AMY HAMIDON BRINGS "FRESH BREEZE" TO WOMEN'S INTERNATIONAL FORUM

By Manik Mehta

NEW YORK, Aug 21 (Bernama) -- Amy Hamidon, the wife of Malaysia’s
permanent representative to the United Nations in New York, Hamidon Ali,
has brought what is being described in UN circles as a "fresh breeze" to the
Women’s International Forum (WIF) of which she was elected president in June.

The WIF is an association consisting mainly of wives of diplomats attached
to foreign missions accredited to the United Nations.

Although the WIF performs mostly social/cultural tasks, spouses of diplomats
play an equally important role in representing their respective countries.

Amy, who has been a high-profiled worker within the WIF and was a past vice-
president, was unanimously elected by the executive board. A nomination
committee of the WIF proposed her name as president.

Many of WIF's members told Bernama that they were "highly impressed" not
only by her dedication and commitment in promoting the interest of Malaysia but
also by her leadership qualities.

"In my personal view, Amy would be a good choice as president of the WIF,”
Lady Lynn Parry-Jones, the wife of the former British ambassador to the United
Nations, had said in a conversation with this writer before she departed for
London on completion of her husband’s term of office nearly three years ago.

Lady Lynn’s prophecy, if it was indeed one, seems to have come true now.

The remarkable thing about Amy’s election is that she is the sole president
of the WIF, unlike in the past when the association had two co-presidents.

"The forum is a highly influential group because it has women members whose
husbands hold high-level positions both at their missions affiliated with the UN
and in the UN itself. I'm humbled by this unique honour bestowed for the first
time on a Malaysian," Amy told Bernama at the Malaysian permanent mission here.

Besides organising charity and social events that benefit the down-trodden
and less fortunate people of the world, the WIF has also been organising
lectures and talks by experts pre-eminently qualified to raise awareness on
topical issues that are currently preoccupying the international community, and
also to get broader perspectives.


Ban Soon-taek, wife of the UN Secretary General, Ban ki-Moon, is a patron of
the forum and has personally attended several Malaysian events, including
Malaysian food festivals organised by another New York-based group headed by Amy
comprising women from or affiliated to the Malaysian Permanent Mission here.

The WIF, which has mostly been Western-centric in the past, is gradually
evolving into a truly international organisation.

To illustrate this point, endeavours are being made to hold discussions on
subjects which have a broader appeal to the international community rather than
of interest only to the West.

Future themes for discussions at the WIF will include the Middle East,
climate change, women’s empowerment and the global economy.

"I'm trying to get a good mix of themes for discussions at the forum, and
give it a truly international colour. I would like to get some prominent
speakers from Asia and other regions of the world," Amy said.


Past speakers at the WIF include World Bank president Robert Zoellick, Nobel
Peace Prize Laureate Dr Bernard Lown and journalist Leslie Stahl.

The forum has managed to get the UK permanent representative to the United
Nations, Sir John Sawers, to speak on “Peace Building through the United
Nations” on Sept 11.

"Sir John Sawers is an excellent speaker with outstanding experience in
international diplomacy. We look forward to hearing his views," Amy said.

-- BERNAMA