The Lost Girls > Ideas > Volunteering & Giving Back > Are Women’s Rights a National Security Issue?

Are Women’s Rights a National Security Issue?

Volunteering & Giving Back — By on October 1, 2009 at 4:47 pm

According to yesterday’s episode of Oprah, yes. New York Times journalist and co-author of Half the Sky Nicholas Kristof said helping women in war-torn countries actually fights terrorism. Why? Women with financial freedom are more likely to use their resources for the health and education of themselves and their children, and educated types are less likely to align with terrorist groups. He also went on to say, “The greatest unexploited resources that poor countries have isn’t some diamond or gold. It’s the female half of their populations.” Another guest, journalist Lisa Ling, pointed out that, if you look at terrorism, you often look at a culture that stands against the rights of women. She thinks investing in girls and women around the world is another way to fight terrorism.


One way everyone can have an impact is to sponsor a woman affected by war and civil strife through Women to Women International. Besides helping a woman  get job training and education, but you’ll also make a real connection through exchanging letters and updates. Your money will help set a woman on her way to becoming economically independent, and your communication with someone on the other side of the world can offer hope that one person can indeed make a difference.

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    2 Comments

  • NYer in NZ says:
    October 8, 2009 at 4:05 am

    "Half the Sky" is on a media bonanza! The other co-author, and his wife, Sheryl WuDunn was busy schmoozing Stephen Colbert this week. Think they drew straws out of a hat for those assignments?

  • Jon T Washington says:
    May 4, 2010 at 2:57 am

    These kind of post are always inspiring and I prefer to read quality content so I happy to find many good point here in the post, writing is simply great, thank you for the post