Published by The Huffington Post

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There is a modest rush to bring humanitarian aid to the Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).  After weeks of escalating conflict, during which hundreds of thousands have been displaced, hundreds more women raped, and many civilians slaughtered, there is now the possibility that three thousand additional peacekeepers will be sent to DRC. There have been high-level meetings with militia leader Nkunda and Presidents Kabila of the Congo and Kagame of neighboring Rwanda. There is a new element of care and concern.

But why does the world behave as if there is suddenly a new war in the DRC? 

In September, after years of pushing by AIDS-Free World and women’s groups from around the world, UN member states passed a resolution to move swiftly to create a new UN agency for women. AIDS-Free World is demanding that the UN rely on the innovation, wisdom and energy of women’s civil society organizations to inform every aspect of the development of the new agency.

We understand the UN Secretariat is considering UNAIDS’ governance structure as a possible model for the new women’s agency.  Undeniably, the UN has a lot to learn from the successes of the AIDS movement in demanding that the international community create institutions that respond to their needs and rely on their expertise.  If not for the global community of AIDS activists we wouldn’t have the Global Fund for AIDS, TB and Malaria, nor would we have the participation of people with AIDS on the governing body of UNAIDS. 
But is the UNAIDS governance structure the right model for the new women’s agency? Let’s take a closer look.

It’s hard to pick up a newspaper these days and not come across an article about the global food crisis — soaring food prices, riots over rice and bread, and looming famines are dominating the headlines worldwide.