I would like to know if anyone at FEMINIST.COM has done or knows about research dealing with the change in the number women in public office and change in human rights policy? "With more women in public office we will be less likely to go to war." Something of this nature. Any help will be greatly appreciated. - Chuck

For a better source of information about women leaders, I have a few suggestions:

1.) The Center for Women's Global Leadership, 27 Clifton Avenue, Douglass College, New Brunswick, New Jersey 08903; #732-932-8782.
2.) UNIFEM, the women's division of the United Nations, which has more research available on women in different countries. (304 E. 45th Street, 6th Floor New York, NY 10017; (212) 906-6400 fax (212) 906-6705)
3.) Equality Now, which works to stop human rights abuses and to develop women's leadership.

The problem with this statement is that while women may be presently leading and respecting human rights, they simultaneously may be making up for their predecessors human rights violations. The same could be true for any male leader, who is making up for his predecessor's failures. If you look at the examples that I know of, it is hard to measure. For instance, you have a country like Pakistan, which until recently was run by a woman, and they have deplorable human rights abuses; However, when you look at all of the Scandanavian Countries and Grohharlem Brundtlandt's (sp.?) leadership, they are leading the way in respecting human rights.

Also, we have too few examples of women leading to make such a statement in overall comparisons. However, I, too, believe that I see women leading with more of a human rights instinct. I also have faith that over time women may fall more on the side of human rights as most human rights abuses affect women and children the most. Therefore, we have more of a personal investment. That's my two cents. Good luck with your work.

—Amy