Dominican participates in Middle East conference

Diefendorf also attended the inaugural BMENA workshop on September 3 in Morocco. It included participants from 20 countries featuring representatives of G8 countries Germany, Japan, France, and the Russian Federation.

In the meeting in Morocco, 78 representatives of civil society organizations and governments -- both men and women -- from the Broader Middle East and North Africa engaged in a series of conversations/open dialogue  on such issues as gender equality under the law, women's political participation, and youth and women in the economy.

In close cooperation with Tunisian NGO partner, the Association des Responsables de Formation et de Gestion Humaine dans les Entreprises (ARFORGHE), staff from the League of Women Voters participated in all sessions and carefully recorded the discussions, which were facilitated by staff from the U.S. State Department. 

A draft document was distributed to participants on September 4 and further discussed in a plenary session led by Melanne Verveer, United States Ambassador-at-Large for Global Women's Issues, and United States Department of State Deputy Assistant Secretary for Near Eastern Affairs, Nazanin Ash.

Dominican is home to one of nine Environmental Finance Centers, partially funded by the Environmental Protection Agency. The EFCs, in collaboration with the private and public sectors, seek to develop and implement techniques to prevent and reduce pollution, curb overuse of resources, develop clean water capacity and promote energy efficiency. EFC IX coordinates the Green Business Programs for California, Hawaii, Arizona, and Nevada.

Media Contact:  Sarah Gardner, Director, Communications and Research, 415-485-3239, sarah.gardner@Dominican.edu