People: Vibeke Brask Thomsen & GenderHopes

Raised in Monaco with Danish roots and a dash of Swiss upbringing, Vibeke Brask Thomsen has been working for the EU in the field of human security in Bruxelles. Today she lives full-time in Monaco, married to her British husband Russ and with daughter Alice. Vibeke, like many Monaco residents, travels a lot (both for work and with her family), but her 'home base' with family and friends clearly centers in Monaco. She is the founder of Gender Hopes and we have asked her a bit about herself and her new association which is based in Monaco:

You have grown up in Monaco but also lived in other countries,- what do you appreciate as main qualities about life in Monaco?

The main qualities I see in Monaco is the security it provides to its citizens. It is a great feeling to walk around safely during day and night, not being afraid of being attacked or having ones' car or purse stolen. Especially for a woman - and when having kids - this is priceless! Furthermore, and although it can be frustrating at times, I do like how small Monaco is: it is always easy to meet up with friends, to arrange a lunch or a play date, etc. It makes it easy to keep in touch and see your friends a lot, which is great. As this blog highlights, this small country also offers a lot of activities: many cultural events, from expositions and shows to conferences and concerts. In terms of nightlife, there are countless good restaurants and bars, making it a fun place to enjoy a good evening out. Finally - and it may sound obvious, but I really like the fact that Monaco is French-speaking! It makes me feel completely at home both culturally and linguistically. 

You are the founder of ‘Gender Hopes’? What made you found it? Describe its goals?

I decided to found GenderHopes after working several years in Bruxelles in the field of human security, arms control and international conflict. I have witnessed the specific damages that conflicts have on women, in terms of sexual, moral and physical violence. And such violence doesn't stop when the conflict ends, it often continues in the household, putting women and their children at extra risk. The objective of GenderHopes is to combat all forms of gender-based violence, both in conflict and in times of peace. Currently, GenderHopes is working on a project along with another Monaco association, Femmes Leaders, on domestic violence in Monaco. The objective is to research and analyze the current situation and the options for a woman who is the victim of violence. The project will run throughout 2012. In parallel, I write a number of articles on gender-based violence in order to raise awareness of the problem. GenderHopes also works with a partner organization in London - Make Every Woman Count - on researching and monitoring elections in Africa and the role of women in such elections. 

What does the future hold for women? Will our generation still live to see an end to violence against women?

I want to be optimistic and say that the future looks bright for women! I think unfortunately, we will not live to see the end of violence in general, including towards women, but that does not mean we should not work towards such goal! In the past 20 years, enormous progress has been made worldwide in terms of women's rights and participation: women can now vote in all the countries, the political and economic participation of women is at the center stage of countless policies and the number of women in decision-making positions is constantly increasing. Of course, progress is still needed: women still earn less than men in the same position, women still do the majority of the household chores, and women are still discriminated against in numerous everyday life situations. Furthermore, in several countries and regions worldwide, the rights and safety of women are being challenged everyday. We are currently witnessing the changes brought about by the Arab Spring and I do hope that this wind of change will also include more rights, especially in terms of political participation, for women. 

Do you think ALL women actually want equal rights and if not will future generations change their approach?

I believe that all people want to live free of violence and feel secure in their daily life, especially in their households. The question of equal rights would probably be challenged by numerous people, including women, in parts of the world, especially the Middle East. However, I do believe that equal rights such as the right to be free from violence, the right to food, to shelter, to chose one's partner, to raise one's own's children and to be economically independent if one so wishes, are shared by most people and should be enshrined in all legislations. Europe, for example, has witnessed tremendous change and improvements in the field of women's rights over the last 50 years, but progress is still needed. In the coming decades, however, we also need to center our efforts on women in developing countries. It is crucial that policy-makers understand the importance of the role of women and also the economic and social costs of gender-based violence. As such, it will be essential for developing countries to include women in the political, social and economic development of their country. 

For more information, please visit www.genderhopes.org and follow us on Twitter https://twitter.com/#!/GenderHopes