Message from the president of the IAC.

The Fourth World Conference on Women will take place at a major turning point of human history, when long standing global power structures and alliances are breaking down, giving way to new alignments and political settings with the prevailing socioeconomic conditions. During this change, women's lives have been affected negatively in Bosnia, Somalia, and Rwanda; although they played little or no role in bringing about the changes, women bear the brunt of the resulting political and economic strife. This situation, the combination of untold human suffering with unprecedented technological progress, could give women the insight to take initiative for leadership in shaping a better world where justice, peace, and prosperity prevail. To use their full potential for leadership, women must rid themselves of deeply engraved and internalized values of submission and eliminate all forms of prejudices and stereotypes. Through various forms of socialization processes, women have learned to sacrifice their comfort and well-being for their husbands and children and to conform to established value systems. Female genital mutilation is a sacrifice they have continued to pay, while the communities in which they live remain silent, apathetic, and indifferent. Conferences like the one in Beijing give inspiration and hope to leaders involved in changing the situation for women; they provide opportunities to voice plights, share experiences, and create alliances. The Inter-African Committee on Traditional Practices Affecting the Health of Women and Children (IAC) is planning to set up a workshop on traditional practices and hopes to enable as many of its members as possible to take part in the NGO forum.