13 May 2013
Renowned human rights advocate and President and CEO of the Global Fund for Women Dr Musimbi Kanyoro will highlight how technology is transforming women’s rights movements across the globe at an address at the University of South Australia this week.
In the address Women, Water and Technology: Stories and Solutions, Dr Kanyoro will detail how the Global Fund for Women - the world’s largest public grant making foundation that advances women's rights – is empowering women to be advocates in their own communities.
Dr Kanyoro says technology has the potential to give women the tools to tackle many challenges, from accessing water to oppression and discrimination.
“Our challenge is how to harness technology to do the greatest good for women and girls - safety, security and livelihoods for their communities and the world,” Dr Kanyoro says.
Presented by The Bob Hawke Prime Ministerial Centre and supported by the UN Women Australia Adelaide Chapter, the address will share some of the Global Fund for Women’s success stories. To date, the Fund has supported nearly 9,000 women and led groups in a 174 countries to the tune of US$100+ million.
The Hawke Centre’s Executive Director Elizabeth Ho says Dr Kanyoro will offer powerful insights into the changing face of the women’s rights movements in the 21st century as it moves across the digital divide.
“Dr Kanyoro will share the stories of women who, with technology and tenacity, are demonstrating their entrepreneurial skills and leadership in accessing resources ranging from water to land rights and, in so doing, shaping a new world order,” Ms Ho says.
“We are thrilled to be hosting Dr Kanyoro at the University. She is a globally recognised leader in the fields of health, development, and human rights.”
The Hawke Centre first welcomed Dr Kanyoro to the University in 2008, when she delivered the inaugural Nelson Mandela Lecture, the first in a series of lectures in honour of Mr Nelson Mandela – the Hawke Centre’s international Patron.
Women, Water and Technology: Stories and Solutions will be held at the Hawke Building at UniSA’s City West campus on Wednesday, May 15. The address is booked out but a podcast will be available online shortly after the event at www.hawkecentre.unisa.edu.au.
Dr Musimbi Kanyoro is the president and CEO of the Global Fund for Women and has been a passionate advocate for the health, development, and human rights of women, girls, and minority groups throughout her life. Prior to the Global Fund, Dr Kanyoro led the Population and Reproductive Health Program at the David and Lucile Packard Foundation. She also served as the general secretary of World YWCA for ten years, leading advocacy initiatives around women's reproductive health and the impact of HIV/AIDS.
A champion for young women, Dr Kanyoro has successfully spearheaded practices to ensure the representation of women under 30 on local, national, and global boards. She serves on the Global Committee of the Council on Foundations, is a member of the Aspen Institute Leaders Council and the UNFPA/IPPF High level taskforce for Reproductive Health. She also serves on the boards of Intra Health, CARE International and CHANGE.
Dr Kanyoro has more than 20 years of experience with international organizations, served on the international steering committee for the Beijing world conference on women and has led delegations to five United Nations World Conferences throughout the 90s.
Dr Kanyoro has a PhD in Linguistics from the University of Texas, Austin and Doctor of Ministry in Feminist Theology from San Francisco Theological Seminary. She was a visiting scholar of Hebrew and the Old Testament at Harvard University. She has received three honorary doctorates and several recognition awards, including a leadership award from the Kenya Government.
To arrange an interview with Dr Kanyoro, please contact:
Louise Carnell office (08) 8302 0371 mobile 0401 693 312 email louise.carnell@unisa.edu.au
Media Contact
Rosanna Galvin office (08) 8302 0578 mobile 0434 603 457 email rosanna.galvin@unisa.edu.au
