Amy Goodman, renowned journalist and host of Democracy Now!, has reported the death of Myriam Merlet, Chief of Staff, Ministry of Women’s Affair’s in Haiti. Yesterday, Goodman reported the tragic news of Merlet’s death caused by last week’s earthquake. Merlet represented the strength of the women’s movement in Haiti and was a friend to so many women there. One of the great feminists of the country, she brought significant social change and drew much attention to the problems women face in Haiti.

On March 3, 2009, WCI President Marjorie Margolies and Suraya Pakzad of Afghanistan addressed a crowd eager to discuss global gender issues in preparation for International Women’s Day, 2009. WCI now applauds Ms. Pakzad as she has been named one of TIME Magazine’s Most Influential People for 2009!