More than 50% of U.S. funds for Haiti should be given specifically towards women’s movements, according to Senator Mary Landrieu (La.)

Women from UNIFEM and Women Thrive Worldwide spoke at a breakfast briefing to more than 50 people, emphasizing the current political and family plights of Haitian and Afghan women.

In the Haitian agrarian and societal situations, where women lead and provide for families, women should be at the center. Ines Alberdi, CEO of UNIFEM, spoke of their leadership in organization and childcare in the wake of the earthquake.

Alberdi was the first speaker of the breakfast, starting it off with a call to UN member states to demand reform in gender quality.

The women of Northern Ireland fought for their rights when they were told “sit down, silly women,” said Alberdi, saying that they knew what the women of East Timor, Sudan, and Guatemala know.

“They can break the stalemate,” she said.

She made special mention of the Kabul security conference scheduled for May, in which the position of the Taliban in Afghani politics will be covered. Alberdi said that women need to be a “visual presence” in such discussions in order to emphasize the necessity of women’s rights.

“Is the door open, or do we have to find the back entrance?” she asked.

As each woman discussed, a common theme was stressed of partnerships between men and women and community as a whole.

Ritu Sharma of Women Thrive Worldwide told the story of her going to Sri Lanka to check on women after a tsunami. The translator, a man, eventually turned to her, asking “Why do we have all this focus on women?” From this experience, Sharma argued that the cooperation of men and women are needed to reach their goals.

“A gendered community approach to development” is needed, she said. “Women and gender are not the same thing.”

In helping women internationally, Landrieu tied it to those affected by Hurricane Katrina and the broken levees in 2005, and how empathetic they especially can be towards the international community.

In addition, Landrieu pointed to present and former Secretaries of State Hillary Clinton, Condoleezza Rice, and Madeleine Albright as examples to the rest of the world.

“Without a word spoken or dollar given,” said Landrieu. “That speaks volumes for the United States.”

Senator Landrieu emphasized the influence that women, American or otherwise, have wielded in the political sphere. According to her, justice for women are more in the center of politics than ever.

“It’s extraordinary,” she said. “This is our time.”

Regarding appropriations committees, Landrieu and others encouraged persistent requests for funds to help women.

“Ask for more than you ever thought possible,” she said. “Don’t be ashamed.”