"Market intelligence by women groups needed"

"Fundamentalism and other forms of extremism result in women bearing the maximum brunt of suffering," said Dr Heyzer, citing Afghanistan, where fundamentalism was impinging on the lives of women.

"However, technology has resulted in newer options. The Internet is one such medium which can be tapped by women for strengthening community work," she said. Information technology is one such industry which can be utilised by women for countering existing threats created by the global trade environment.

A transnational network is being established to impart focus on the strengths of women’s groups and the skills of women. Market intelligence by women groups in different locations for different products is what is needed for helping women at an international level, she added.

As the first Asian woman to head the UNIFEM, Dr Noeleen felt that her main agenda has been to act as an interface between the global and community level so that the potential of indigenous knowledge and skills of women could be harnessed.