"Integration of Women in the Cooperative Movement" Caribbean Confederation Of Credit Unions 52nd International Conference "Integration of Women in the Cooperative Movement" Presented by: MILAGROS ORTIZ BOSCH Bavaro, Dominican Republic June 27, 2009

The birth of the Cooperative Movement Nineteenth-century birth of the cooperative. The organized cooperation is response to the capitalist system: Contribute to and improve the situation of the dispossessed. The pioneers of the CU movement agreement to enhance the human capital on the money.

The birth of the Cooperative Movement London: 1821 - Organized a cooperative and economical aimed unity and mutual cooperation. 1831 - 1st congress of CU with a participation of 65 cooperatives. 1844 - Birth of the modern movement, when 27 men and 1 woman decide to create the capital for the first consumer cooperative through savings. United States: 1663 - Community cooperative created by the 1st PC Plokbay 1767 - born the "cooperative" to describe the ideals of cooperation.

Extraordinary events of the nineteenth century The birth of political parties or the representative democracy. Theory and propose of the Marxism. The birth of the Cooperative Movement. TODAY Crisis in the financial capital. The Soviet Union disappeared. CU Movement remains and grows.

The Silkworm

Challenges of Coopertive Movement How to distribute wealth fairly How to submit responses to the need for the associative participation to the processes of funding.

The CU is the answer to the search for a fair world, a world of equal opportunities.

Challenges of the Cooperative Movement Incorporate Women to its concepts. Offer an exceptional opportunity to advance.

Participation of Women in the Cooperative Movement Women are integrated into the base, but do not reach senior positions. 21% of the Boards of Cooperatives in Dominican Republic are women. The reason: the different roles of women left them unable to integrate in the massive bodies of the cooperative sector. “What is in the female world, where is “the market”, “the member”, from which must grow in participation and inputs of capital cooperativism.

Participation of Women in Cooperatives Establish quotas for women in administrative positions. Dissemination, education and training of women to join the cooperative system. Appoint committees to review the participation on an equal footing. Decisions affecting the family requiring the approval of the couple. Development of a cooperative law of equality. Despite the difficulties, women's participation has been increasing in recent years.

Participation of Women in Cooperatives Fault of women: Not recognizing it can offer massively cooperativism. Not envision the concept of cooperatives is effective ally in our need to overcome gender discrimination. The cooperative is a tool for more than 40% of poverty, where the majority are women.

What Do We Hope? Impose quotes for participating in the cooperative management bodies. Will of all, decisions to accept the same. Recognize that women are the social force growth.

Dominican Republic and the topic Participation 42% female - 58% male. / 1 Third Census of Cooperatives 40% and 60%. Census - 51% women 49% men. Composition of boards of 5 major cooperatives in the country: 71% male - 19% women. Statistics of 1991- 141,654 members, In 2000 - 262.542 members. In 2008-707,555 members. / 2 Assets of cooperatives increased in 22% from 2000 to 2008, /1 Statistics unaudited. / 2 Data of Conacoop: National Confederation of Cooperatives.

In conclusion ... Want the Cooperative Movement receive us? Do they need our energy? Appreciate how much we can offer as a force for change? Grow together. Nothing can be more convincing than this video of Mom Gela.

Thank you!