Conference Themes

Building Sustainable Communities

This theme is dedicated to discussing the gendered dimensions of building socially, economically and environmentally sustainable communities. On the one hand women and men provide different contributions to community building activities; on the other there are gendered outcomes as communities transition to sustainable practices and lifestyles.Papers are welcome that examine how various agencies, groups/organisations and individuals help build sustainable communities and raise awareness of the interconnections between issues of environment (land stewardship, ecology, energy, climate change, disasters) and social/economic imperatives for communities (health, income generation, cultural practices, good governance).

Women and Economic Development

Economic Development is a priority for women in the Asia Pacific Region.Creatively re-thinking economic theory and development concepts in the light of feminist theory and women’s interests is not only politically strategic but vital to the improvement of women’s economic well being.Papers are invited that are concerned with women’s economic well being and livelihoods.Particularly, we encourage papers that focus on women’s entrepreneurship, business skills, community economies and that draw connections between economic development, human rights and aid policies

Making Women’s Lives Safer

Safety for women and girls continues to be an important issue for global human rights activists.The lives of women and girls are made unsafe because of direct and indirect violence from their state, their communities and their families.This theme seeks to explore and critically analyse the issues and practices that expose women and girls to violence of any form as well as highlight and celebrate the creative polices, processes and programs that address such violence and enhance the safety of women and girls. Papers exploring issues such as trafficking, prostitution, pornography, HIV/AIDS and domestic and family violence are invited.Analyses of the gendered nature of violence and the gendered outcomes of generic violence that contribute to unsafe environments and lives for women and girls are particularly welcome.

Women’s Leadership and Governance

Achievement of the 2015 Millennium Development Goals will require that women have an equal role in the decisions that affect their lives. Building women’s leadership skills in civil society, government, politics and parliament will lead to improved governance across all sectors of society and contribute to betterment of the lives of women. Papers are invited that describe best practice and research in women’s leadership and its impact on improving governance across all sectors.Papers that describe successful strategies to increase the number of elected women representatives at all levels of government are particularly welcome.