WHEN!
In September 2005, Rights and Humanity launched our Women’s Human Rights and Empowerment Network (WHEN!) with Ms Cherie Blair as its Patron. WHEN! is a network of inspired, informed and empowered men and women willing to play an active role through their own actions and advocacy.
The empowerment of women is one of the most effective tools of development. Rights and Humanity recognised many people want to do more than just give money after some tragedy has occurred. They wish to help prevent suffering and better the human condition, but it is not always clear to them how, as individuals, they can best help create a more just and equitable world.
In 2005, Rights and Humanity established a network of men and women committed to striving for the empowerment of women within their own spheres of influence and beyond.
The idea for such a network was discussed at a dinner hosted for Rights and Humanity by Ms Cherie Booth, QC, (Mrs Cherie Blair) at the Honourable Society of Lincoln’s Inn, London, on 28th June 2005. The dinner was attended by Ministers, Ambassadors, celebrities, senior members of the media, and business leaders, including the Chair of the Arab International Women’s Business Forum. Guests were enthusiastic about the proposal for a network.
Launch
WHEN! was launched on 19th September, 2005, at a workshop hosted by H.E. Ambassador Lindiwe Mabuza, the South African High Commissioner, at South Africa House, London, UK. The workshop was chaired by HRH Princess Badiya bint Talal, daughter of our Patron, HRH Prince El Hassan bin Talal, and Sir Sigmund Sternberg, another of our International Patrons. We were joined by two hundred women and men who wished to play their role in the realisation of women’s rights.
Despite the statistics, women have made great steps towards equality and empowerment, and Rights and Humanity wished to celebrate their achievements. We invited a group of inspirational people to share their experience of women’s empowerment in presentations on topics ranging from political and economic empowerment, to the experience of HIV positive women joining together to support and advocate for one another.
Delegates made recommendations on how WHEN! could utilise twinning, networking, mentoring and the media to strengthen women’s rights and promote the economic and social empowerment of women. The Workshop recommended that Rights and Humanity establish an interactive educational website, which would connect people and provide a channel for information-sharing, encouragement, education and empowerment.
We later expanded the briefing for the UK’s Independent newspaper for its front page on women to mark international women’s day 2006.
WHEN! Activities
As part of Rights and Humanity’s celebrations of International Women’s Day in 2006, Ms Cherie Booth QC hosted a dinner for one hundred WHEN! members and other guests at Gibson Hall in London, UK on 9th March 2006. Our Guest of Honour was HRH Princess Basma bint Talal of Jordan.
“If we are to ever realise a dream of global peace and justice, we must undertake, as Rights and Humanity has, to engage in dialogue, respect difference, and promote understanding. Recognising the non-negotiable right of all peoples to live a fulfilling life with dignity is a principal we can all share, and by working to make this right a reality for women, we can begin to achieve such a reality for all.”
HRH Princess Basma bint talal of Jordan
Independent Newspaper
To mark International Human Rights Day on March 8th, 2006, Rights and Humanity suggested to the Independent newspaper in the U.K. that it dedicate the front page of the newspaper to statistics on women.
The newspaper adopted this proposal and went further, dedicating the whole newspaper on 8th March to celebrating women’s achievements and publicising the areas in which women do not enjoy equal rights with men.
Rights and Humanity Celebrates International Women’s Day - 2011
Rights and Humanity celebrated International Women’s Day on 8 March 2011 with a key note speech from the Lord Lieutenant of Merseyside, Dame Lorna Muirhead in its Head Quarters, the Royal Liver Building.
Rights and Humanity hosted an Inspirational Tea Party bringing together a host of individuals from the city to hear key speeches from inspiring women.
Set against the backdrop that 70% of the worlds poor are women, the day was celebrated with a focus on the empowerment of women through the charities Women’s Human Rights and Empowerment Network (WHEN!).
The afternoon was celebrated in style with guests served afternoon tea, cakes and cucumber sandwiches.
Hosted by Professor Häusermann MBE, Founder and President of Rights and Humanity, the event was an opportunity for people to find out more about the organisation’s history, its recent move to Liverpool and the establishment of its International Centre of Excellence in Human Rights and Responsibilities at the Royal Liver Building.
Dame Lorna Muirhead DBE entertained and inspired guests with an exceptional talk, covering topics from Oxford Street Maternity Hospital to Buckingham Palace.
The event highlighted the growth and development of Rights and Humanity’s Women’s Human Rights and Empowerment Network (WHEN!) - first launched in 2005 by its Patron Mrs Cherie Blair.
WHEN! is a global empowerment network of both women and men who actively encourage women to take action in their own spheres of influence.
The afternoon marks the first of a quarterly gathering, with an online community being established throughout the year.
This event follows up on the hugely successful Women in Enterprise Dinner on 17 November 2010.