17-04-2020
After almost 4 years I leave WO=MEN and retire. I distance myself in a time when everyone has to find their way again. After many wanderings, I found my place again at WO=MEN in the Netherlands. I would like to thank the members and partners for their cooperation and trust. Above all, I would like to thank my team, who struggle and always continue for a good cause and with which I could laugh so much. Very proud that the new director Laila is taking it so energetically and that he comes from this team. This ensures continuity for all of us. Thank you also for the trust and support of all members of the Supervisory Board.
WO=MEN works on gender equality, respect for women's rights worldwide and equal power on
all levels. In all my wanderings I see these as important foundations to work on.
WO=MEN also stands for the values that I consider important, global solidarity, professionalism,
transparency and creativity. Now that we don't see each other in person and don't really have contact, this demands a lot of our creativity. People lose their jobs and are uncertain about the future. And that also means that this could be the moment where we, as a society, start doing things differently that weren't possible before.
We are already seeing that many people are thinking about a different future, a circular economy that is not
is only aimed at increasing GDP per capita, but also the
revaluation of people working in vital professions, social contracts, a call to
ceasefire in many conflict zones and attention to the increase in domestic violence. We are
responsible for the whole, not just for ourselves.
This is also the time to take gender equality and respect for women's rights as a starting point
taking our thinking about the future. That this is no longer seen as something as a last point
is also included in new plans and reconstructions. We can now do this together.
Give space to life and each other. I wish you all the best of luck in this task.
Edith van der Spruit
edithvanderspruit@gmail.com
Arlanderveen, April 16, 2020
