Nobel prize winners celebrate women’s gains

By Olivia H. Tripon

Women’s Feature Service

New York , March 5 (WFS) -- The mood was palpably expectant. The participants of the 49^{th session of the Commission on the Status of Women to appraise and review the implementation of the ten-year Beijing Platform for Action, came to hear two Nobel Prize winners -- Wangari Mathai of Kenya and Rigoberta Menchu of Guatemala, in a session organized by the UN Environment Program on Women, Peace and Environment at the U.N. last March 4.}

The moment Mathai and Menchu walked in, they filled the room with warmth and wit. There was no denying that these women really inspire. Both women admitted that they were just doing what had to be done.

For Mathai, it was to plant trees, the Greenbelt Movement which she started in 1977 and just grew and grew. She encouraged the women to plant trees and empower themselves. She was the first woman to earn a doctorate degree in West Africa. In 2002, she joined Parliament and was appointed assistant minister of environment, a position she holds until now. In 2004, she won the Nobel prize for sustainable development and peace.

For Menchu, it was to defend the rights of the indigenous people (IP). Her mother and brother disappeared while her father was burned alive. She fled to Mexico but continued to fight for her people despite threats to her life. “Indigenous peoples have rights – to land and to participate (in political life), she said. Menchu has written two books and was given honorary PhDs. In 1992, she won the Nobel Prize.

Mathai was secretary-general of the Fourth World Conference on women in Beijing in 1995. She reminisced about the First Women’s Conference for the advancement of Women in Mexico in 1975. She said it was Peg Snyder who proposed a voluntary fund for women which is now UNIFEM.

“Stop saying nothing is happening. Much has happened. Congratulate ourselves!” Mathai said amidst a thunderous applause, not only for the two women leaders, but for all women.

According to Mathai, Mexico focused on rural women’s concerns – food, water, fuel and income. Today, water is still of great concern with the threat of drought and climate change.

She warned that patenting of seeds threatens food security. People are dying, not because there is no food, but because they are too poor to buy food.

Menchu added that in Nairobi in 1985 the women put IP rights in the UN Agenda. If women are half the world, IPs are even worst. They are minorities. “Winning the Nobel is not easy. People expect a lot… for you to solve problems; many people want us to speak. I think the Nobel is a punishment…but a nice punishment because we can help people who everyday dream many dreams that can never come true. I’m happy to be here with my sister Mathai. If one can make one thing, can you imagine what two of us can make?” she said .

Mathai said that environment has not been given much emphasis lately. However, the good news is, the UN has started the Decade of Education for the Environment.

The two women leaders gave parting words of wisdom -- Invest more in peace so we can manage resources sustainably and share these resources equitably. We can’t have peace without the three pillars of environment, peace and democracy, said Mathai.

To the women, Menchu said, “I wish you self esteem. You can define your life and your work. If you are a model for all, no need for Nobel.

“Let’s go ahead. Everything has been said about rights of women. We have statements, investigations, resolutions. We need now action!” Menchu urged.