Dialogue for Action conference in NYC

Attened the Cecilia Attias conference in NYC. Met many many wonderful people who were doing much work to improve human rights in general and women's rights in particular. One common theme was changing social views for men which means stopping marginalizing women. Changes can be brought about through funding projects such as microfinance for women, adding and enforcing laws that protect women from violence and trafficking, and building community support to do the right thing. All of these can be positively influenced by media.
When you ask the leaders of a group what do you want, invariably they say they want peace and harmony for everyone. Because they have stated a goal, they can be lead to see how improving the status of women will benefit everyone and lead to the peace and harmony they said they wanted. Giving directives doesn't work, but helping people implement their own basic goals does.
Mu Sochua was one of the speakers at the Dialogue. She has been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize for her courageous stand for human rights against the corrupt government of Cambodia. She is returning to Cambodia to be jailed on July 2 to protest the lack of free speech in Cambodia. She has fought against human trafficking and for the rights of women for many years.