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By Salem Solomon
On June 17, former US First Lady Laura Bush wrote an editorial in the Washington Post about revelations that the government had separated 2,000 children from their homes. parents.
a border state, "wrote Bush, who lives in Texas." I appreciate the need to impose and protect our international borders, but this zero tolerance policy is cruel. It's immoral.
In his letter, Bush called for an immediate end to the separation of parents and children.
She also recalled a simple act of humanity manifested by another First Lady almost three decades earlier. In 1989, in the midst of the AIDS epidemic, Barbara Bush, who passed away in April, visited a home for families and children with AIDS.
Unwittingly, she picked up and pet a baby who is dying of AIDS. Compassion at a time of confusion and fear over the spread of the virus.
This kind of compassion illustrates the American spirit.
Three days after The Post published his letter, President Donald Trump signed a decree. to prevent future separations.
Laura Bush was not the only one to condemn the separation of children from their parents. But her voice as an old first lady had a special weight.
Leading by example
Around the world, the first ladies, present and old, play unique roles. They often lack legal authority, but they preach by example, rally support for social issues and even shape foreign and domestic politics.
Cora Neumann is the founder of the Global First Ladies Alliance, a Los Angeles-based organization that connects first ladies around the world, especially in Africa.
The first ladies have untapped potential, said Neumann. Their influence tends to unfold behind the scenes, but their power is real.
"They are in this position of power, potential and influence," Neumann told VOA. "But they are just neglected."
Social Issues
The First African Ladies Turn to Complex Social Problems Involving Education, Women's Health, Maternal Mortality, The Economy
Monica Geingos, lawyer and first lady of Namibia since 2015, has focused on the eradication of poverty through unsecured loans and training of entrepreneurs.
Kenya's first lady, Margaret Kenyatta, led Sia Nyama Koroma, who served as the first lady in Sierra Leone from 2007 until last month, created the office of the First Lady of her country. [19659020] Koroma founded his office to support initiatives focused on the education, training and empowerment of women.
Koroma's efforts have much Neumann said, particularly through work with local people and religious leaders tr aditional, that "the direction without authority"
The first ladies often adopt the change not because of a legal mandate, but by using their platform. inspire action – what Neumann called "conduct without authority".
"What we have seen in some African countries, and you see here also [in the U.S.] is that the first ladies are considered, and" and the ability to shape attitudes and behaviors at the local level by going into communities and meeting local villagers and local people can sometimes be more powerful than Neumann gave the example of the former first lady of Tanzania, Salma Kikwete, who with her husband, went on national television to get tested for HIV
Empow The first ladies and those who work with them enhance the status of all women, says Neumann.
The Global First Ladies Alliance worked with 45 first ladies. In addition to Africa, the group brought together women from the United States, United Kingdom, Latin America and Asia to share their experiences and learn from each other.
The alliance documents these exchanges and develops case studies and best practices. This has led to initiatives such as a scholarship program for senior executives of the first ladies.
"You are as good as your best advisor," said Neumann, which prompted his team to develop a training program for
The growing influence
Over time, the first ladies gained influence and formed powerful networks to improve their countries.
"We just see the first ladies continue to take on more and more a visible and powerful role" Neumann said: "The first ladies work most effectively when they complete their husbands' politics," Neumann added. than to take a public stand against them. But behind closed doors, they influenced the policies.
Neumann sees the first ladies take even more importance in the future.
"The more powerful they become, the more they become visible – as we have just seen in the United States. States – this expression and the application of direct pressure will continue to become more important. So we see that the role is becoming more influential, "she said.
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