Mission Statement: Harvard College International Women's Rights Collective (IWRC) is a student organization that seeks to promote sustained dialogue and activism among undergraduates regarding international women’s issues. Our hope is to establish greater commitment to gender equality across borders in the framework of universal human rights. We aspire to de-stigmatize contentious elements of gender and cultural relativism through productive, interactive, and respectful debates and events.
Value Statement: As a Harvard student organization, we recognize our inherent contextualization within Western gender ideology. But the problems we hope to address in the world are contextualized as well. In order to understand the sources of gender conflict and explore sustainable solutions, we reject the notion of culture as a static, unchanging entity. Instead, we hope to work creatively within cultural frameworks to reduce human suffering on the basis of gender.
raising awareness: "IWR 101," "A Case for Withdrawal from Afghanistan with Noam Chomsky and Malalai Joya," "Women as Agents of Change in Post-Conflict Development," and "Gendered Language," among others.
building skills: Women in the World conference in NY, Civil Liberties & Public Policy conference for abortion rights, public speaking workshop, organizing 101 workshop
organizing Boston Walk for Choice and Unite against the War on Women
Upcoming projects include:
"Know Your Rights 101" to educate/promote agency literacy
"Understanding Sex Trafficking"
organize March to End Rape with the Boston Feminists for Liberation
"1 in 3 Campaign" to de-stigmatize abortion
...to be designed by YOU!
General Member: participate in the online mailing list, invited to attend monthly General meetings, invited to IWRC-only discussions and socials. General Members are not held to any attendance or participation requirements.
Board Member: expected to attend an hour-long weekly Board meeting, attend Board retreat on Sunday 9/23, plan and organize events/discussions. If you are interested in joining the Board, please fill out theAPPLICATION by 10pm next Wednesday the 19th. Several officer positions are available for those who join the Board, such as Historian, Director of Publicity, and Women's Cabinet liaison.
