Tyler

By JACQUE HILBURN
Staff Writer

Economic stability, health and family planning, educational empowerment are listed as topics for discussion during a unique goal-setting forum for women, hosted by the League of Women Voters and American Association of University Women.

Talks on "Empowering Women Worldwide" are scheduled at 7 p.m. March 24 at the Tyler Public Library, 201 S. College, to highlight needed changes to meet eight United Nations Millennium Development Goals.

The event also coincides with Women's History Month, organizers said.

U.N. objectives were identified in 2000 by world leaders who saw a collective responsibility to uphold principals of human dignity, equality and equity at the global level, and meet the goals by 2015, organizers said.

Development goals are to eradicate extreme poverty and hunger; achieve universal primary education; promote gender equality and empower women; reduce child mortality; improve maternal health; combat HIV/AIDS; malaria and other diseases; ensure environmental sustainability; develop a global partnership for development.

To add a personal perspective to these initiatives, five women were enlisted to "put a face" on the issues, said event organizer Kristi Roberts for the AAUW.

"I'm excited we have such a broad spectrum of people who will be speaking out to women in East Texas," said Mrs. Roberts. "The League of Women Voters does hold events with speakers, but this is the first one that focused on the Millennium Goals and the first one to address just women."

The mission of the AAUW is to advance equity for women and girls through advocacy, education and research.

The LWV is a nonpartisan political organization that strives to encourage informed participation in government and increase understanding of major public policy issues through education and advocacy.

Guest speakers of the forum include:

Bonnie Hardaway, a retired teacher and member of LWV and AAUW, is planning to speak on economic empowerment. She is an active participant of the Great Decisions series at the Tyler Public Library; she organized the Building a Safer More Compassionate World forum, held in connection with AAUW, LWV, UT Tyler and Tyler Collegiate Model United Nations Club.

Promoting equality and empowerment of women is designed to eliminate gender disparity in primary and secondary education settings, said Ms. Brock.

"Equality between women and men is a worthy goal that is central to progress in human development," she said. "The U.N. Development Program asserts that it is committed to making gender equality a reality, not only because it is a moral imperative, but because it is a way to promote prosperity and well-being for all."

Audience members will be encouraged to dialogue about the U.N. objectives. For more information, phone Ms. Roberts at 903-534-8825, 903-245-1820, or e-mail her at bruce@robertslawfirm.com or kribru@aol.com.