By Joyce Kryszak
Buffalo, NY – Women's rights have improved slowly around the world in recent years. But in many areas, particularly underdeveloped countries, those gains are overshadowed by persistent realities of poverty. A program is being held Monday night that will discuss the status of human rights for women in the Americas.
At 29, Paola Becvar left her native Peru and headed for the US. She came with something most women from her country never get -- an education and a sustaining career. Becvar is an attorney and international trade specialist with Buffalo's World Trade Center. Becvar says she had advantages other women in Peru can't even fathom.
"Women in Peru...I don't think they could have time to get organized and fight for rights that, probably, most of them don't even know that they have," said Becvar. "There time is mostly just to bring something to the table for their kids."
Becvar says women in Peru live in poverty, many as single mothers, with no job or education. Much of the reason for that is cultural, she says. Highlighting these issues, and the progress toward changing attitudes are the focus of Monday's program. It's sponsored by the American Association of University Women, the Hispanics Women's League and the Women's Rights National Park, of which Becvar is a member. Becvar says she's proud to be part of any group that can help make a difference for her country-women.
"To give back to those women, something...anything, that you could teach, anything that you could share, anything that could help them build a different life, different ways of thinking, anything that could bring change I would do from here, from anywhere," said Becvar."
International attorney and women's rights advocate Yolanda Falcon is guest speaker at tonight's event. She will talk about the progress of organizations working in Peru to help educate and employ women there.
The program begins at 6:00 at Shangai Red's Restaurant in Buffalo.