equality and other pressing global challenges. I met the indomitable President Mary Robinson. I met Nobel Prize winner Maria Ressa. I connected with and had great conversations and laughter with many women leaders from around the world. During the next two days, we had meals and side conversations in shared feminist solidarity. We listened to influential panelists talk about their work, their hopes for a gender-equal world, the role of men and boys as allies, and the impact of technology, climate change and gender-based violence on women and girls. It was also a time to see the wonders of Iceland, including a trip to the Sky Lagoon, where we went through the Seven Rituals, took a plug in the warm lagoon and weathered the blistering cold waves hitting our faces. While swimming, drinking and laughing, we also continued conversations in the pool about women’s rights and the future of our planet.
Re-energize:
While these two days were super packed, it was also a time to re-energize. Notwithstanding the jetlag, the constant emails to catch up on, work to review and deadlines to meet, I found the conference a place to re-energize. The reflections and reconnections were a means for me to rekindle my hope for humanity, women’s rights and a shared sense of sisterly solidarity. My re-energized self may also be from the lava scrub and special drink during the seven-step ritual at the Sky Lagoon– who knows? It might also be the beautiful conversations I had with my taxi driver Kali, a Romanian immigrant who has spent 22 years in Iceland and had a lot to share with me about his family, work and the joys and pains of living in a foreign country.
My re-energized self may result from the laughter, hugs and smiles. Whatever the reasons or causes are, I left Reykjavik with a new sprint in my feminist/womanist step, knowing that when women rise, wonders happen.
Until next time….........