[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 40 (Friday, April 12, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E519]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  TRIBUTE TO INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. BETTY McCOLLUM

                              of minnesota

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, April 11, 2002

  Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Speaker, on Wednesday March 6, 2002 I had the 
pleasure of spending my day with Patricia Buckley in celebration of 
International Women's Day on Friday March 8th. International Women's 
Day is a time to acknowledge achievements of women around the world and 
come together to appreciate our similarities and differences.
  The Community Advocate Mentor Program (CAMP) is a program within the 
International Women's Democracy Center (IWDC) that was developed in 
partnership with the Ulster People's College in Belfast, Northern 
Ireland. It was designed to strengthen the public policy, advocacy and 
lobbying skills of community-based leaders from Northern Ireland. Over 
a 5-year period, IWDC and UPC will train 100 women leaders from 
Northern Ireland how to effectively lobby their government and 
strengthen civil society.
  Ms. Buckley is the mother of three daughters and a volunteer. She is 
the Vice Chair of the South Armagh (Northern Ireland) Rural Women's 
Network. The Network was formed to support women's community-based 
groups in South Armagh. Patricia traveled to the United States for the 
first time with a group of women from Northern Ireland. Her interest of 
helping women in rural areas with community development and adult 
education led to her involvement in the IWDC and CAMP, which sponsored 
the trip to the United States.
  Patricia spent the entire day with my staff and me; traveling from 
meetings in the morning, committee hearings in the afternoon and 
receptions in the evening. She was able to get a sense of what a 
``typical'' day is for a Member of Congress and experience the 
legislative process. Not only did she learn about my daily life, but I 
was able to take a step into hers as well. The amazing thing I learned 
from her is that women's issues--as broad as they are--are not unique 
to any area of the world. Women face the same problems in every 
community.
  It was such an honor and a pleasure to host Patricia Buckley for a 
day. I am encouraged by her efforts and the efforts of the 
International Women's Democracy Center. Person to person, woman to 
woman, I an committed to working towards stronger communities. It is an 
inspiration when women on all continents, often divided by national 
boundaries and by ethnic, linguistic, cultural, and economic 
differences, are able to come together to celebrate and learn from one 
another.

                          ____________________