This is adapted from an article written by Chika Okoye, New Jersey, who attended the Beijing Circle conference with Priest Joanne.

During the week beginning on March 25, we attended a Beijing Circles conference.  It ran parallel to the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women, UNCSW, conference and we were able to meet and listen to women from all over the world in New York City.  At the beginning of the week most of us probably were unsure of what any one of us could contribute as the concept of how the Circle could help end poverty and hunger seemed all too vague and overwhelming.  As the week went on we realized that we are asked to do no more than listen and learn and maybe through that exercise we can develop a plan of action, or not.  The point is to be aware of what is going on in the world, particularly in our local area.  Who are the homeless, the poor, and the maligned in your community?  What are their stories?  It is amazing how much you can do by just imparting a little knowledge.  A little background will give an idea of how the Beijing Circles concept was developed.

In 1995 the United Nations, (UN), held its fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing, China.  At that meeting the Beijing Platform for action was developed.  This platform was created to help identify critical areas of concern with respect to the status of women. Those critical areas are listed below:

• The persistent and increasing burden of poverty on women
• Inequalities and inadequacies in the unequal access to education and training
• Inequalities and in adequacies in the unequal access to health care and related services
• Violence against women
• The effects of armed or other kinds of conflict on women including those living under foreign occupation
• Inequality in economic structures and policies, in all forms of productive activities and access to resources
• Inequality between men and women in the sharing of power and decision-making at all levels
• Insufficient mechanisms at all levels to promote the advancement of women
• Lack of respect for and the inadequate promotion and protection of the human rights of women
• Stereotyping of women and the inequality in women’s access to and participation in all communication systems, especially in the media
• Gender inequalities in the management of natural resources and in the safeguarding of the environment
• Persistent discrimination against and violation of the rights of the girl child.

In 2000 the UN established the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) as a framework through which poverty, hunger, disease and illiteracy can be eradicated from the world by 2015.  Eight goals were established. The third goal, (MDG 3) is to promote gender equality and to empower women.

In 2005 at the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women, (UNCSW – Beijing + 10) the time was spent assessing how well the world was performing when it came to dealing with the areas identified as critical by the Beijing platform.  While some progress had been made it was noted that still far too few women were aware of the promises that their governments have made to protect them and too few were holding their government responsible for keeping their word.  It was in this spirit that a few women from The Episcopal Church (TEC) were moved to gather with the sole purpose of educating themselves and others about the Beijing platform for action and the Millennium Development Goals (MDG’s), particularly MDG 3.   They called their gathering a Beijing Circle.

The circle, as a name and format in this instance, gives an air of equality, simplicity and inclusiveness.  Groups of four to eight women, and in a few cases men, gather in a circle to educate themselves and discuss the critical areas of the Beijing platform for action with the hope that at the very least they can spread the word about these critical areas as well as about the MDG’s.  The aim here is education rather than action, but with education action is almost inevitable.  Emphasis is also on local issues as while it is tempting to see these problems as occurring in other communities, it is sad to say that women everywhere suffer the same fate. The rich as well as the poor suffer from violence, exploitation, unfair stereotyping, unequal pay and an under representation in the decision making process.  As the story went, a young girl was told she needed to sweep their hut but she complained about it was too hard and too big, that she didn’t even know where to begin.  Her mother said, “Sweep at your feet.”  And that is what we were invited to do, sweep at our feet. 

A Beijing Circle is not a political party or a religious group it is just a small group who gather to seek knowledge about issues that deeply concern women and children.  Issues that if properly addressed will change the world for the better.  In summary a Beijing Circle is a way of getting together to look at global issues in a spiritual context as they relate to the condition of women and children.

In our time together we were able to attend UN workshops, Anglican Women’s delegates gatherings as well as our own workshops.  In this time we heard many stories from around the world. 

Chika listened to a 16 year old Congolese girl accused of witchcraft and driven from her home at six years old.  She listened to the empowered women of the United Arab Emirates whose story is never told in the media; not all Muslim women are relegated to a life in the shadows.  She listened to an Albanian young man who was so moved by the suffering of his trafficked county women that he has decided to help them by becoming an educated advocate for their cause.  Women are suffering and are also making progress all over the world; their stories need to get out.  The stories of progress make one feel that it is possible to be whatever one dreamed of becoming while the stories of suffering emphasize the need for us to hold our governments more accountable. 

Joanne heard stories of domestic violence in places like Mexico, Japan, Sudan and Burundi.  She listened to a woman from northeastern India who works with women refugees from Burma teaching them to sew and do needlework so they can survive.  From Sudan it was about how little anyone has … food, water, health care.  There were stories about how young girls aren’t in school because they are walking 2-4 miles each way to get water on a daily basis and if the well is dry going even further.  Stories of the garbage children of Egypt who live entirely in the dumps, getting food and clothing from what is tossed away.  

The Beijing circle movement is a work in progress, setting up one is as simple as gathering on a consistent basis to discuss the Beijing platform for action with a particular emphasis on MDG 3.  The only formal thing about it is that you gather in a circle and conduct your meetings in such a way that each voice is heard and all issues are discussed in a way that all in the circle are respected and respectful.  This is important work as all can contribute and make a difference.