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Former senator, Anesia Baptiste, centre, with participants from Zimbabwe and Tunisia at the annual International Women’s Day Conference.
Former senator, Anesia Baptiste, centre, with participants from Zimbabwe and Tunisia at the annual International Women’s Day Conference.

KINGSTOWN, St. Vincent, March 7, IWN – Former senator Anesia Baptiste is attending the annual International Women’s Day Conference hosted by the Women’s Democracy Network (WDN) in Washington, D.C.

Baptiste, the founder of the Democratic Republican Party (DRP), is the sole representative from the Caribbean Community among 10 women chosen by the WDN to attend this conference.

The other women are from Zimbabwe, Nigeria, Tunisia, Syria, Ukraine, Burma, Argentina, Bangladesh, and Moldova.

As a part of the conference, the women have undergone intense training in how to launch effective election campaigns and how to govern effectively once elected.

They heard presentations from women political leaders on topics, including “Directing and Managing Operations” “Structure of a Campaign and GOTV (Get out the Vote), “Development of a Message”, “The Significance of Networking and Coalition Building”, “The Use of New Media”, “Fundraising” and “Strategic Planning”.

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Participants will also have the opportunity to meet with members of Congress on Capitol Hill, attend a congressional session and will meet with U.S. government officials, including women leaders in the US government.

A highlight of the programme will be attending the International Women of Courage Award ceremony at the U.S. State Department.

As a part of the week’s activities, the 10 women will also attend the WDN’s annual Jeane K. Kirkpatrick award ceremony, where U.S. Senator Kelly Ayotte and Bangladesh activist Selima Ahmad will be honoured for their outstanding contribution to the advancement of women in politics and civil society.

The WDN was established in 2006 as an initiative of the International Republican Institute. Its objective is to increase women’s political participation, leadership and representation in elected office. At present, the WDN is active in 61 countries in every region of the world, with 15 country chapters.