Taylor joins women U.S. state legislators to meet with women parliamentarians from Afghanistan, Pakistan, & the greater MENA region in Ankara, Turkey to jointly advance women’s leadership in conflict affected areas.
Ankara, Turkey – Sen. Lena Taylor (D-Milwaukee) recently participated in an international exchange as a member of a delegation of U.S. women legislators in the Women Legislators’ Lobby (WiLL) network, a program of Women’s Action for New Directions (WAND). Through a joint program of WAND and the EastWest Institute’s (EWI) Parliamentarians Network for Conflict Prevention, women political leaders from the west and the east came together as a coalition of global political leaders committed to advancing peace.
From May 27 to May 31 women state legislators from the U.S. and women parliamentarians from Afghanistan, Pakistan, Morocco, Tunisia, and Turkey gathered in Ankara for a three day peer-to-peer exchange focused on dialogue, information sharing, and capacity building. “The value of this ongoing exchange program is to strengthen and promote women as agents of change in political life, conflict prevention, and peace-building – around the world and here at home,” said Sen. Taylor, adding, “I was pleased to be selected by Women Legislators’ Lobby to participate in this meaningful effort.”
Georgia State Senator Nan Orrock, President of WiLL, announced that an expanded group of U.S. women political leaders and women parliamentarians will re-convene in Washington, DC, in September 2013 as part of the WiLL/WAND National Women's Leadership Conference, “Women at the Tables of Power.” The meeting will focus on women’s political leadership and international security issues and building the ranks and influence of this coalition to work effectively for conflict resolution and sustainable peace.
Senator Taylor stated, “I am looking forward to putting together a Wisconsin delegation of bipartisan women who care deeply for justice and progress for women around the world to this national meeting. Women are effective advocates and leaders when their place at the table is recognized and supported. Together, Wisconsin women can be catalysts for the improvement of peace and justice worldwide.”
About Women’s Action for New Directions (WAND)
WAND is a national nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering women to act politically to reduce violence and militarism, and redirect excessive military resources toward unmet human and environmental needs. WAND was founded in 1982, and consists of a 501-C3 WAND Education Fund, a 501-C4 WAND Inc. Action Center for members and chapters, WAND Political Action Committee, and the Women Legislator's Lobby (WiLL) program. WAND is a recognized United Nations NGO. For more information, please visit www.wand.org.
About the Women Legislators’ Lobby (WiLL)
WiLL is a national, nonpartisan network of women state legislators who work together to influence federal policy and budget priorities. For more information, please visit www.willwand.org.
