Uprisings across the Arab world, financial crises in Europe, and the growing threat of environmental disasters have shaken confidence in the global economic system, calling into question its ability to generate long-term prosperity and stability.
Over the weekend, some 2,000 women from around the world – former presidents and indigenous leaders, media executives and advocates for sex workers, academics and activists – gathered in Istanbul to explore new ways to create a stronger, more equitable economy amid these societal upheavals.
I covered the 12th Association for Women’s Rights in Development (AWID) International Forum for the Inter Press Service (IPS) News Agency, writing one story about gender budgeting – a wonky-sounding topic that has very real impact on women's lives – and one wrap-up of the weekend's discussions and debates.
Over the coming weeks, I'll be following up on some of the wealth of story ideas generated by the forum, from the growing problem of time poverty to the threats facing women's rights defenders.
Read my AWID Forum coverage for IPS:
"Economic Crisis Hits Gender Budgeting" (22 April 2012)
"Women of the World Unite for Rights" (23 April 2012)