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<DIV>Dear colleagues,</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Hoping you are all well and with recharged spirits for the new
year! I'm writing to you about the upcoming FTF Facilitation meeting
proposed for March 1st and 2nd in New York. I had sent a note back in
December with details about the UN Commission for the Status of Women (CSW) and
the opportunity it affords for us to meet. For one, the New York
International Tribunal on Women and Poverty is planned for that time and some of
us will be there. Some are already involved in presenting finding from
previous tribunals at this event. </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Back in December I preregistered colleagues for the CSW to ensure a spot at
the meeting. This would also produce a visa letter for those requiring a
letter from the UN for those purposes. At this time, it is important to
know who will be coming, who would like to come and if so, what are the concerns
or hesitations. The FTF FT meeting will be held all day March 1 and
2nd. As you know, the CSW will be held at the United Nations
headquarters in New York from 25 February to 7 March 2008. Having the
FTF-FT meeting on March 1 and 2nd will enable people to get back to their
countries for their March 8th activities (leaving a few days earlier, of
course). </DIV>
<DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Also, you may know the theme of this year's meeting is "Financing for
Gender Equality and Women's Empowerment" which fits very well with the GCAP
mandate and the FTF focus on gender and poverty. The CSW will provide a
unique opportunity to not only show case the tribunal findings, but to network
and strategize with other women's groups on the financing gender and poverty
eradication agendas for meetings later this year.</DIV></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><EM></EM></STRONG> </DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><EM>At this time, please confirm your participation at the meeting
by replying to this e-mail.</EM></STRONG> A proposed agenda will be sent
soon. At the moment, you could <STRONG><EM>send agenda items/ideas to
me.</EM></STRONG> One big issue to be discussed will be the future for the
FTF, its FT, the work of GCAP and moving forward.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Let's keep the dialogue open. I very much look forward to hearing
from you all and seeing you in March.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>In peace,</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Rosa</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
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