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Morning Workshops

Challenge the Media: End the Sexualization of Girls and Young Women in Mainstream Media

Children are exposed to a barrage of sexual and violent images through media of all kinds in mainstream society. TV commercials, movie box covers, music lyrics and even Halloween costumes all contribute to the exploitation of young girls. This interactive workshop will draw on the real life experiences of young women and girls and analyze the impact of media on their rights from an international human rights framework, specifically the Convention on the Rights of the Child and the Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women. Participants will discuss practical ideas for taking action to stop the mainstreaming of the sexual exploitation of young girls and resources will be provided for those who want to learn more about the rights of girls and women.

Presenters: Kathy Seipp, The Advocates for Human Rights, and Mackenzie Ellis, Apple Valley High School

Women and Climate Change

When natural disasters strike, they hit poor communities first and worst.  And since women make up an estimated 70 percent of those living below the poverty line, they are most likely to bear the heaviest burdens.  At the same time, women are often left out of the conversation about adapting to climate change, even though they are sometimes in the best position to provide solutions.  Our workshop will discuss these issues, show what women around the world are doing to cope, and talk about the current climate change legislation.  Participants will be presented the opportunity to partake in a variety of action items.

Presenters:  Jessica Lettween, Leah Sedler, and Lucy Camacho, Oxfam Action Corps Minnesota

The Intersection of Domestic Violence and Family Homelessness

Why is homelessness among women and children on the rise? What does domestic violence have to do with homelessness and how can you make a difference?

Come and learn about the impact of domestic violence on women and children, how this often results in homelessness, and the lack of visibility about this issue in our community. Our panel of experts will talk about the work being done to empower women and children experiencing homelessness, the links with physical and sexual assault, and what you can do to make a difference. The audience will also be able to experience firsthand a groundbreaking program that is working today to change lives. There are solutions to this issue – we hope you will join us.
 
Presenters: Trisha Cummins Kauffman, Jo Kurzmann, Kathy Blegen-Huntley, East Metro Women's Council
 
Why Indigenous Women View Women's Rights Differently
 
This workshop explains and explores how factors such as colonization, capitalism, globalization, nationalism, and paternalistic development have impacted indigenous women. Human rights violations for indigenous women are not based solely on their sex, but are intertwined with other aspects of their identity. In order to challenge the human rights violations of indigenous women, one must understand how these differ from other women. A different set of threats face indigenous women. The workshop will explore the issue of violence against women. It will also look at similarities of U.S. Native Americans and other indigenous populations.
 
Presenters: Maureen L. White Eagle, Partners for Women's Equality, and Dr. Bianet Castellanos, American Studies, University of Minnesota
 
Minnesota's Report Card: A Post-Beijing Snapshot
 
What progress has the U.S. made on the 12-point Beijing Platform in the past 15 years? Hint: We do NOT lead the world on many fronts. The presenters will offer a whirlwind review, with special focus on Minnesota and the National Gender and Equity Campaign. To aid in participants' view of the "big picture," presenters will introduce resources including the Minnesota Women's Action Plan, share a tangible example of the impact of the Beijing World Women's Conference for Asian American women and their communities, and highlight materials from networks of Native American and Latina women.
 
Presenters: Bonnie Watkins, Minnesota Women's Consortium and Bo Thao-Urabe, Asian Americans-Pacific Islanders in Philanthropy (AAPIP)
 
Immigration Relief Specific to Immigrant Women and Children
Immigration law provides several categories of relief that are specific to vulnerable women and children. This workshop will introduce and explore the humanitarian types of relief available under current immigration law, including available relief for victims of crime such as domestic and sexual assault, for women who have been or are likely to be persecuted, and remedies available to juveniles. Specific areas of immigration law that will be covered include asylum, VAWA, U visas, T visas and Special Immigrant Juvenile Status. This session is broad in nature and appropriate for those with little or no knowledge of immigration law.

 Presenters: Sheila Stuhlman and Cynthia Anderson, Immigrant Law Center of MN