Testing Testing 124: My Day at the United Nations

My Day at the United Nations

The exciting thing about life is that every so often we have days where things just click. You sit back, take a breath and smile at the person next to you because the world we live in, for a very short period, begins to feel like it is on the right track. We are united. And there is so very much to do, but we are doing it.

Couple that with feeling like a giddy tourist in a very “let-me-take-a-million-pictures-right-now” kind of way and you get my day at the United Nations.

I was so excited to attend the U.S. Chamber of Commerce's International Women's Day Forum (Turning Inspiration Into Action) at the United Nations. Among others, I got to hear Chelsea Clinton speak. I don’t care what political party you reside with, or shall I say hate... It was pretty darn cool hearing someone’s philanthropic heart and work in the advancement of women. And I don’t mean the “ummm no, I can open my own door” kind of “advancement”… I’m talking about the educational platform that is being push world-wide to show that women are not only important for family and community, but that they are strong drivers of economic opportunity.

During one of the breakout sessions I heard a very powerful story that I just have to share. The speaker, a doctor, talked about her time overseas working in a local clinic – a clinic that was too often under-staffed and equipped… causing people to lose their lives not because the knowledge was not present, but because the resources were not available. Basic medical supplies and equipment. Isn’t that horrible?

As you can imagine, women’s health (education, preventative medication, contraceptives, family planning) have taken a backseat. Scratch that, they aren’t even in the car.

One of the women in this town had a very difficult third pregnancy and almost died. When she became pregnant with her fourth child, she was told that she had one foot in the grave and unless she was able to go to the “better hospital”, she would likely lose her life. Which translates to a money game. Living in a patriarchal society, her father-in-law controlled the family business, the little money they had and the decisions. After much discussion, the father-in-law explained to the doctor that paying for his daughter-in-law to be sent to the “better hospital” was not a wise investment for the family. Investment.He said that if he sent her to the hospital he could not justify the ripple effects. “What if a higher-ranked family member became sick, what if the family business went under?”

By not choosing this “investment”… here is what happens:

The mother dies.
The third child now only has a 60% chance of surviving without the mother in the picture.
The husband has a mental breakdown, can no longer care for the children nor report to work.
The family business goes under.
The oldest child is unable to pursue an education because she must care for the younger two children.
The remaining family members have to pull together resources to support this family – while dealing with losses from the family business…

When we don’t invest in women the ripple effects are wide. God created men and women to fit together in perfect harmony. We compliment each other – our strengths and weakness are intentional. By not investing in women, by not giving women a choice, by not ensuring women have educational opportunities… we throw off the intentional equilibrium.

Happy International Women's Day!