Newsletter - April 2000, Volume 3, Number 2

AFRICA

Burundi: The March was launched on March 8, following awareness-raising meetings about the goals of the March and a workshop offered to representatives of the media (press and radio). The event was organized in association with the Great Lakes regional coordination of the March (Burundi, Rwanda, and North Kivu in the Democratic Republic of the Congo).

Cameroon: The March was launched during the Colloque International in Yaoundé, on February 14-15. On March 8, the Comité de pilotage pour la Marche mondiale (World March steering committee) participated in parades and panels held to celebrate International Women’s Day. The signature campaign was launched.

Congo Brazzaville: On March 8, the March was launched at the Palais du Parlement (in the presence of government ministers, UNESCO and UNDP). Activities included interviews with radio and written press, discussions and debates, televised radio talk shows, and signing of support cards. Two thousand women attended.

Democratic Republic of the Congo: International Women’s Day was commemorated as a day of mourning and meditation. March 8, 2000, was decreed a "day without women." Women remained at home to mourn sisters, brothers, husbands and children killed during the conflicts, and the trampling of their rights. On March 9, 10, and 11, women mourned, while continuing their daily tasks. They want to bring an end to poverty and violence. In Goma, the March was officially launched on January 28, 2000. Over 450 people participated in the ceremony. As part of the awareness-raising campaign, two plays were produced treating the themes of poverty and violence against women as experienced by women in the region of North Kivu.

Ghana: The World March of Women was launched at the Kumasi Cultural Centre on the 8th of March. A march was held under the banner "Women Uniting For Peace and Against HIV/AIDS." There was publicizing of the World March of Women, building solidarity among various women's groups advocating for an end to violence against women and launching of WMW 2000 support cards as well as a rally, music, drama on HIV/AIDS and a keynote address by the deputy regional Minister stressing the need for women to come together to find strategies to combat all forms of violence perpetuated against women. The event was given wide press coverage which served to publicize the presence of the World March of Women in Ghana.

Guinea: The signature campaign was launched at the University. Other events: meeting at the Palais du peuple; gala in support of the actions of the March; finally a press conference to mark the end of March 8 events.

Mali: A rally was held on March 8 at the Palais des congrès where signatures were collected on a giant banner, petitions and individual support cards. A message about the March was broadcast on television and radio. Other activities: traditional (folklore) event, 12-kilometre march to Bankass; press conference followed by activities in Koulikoro.

Mozambique: A press conference was held on March 7. The March was officially launched in six provinces. Three hundred women marched in the streets of Maputo. Launch of the campaign to defend women’s rights in the Ciné-Africa theatre. The launching was attended by the Minister of Women (Ministra das Mulheres) who publicly received the demands for equality in the Family law (that is being presently revised by the Government) and the criminalization of domestic violence. Fifty thousand petitions were printed and roughly 500 signatures were collected during the launchings. Throughout Mozambique, and in spite of the floodings, about 3000 women participated in the various launchings.

Nigeria: WILDAF (Women in Law and Development in Africa) Nigeria in association with the Coalition of NGOs launched the World March of Women 2000 on March 8th. The launching was preceded by a well attended National Press Conference on March 6th. A rally was held of about 2000 women from different organizations. During the rally there was a stop-over at the Lagos State House of Assembly where a member of the State House of Assembly addressed the participants. The participants, wearing the World March T-Shirts, carried placards with slogans depicting the demands of women. At the Presentation Ceremony, the demands, written in scroll form, were presented to representatives of the government. In the East, the governor lit a torch and declared his support for the March. He passed the torch to a member of the House of Assembly who accepted it while promising to work with women toward the realization of their goals.

Rwanda: Awareness-raising workshops about the March were held throughout the country, specifically aimed at communal and prefectural authorities, professional associations and religious orders. These workshops were preceded by a meeting where invited participants included representatives of the Ministère de Genre et de la Promotion Féminine (ministry of the status of women), the Forum des Femmes Parlementaires (parliamentary women’s association), human rights and development organizations.

Senegal: The World March was launched during a press conference attended by over 100 people (journalists, women, men, and youth, women’s groups and associations). The press conference was followed by a work session that united the national organizing committee, participating groups and the major contact groups.

Tanzania: WILDAF launched the March in the municipality of Mwanza. The march proceeded from Gandhi Hall to Nyamagana Ground where the marchers were greeted by the national coordinating committee of the World March. It was followed by workshops on violence against women, accenting female genital mutilation.

Togo: March 8, 2000, was celebrated in eight cities under the theme of unity between all Togolese women and peace in the world. In Lomé, 2000 people gathered: women and men from all socio-professional backgrounds, labour unions, churches, diplomats, organizations for bilateral cooperation, international organizations, NGOs, women street traders carrying their wares on their heads, and the "filles portefaix" (delivery girls). The event included songs, dancing and skits. Messages were inscribed on painted panels and piled into two baskets labelled "we are fighting against poverty" and "no to violence." The women of the World March held a simulated march, concluding with a presentation of the "national grievances" to the Ministre des Affaires Sociales et de la Promotion de la Femmes (department of social affairs and status of women). The demonstration ended with the collection of the first signatures in support of the world demands.

Zambia: The NGO Co-ordinating Committee held a press conference on February 8, associating the World March with a peaceful demonstration to protest the rape and murder of young girls. On March 8, a national march was organized. Various other activities were held from March 1-8 including the World March 2000 launch in Senanga, commemoration of International Women's Day in a rural area called Moono, organized by WILDAF and Women for Change, and free health services offered to women by the NGO Co-ordinating Committee's Well Women Clinic.

THE AMERICAS AND THE CARIBBEAN

Argentina: Events to launch the March included a March 8 demonstration in Buenos Aires and a press conference on March 14. The March was declared a municipal priority in the province of Corriente.

Brazil: From March 8-16, there were numerous activities to launch the March in 21 Brazilian cities, garnering good media coverage. In Sao Paulo, people demonstrated in front of the stock exchange with banners and lilac-coloured balloons and banged on pots to denounce poverty and violence, and the inequality and exclusion generated by the current model for development. In Vitória, women demonstrated with banners, pots and pans and quilts. Women carried 82 crosses inscribed with the names of women assassinated during the first half of 1999. In Porto Alegre, rural workers organized a rally of 20,000 women. In Rio de Janeiro, a booth was set up to collect signatures and launch the march. In several cities, festivities highlighting the launch of the March continued until March 26.

Bolivia: The March was launched on March 8 outside Government House with people waving banners and posters about the World March, and a press conference was held. On hand were representatives of centres, institutions and grass-roots groups of women from some 20 organizations. At the same time, the March was woven into the age-old activity of the Copacabana carnival, where women, boys and girls, along with a group of men, made their entrance carrying World March posters.

Canada: Numerous and varied events took place all across Canada to launch the World March. Some examples of these events are: press conferences, marches, lighting of a tree of hope filled with white ribbons and lights (symbol of hope for change to come), rallies featuring speakers, banners, quilts and children’s activities, events featuring music, poetry and tributes to women artists, poster contests, breakfast events, potluck suppers, a demonstration of 2000 women encircling a government building and excerpts from the international advocacy guide were placed in bottles and launched into the Atlantic ocean to spread the March’s message.

Chile: Six thousand women attended the March 8 launch. Women marched with signs bearing slogans such as "Abortion is a public health problem," "Equal pay for equal work," "Poverty is a form of violence," "Enough of sexual violence and discrimination in the workplace" and "Put Pinochet on trial." Women dancers from a samba school led off the march. Three floats illustrated the themes of violence, poverty and citizenship. Each float was covered with signs and posters, and the women riding on them shouted slogans. The march finished at Bustamante Park with a political and cultural event marking women’s struggles in Chile during the 20th century, particularly under the Pinochet dictatorship, and underlining their present demands around the issues of poverty and violence. Also in the cities of Arica, Valparaíso, Limache, Talca and Temuco, women’s groups kicked off World March activities. In both the capital and elsewhere, the signature campaign was highlighted along with the need to meet women’s demands to do away with poverty and gender-based violence.

Colombia: Launches were held in Bogota, Medellin, Cali, Cucuta, Pasto and other cities. In many regions women marched for the first time. There was a press conference in Medellin and a permanent exhibit was set up in a centrally located Metro station. In Bogota, a pamphlet containing the demands was sent to the president of the Republic. Six hundred women marched and held a ritual involving bread and roses, ending up at Plaza de Bolivar. Posters were plastered all over the city. Actions were also held in the universities.

El Salvador: On March 8 four thousand women from the countryside and the city marched, obtaining television coverage of the demands. T-shirts, posters and songs added to the event.

Haiti: A conference was held on March 3, and women participated in the carnival on March 5, 6, and 7 with the musical group "Chandel" who integrated the March demands into their merengue concert. March 9 was the launch, and the media were presented with a letter and petition as part of the signature campaign. The Haitian petition was symbolically made on a 15x26-inch cardboard panel—the material actually used in the shantytowns for the construction of housing. It is also used for beds for the poor in the cities and rural areas.

Indigenous women of the Americas: Indigenous women launched the World March during the Third Encounter of the First Nations Abya Yala, which met in Panama, March 4 to 8, 2000. The Indigenous women of the Continental Network adopted a proclamation in order to make themselves visible within the framework of the World March of Women and to ratify their commitment to participate to make their specific problems, demands and proposals for solutions heard.

Mexico: Press conferences in 27 States were part of the program of activities for March 8 in Mexico. Preliminary conclusions of the national consultation on women’s rights (held on March 5) were announced during the press conferences. Women marched in the capital of Veracruz. Launch of the signature campaign resulted in almost 300,000 signatures. On March 13, the demands of Mexican women were presented to the candidate for the presidency of the Republic.

Nicaragua: Twenty-three Nicaraguan women’s organizations mobilized for an all-day demonstration at which 4500 women from all over the country presented the Nicaraguan Women’s Agenda and Demands and delivered them to the Nicaraguan legislature.

Peru: Two thousand women brandishing banners inscribed with names and slogans marched in the streets of Lima to the Plaza Mayor. The launch made the first page of the newspaper Comercio and obtained two full pages of coverage in the newspaper La República.

Quebec: On March 8 there was a press conference in Montreal to officially launch the World March of Women. Support messages for the March were sent by many people, including a video message from Daw Aung San Suu Kyi (leader of the National League for Democracy in Burma and winner of the Nobel peace prize). A multicultural choir sang the March’s musical theme and the signature campaign was inaugurated. Spokeswomen for the World March from Canada, Korea, France, Jordan, Peru, Romania, Mozambique and Zambia (both present in the room and via satellite link with New York and Geneva) described the actions, goals and demands of the March. To see photos of the launch: http://www.ffq.qc.ca/marche2000/en/babi_01.html In all the other regions of Quebec, diverse activities were held, including marches, parades, local press conferences, workshops, celebrations, conferences, plays, symbolic actions, and various international solidarity events.

United States of America: The U.S. Kick-Off for the World March of Women took place on the Capitol Grounds in Washington on March 8th. Following a news conference to announce the March details, activists picketed the office of a senator who is blocking the process of ratification of the U.N. Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW). Several other events took place to launch the March around the U.S., such as a march in the Rio Grande Valley and a press statement issued by the New York Coalition for the March.

ASIA/OCEANIA

Australia: There were approximately 20 launches around the country between March 8 and March 11. Sixty-thousand support cards were printed and distributed like wildfire. There were numerous media interviews and a press release was issued on International Women’s Day.

Bangladesh: March 8 activities for the World March included a march from the Language Martyrs’ Monument to the National Press Club where declarations were read out to the public and the media calling for government and decision-makers to ensure a society free of discrimination and repression against women and adequate salaries for women. Women composed songs for the March. There was also a silent procession of domestic workers carrying black flags and wearing masks.

Hong Kong: The March 5 launch of the World March organized by UNIFIL-HK in association with the "Purple Rose" campaign (against sex trafficking). Activities included speeches, a "Women’s Passion Show" on the history of women’s oppression and women’s struggles, theatre, and personal testimonies ("comfort women," Filipinas, etc.). Five hundred women attended.

India: The National Alliance of Women’s Organizations coordinated launches of the March in 15 States. Two hundred women’s groups have taken the leadership in organizing the March. The signature campaign was also launched. Light was used as a symbol of women’s struggles against violence and poverty. Thousands of women lit a candle in a gesture of commitment to creating a society free of violence and where resources are distributed equitably. In Gujarat, women marched and crossed a bridge holding candles to symbolize women’s work to build bridges in today’s polarized society. Child workers were also in attendance. In West Bengal seven large women’s groups and about 50 NGOs joined together to launch the World March of Women. In Madya Pradesh,in the capital city of Bhopal, 21 women’s organizations came together for the first time and more than two thousand women contributed rice and money to provide a mid-day meal for women coming from other districts in the state. In Bihar, the aboriginal women launched the March in their state capital as well as in different districts. In Calcutta, a coalition of over 40 organizations worked together to mobilize approximately 50,000 women to launch the World March.

Other major actions in India were coordinated by a coalition of six national women's organizations—the All India Democratic Women's Association, the Centre for Women's Development Studies, the Joint Women's programme, the National Federation of Indian Women, the All India Women's Conference and the YWCA of India. Over 150,000 women from different sections of society marched on March 8 all over the country—including in every State capital—under the united banner of Global Women's March 2000 against poverty and violence. It was a historic all-India action because over 200 women's organizations and groups representing different trends in the women's movement participated. The initiative taken by six national women's organizations included a flagging off of the Global March campaign on March 7 with the release of a volume detailing the impact of globalization on women entitled "Womenspeak: United Voices against Globalisation, poverty and violence." Women's representatives met the Prime Minister and gave him a national charter with the demands of struggle. The President of India who has taken a strong stand on globalization released the volume. It got extensive national coverage in the print and electronic media.

Japan: On March 8 eight hundred women gathered in a district of Tokyo. They marched with signs and banners reading "Protect Article 9 of the Japanese Constitution," "More jobs," and "Protect Japanese agriculture." Forty-seven women’s organizations participated.

Nepal: In Nepal on March 8 approximately 3000 women and some men marched around the main city with placards denouncing violence and poverty and demanding equal rights and implementation of necessary policies for ending violence against women. The March was coordinated by ten organizations represented in the working committee with Saathi as the secretariat. Apart from these groups, around 70 women's organizations have taken the lead in organizing programmes for the campaign. The signature campaign was also launched on the same day. Similar marches also took place in several districts outside the capital, organised by community organizations.

Philippines: Kilos Kabaro! a national coalition of women’s groups working on the World March, organized an event on March 7th. Eight hundred women in black marched in the streets to protest the violent death of thousands of Filipinas and highlight different forms of violence against women, including poverty. After the march, there was a solidarity program including speeches, dancing, songs and poetry-reading to conclude with the lighting of candles while reading the commitments of women for a poverty- and violence-free country. The event was well covered by the media.

On March 3, Gabriela National Alliance of Women's Organizations organized an alternative "Fashion Show—A Passion Statement" that depicted the situation of Filipino women. It featured 27 items of clothing depicting the economic , political and socio-cultural trends in the Philippines such as contractualization of Labor, Feminization of Migration, the trio of Privatization-Deregulation-Liberalization, Macho Leadership, Corruption, Gender-based crime, Violence Against Women, Prostitution, Sex Trafficking and Militarization. On March 8th 15,000 women joined in protest rallies—numbering to twenty separate women's protest actions nationwide. In Manila 6000 women protesters and sympathizers gathered at the foot of Malacacang Palace holding organizational banners and the March 2000 banner.

South Korea: Korean Women’s Associations United held a press conference on March 6 to launch the March. On March 12, the signature campaign was launched and buttons were distributed. One thousand women held a rally and marched in Yuido on March 12.

EUROPE

European launch in Geneva, March 8: The opening ceremony was attended by over 200 individuals representing 20 European countries (Albania, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Estonia, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Lithuania, Macedonia, Moldavia, Portugal, Rumania, Russia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine). Celebrations began with a film by Carole Roussopoulos including personal accounts by women suffering from poverty and violence (the film is the fruit of a collaboration of the different national coordinating bodies). This was followed by a speech by Susan George, theatrical presentations and a choir singing the March theme song. In the afternoon a delegation from the March was invited to meet with the UN for International Women’s Day. At the same time, a rally was held at the Place des Nations along with a march of 5000 people in the streets of Geneva. At the head of the march women from all the countries of Europe held signs with slogans in their language. The march stopped in front of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner of Refugees to demand the right to asylum for women victims of rape, violence and persecution; they then stopped in front of the World Trade Organization (OMC in French), symbolized in the march by an enormous vampire. A sign inscribed "Ordre Mondial Criminel, Stop) was decorated with handprints of marchers who had dipped their hands in the March colours. Marchers then renamed the Place des Droits de l’Homme (Square of the Rights of Man), the Place des Droits des Hommes et des Femmes (Square of the Rights of Men and Women). In front of the Combourgeoisie monument, women called for the respect of lesbians. The march concluded in downtown Geneva with speeches.

Belgium: Over 200 people attended the March 8 press conference to launch the World March in Brussels. There were frequent radio reports and a Concert of Callas’roles (multicultural choir of 20 women).

Croatia: On March 6 a press conference was held called "Appeal Against Poverty" and the signature campaign was launched.

Cyprus: The signature campaign was officially launched on March 8th, with the President of the Republic as the first signatory. A meeting of Pan-Cypriot Women’s organisations was held on the World March to determine national demands for the elimination of poverty and violence, the establishment of peace and the observation of the state's obligations deriving from the Beijing Platform of Action.

Federal Republic of Yugoslavia: The launch of the March on International Women’s Day coincided with the campaign to include women in decision-making structures and the political and public spheres. Thirty thousand pamphlets and 10,000 support cards were distributed in the streets and markets of Belgrade, Novi Sad, Zrenjanin, Novi Pazar, Uzice and other cities. There were also panels in several cities on the theme of women and poverty. Other activities included workshops on eco-feminism, cultural performances, poetry readings and video showings. Media coverage was substantial, especially the radio and written press.

France: Press conferences were held in numerous cities to launch the March. Diverse actions (marches, debates, forums, films, theatre, street renamings, exhibits, speakouts, etc.) were organized in many cities. This year the participation in March 8 events far surpassed that of the last few years; media coverage was satisfactory. On March 8 in Paris the youth commission of the national coordinating body organized an action at the Pantheon, whose frontispiece is inscribed, "aux grands hommes, la patrie reconnaissante" (the nation gives thanks to its great men). An enormous banner was installed, signed the World March of Women, and inscribed: "Une place dans la ville, une place dans la société: l’égalité hommes/femmes c’est toute l’année" (a place in the city, a place in society: equality between men and women throughout the year). In the evening there was a demonstration with 1500 participants that began with the laying of a wreath to honour the "wife of the unknown soldier"; this was followed by a march illuminated by candles and lamps to the Place des Droits de l’Homme (Place of the Rights of Man). After renaming it Place des Droits des Femmes et des Hommes (Place of the Rights of Women and Men), there was a celebration and dance.

Italy: A press conference was held in Rome on March 7, and support cards were distributed in 15 Italian cities.

Netherlands: Several activities took place March 7 and 8 such as a talk show on national television, a self-defence workshop for women, forums, discussion groups and a fashion parade featuring clothing from different parts of the world.

Northern Ireland: Launch of the World March during an International Women’s Day event in Belfast with local and international speakers (from Cuba, Lithuania and U.S.A.). A rally was held for the elimination of poverty and violence.

Portugal: March 8 activities included a demonstration and march to the Portuguese Equality Ministry where they presented a book detailing women’s poverty and violence against women to the Minister and a U.N. representative. The signature campaign was launched and a press conference was held. Marches were held in several cities (1000 marchers in Lisbon and Oporto; 2000 marchers in Alentejo).

Romania: On March 8th at the National Theatre in Iasi, the World March was launched. The 100 participants included representatives from NGOs and women’s organizations, political parties, trade unions, public offices' representatives and members of the mass media (local and national newspapers, radio and TV stations). Presentations were made on the current situation of women in Romania and the activities integrated in the World March as well as panel discussions. The official signature campaign was also launched as well as a show, "Spring flowers for women."

Spain: The major newspapers in Barcelona published articles on the World March launch that took place on March 7 in front of the Christopher Columbus monument which included a presentation of a manifesto written by the writer Rosa Regás. The women then marched with a 12-meter banner. On March 8 violence against women and poverty were the central theme of the annual demonstrations. Catalonian television presented several shots of these demonstrations. A rally also took place in Valencia. A serious of conferences on violence against women and poverty were organised in Tarrasa. In six schools children made posters that they presented on International Women’s Day. These children also created postcards upon which they wrote their own demands.

Turkey: A march and meeting took place in Istanbul on March 8th. Eight thousand people were in attendance, bearing banners such as "We are marching to change" and "We are marching against poverty, war, racism, violence, rape, harassment" Other events (such as press conferences and assemblies) took place in several cities across the country.

MIDDLE EAST/ARAB WORLD

Jordan: There was a large media presence at the press conference on March 8th in Amman. Emphasis was put on the legal status of Jordanian women and the amendments needed to make a qualitative step forward. Speeches were also made about violence against women in Jordanian society and the role of women in the media. All conference attendants wore a special dark blue ribbon prepared for the occasion. There was also an official launch of the collection of signatures and discussions around women’s participation in parliament. Radio and TV stations transmitted the major events of the press conference. UNESCO supported the March and will soon be publishing a special newspaper annex around the March in several Arab Dailies.

Lebanon: The March 8 press conference and launch of the signature campaign by the Lebanese Prime Minister, Mrs. Andrée Lahoud, garnered good coverage on television and in the written press.

Morocco: The March was launched at Rabat on March 12. Roughly 500,000 people marched under the slogan "Nous partageons la terre, partageons ses biens." (We share the Earth, let’s share its wealth) A cultural evening was also organized.