The WMF at the European Social Forum

EUROPEAN ASSEMBLY ON WOMEN’S RIGHTS

Following the first European Social Forum (ESF), held in Florence in November 2000, came a proposal to organize a European Assembly on Women’s Rights for the next ESF in Paris (in November 2003). This idea answered several concerns:

• a very negative assessment of the degree to which women’s concerns and demands were reflected in the Forum: very few women speakers in the plenary sessions and seminars; very few interventions on gender within the thematic areas; participation of men in workshops and seminars dealing with women’s issues was in general extremely low...;

• the need to bring together for the first time within the ESF as many European feminist organizations as possible in order to share information and experiences; identify priorities for collective work; decide on joint campaigns; and, to accomplish this, to create European networks and a Manifesto of European demands;

• the desire to affirm and take our place in the alternative globalization movement.

In short, we agreed on the urgent need to construct a common European feminist force to resist the attacks on our gains and to win new ones, especially in countries where the status of women lags behind.

A great success

We rose to the challenge and even surpassed our expectations: 3500 people in the big tent, including 360 associations and organizations from 55 countries in five continents. People came in droves, which proves that women’s liberation is still a hot topic; it also shows there is a huge expectation and need for mobilization. We were able to ascertain that all the European networks had both the capacity and the desire to mobilize for the event and felt they had a place there. We are sensing the birth of a European conscience that needs to mobilize to gain strength. 

Feminist activitists and women’s organizations were in the majority at this assembly. But the impact was increased because many participants considered the Assembly an integral part of the Forum and therefore an extra opportunity to listen and be educated on this subject.

Despite a few logistical problems, the ambiance was positive, with a prevailing feeling of warmth, solidarity, and resolute optimism, punctuated by thoughtful, often touching remarks. The day of plenary sessions and workshops (Women and Power, Women and War, Employment/Poverty/Instability, Women and Violence, Migrant Women, Right to Choose) provided people with a better understanding of the status and rights of women in Europe and paved the way for coordinated work.

The Women’s Assembly and the rest of the ESF

The Women’s Assembly had an impact on the rest of the European Social Forum, and this can be accounted for in several ways:

• its existence meant that feminists were forced to participate in all the preparations for the ESF and exercise more vigilance;

• during preparations for the ESF, it enabled several debates on women’s place in the Forum; people were consequently more careful about including women in the plenary sessions and seminars, although the generous goal of parity announced at the beginning was more or less forgotten by the end. Nevertheless, the percentage of women speakers rose from roughly 20% in Florence to about 35%. Work remains to be done! The women’s movement we have constructed must help the social and alternative globalization movement take women’s problems into account.

We opened the ESF—that is how the day was seen by the public and the media; this Assembly caused a big jump in the participation of feminist associations in the ESF; people came to the Women’s Assembly and went back to the alternative globalization movement afterward. All this is very positive.

The impact and success of this day prove that it was necessary and that we were right to fight to make it happen. Now that we have demonstrated its importance, there is general agreement that it should be an ongoing part of the ESF.

Nelly Martin – World March of Women - France (article based on notes from the evaluation meeting of the Collectif de préparation de l’Assemblée européenne des droits des femmes)