Newsletter - February 2003

The opening of the third World Social Forum on January 23 was heard in the streets of the capital of Rio Grande do Sul. Over 100,000 marched for peace and self-determination of the peoples, proving that the struggle against war and neoliberal policy is not an isolated initiative. The streets of Porto Alegre welcomed thousands of people whose voices rang out in different languages and timbres, in a chorus tempered by shared ideals and values.

The World March of Women headed the protest march with its 10-metre-tall coloured dolls made in Caicó (Rio Grande do Norte), and the March flags and banners sewn by the participants and illustrated with women holding hands. The Centro Feminista 8 de Março, from Mossoró, brought to the march the typical drumming of Northeastern Brazil through the percussion instruments of the group Pau e Lata. They joined the other participants from every continent who chorused, “A nossa luta é todo o dia, somos mulheres e não mercadoria” (“Ours is a daily struggle; we are women, not merchandise"). Everyone, whether or not she was Brazilian, wanted to play the drums and help animate the feminist bloc.

The women’s contingent dazzled the opening march with its visual and musical creativity, thereby reflecting the participants’ diverse experiences as veteran activists or younger militants. As the march advanced, one sensed the growing support for feminism. It was surprising to see the group of March participants take on the leadership of the contingent; they took the initiative to keep the slogans coming, demonstrating that it is in the heat of the struggle and mobilization that rebellion, utopia and change are forged.

The women’s movement stood out especially on two other occasions. After the workshop on the use of graffiti to criticize poster advertising, held in the youth camp, the participating women staged a protest march weaving between the tents. With good humour and vitality, the young women took over the lanes of the City of Cities shouting, “Violência contra a mulher, não é o mundo que a gente quer” (“Violence against women—that’s not the world we want!”). This is how they showed their indignation over the way society treats women, and they denounced cases of violence against women in the camp. Once again, the force of the March showed that unity is our greatest ally.

Then, at the close of the WSF 2003, at the march against the FTAA, war and the WTO, the women from the March shook up the route that started in Gigantinho. They were all there, young women, the most experienced veterans, from Brazil and everywhere else, bearing flags and banners denouncing sexism and neoliberalism: “Contra a política neoliberal, são as mulheres no Fórum Social” (“Against neoliberal policy, we are the women at the Social Forum”).

The March presented to the WSF 2003 participants a series of events and activities. On hand were women from Latin America, Québec, Europe, Africa, the Middle East and elsewhere, not to mention women who came from various states in Brazil. On the program were the themes of the commodification of women’s bodies; the new political generation and feminism; access to education, health and work; and economic alternatives. Cultural workshops and a mural painted by women of various nationalities were other activities organized by the March.

The general opinion among the March women, who met for two days after the WSF ended, was that the activities had been very well organized and had resulted in a great deal of visibility, and that the discussions held were important for the women’s organization as well as for Forum participants as a whole.

Panel discussions

The World March of Women, together with the Red Latinoamericana Mujeres Transformando la Economía (REMTE; Latin American Network of Women Transforming the Economy), presented a panel discussion called “The struggle for equality: women and men, how to effect real change?”

Nalu Faria, from the World March of Women in Brazil and the panel discussion moderator, explained that the debate raised two themes: how to do away with domination over women, which is an inherent part of the domination model and determines all social relations, public and private; and how neoliberalism is affecting the fight for gender equality.

According to Nalu, the aim was to discuss paths leading to equality without confusing it with homogeneity, in addition to listening to social movements’ opinions on how to achieve far-reaching change.

The moderator concluded that “women’s struggles and challenges require changes and structural transformation of the economy, politics, society and culture, as well as changes in values.”

To Nalu, change stems from the strength of women when they are united. “Nothing changes men, children and even other women more than when we get organized and say no to oppression and discrimination, and uphold our utopia and ideas on equality.”

On the panel were Rosa Guillén, from the World March of Women in Peru; Srilata Swaminathan, president of the All India Progressive Women’s Association (AIPWA) and member of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of India (M.L.); and Christophe Aguiton of France, a member of ATTAC and the Social Movements International Network.

Seminars and workshops

The theme of one of the March seminars was to discuss proposals for new alternatives to integrate women in the job market from a feminist viewpoint. Papers were given on self-determination for women to build their citizenship and freedom. The discussion on the effects of common markets—such as the FTAA—on women’s work underscored the impact on women who market craft products and the threat of bio-piracy and the resulting risk of popular formulas being patented with a North American stamp.

In the workshop on the commodification of women’s bodies, participants discussed the different fields in which women are used as marketing objects. The subjects of sex tourism and the exploitation of women’s bodies in the mass media came under particular scrutiny.

The data are discouraging. The trafficking of women has become a global enterprise with well-established routes (from poor to rich countries). Brazil is the second largest exporter of people. Today in Spain, for example, some 20,000 Brazilian women live in a state of quasi-slavery.

According to the United Nations, four million people disappear every year, and the trafficking of human beings is the third largest business of our time, the first two being the drug trade and arms trafficking.

On the subject of war, Diane Matte, of the World March of Women International Secretariat, spoke of the situation of women living in areas of armed conflict. Wars always have a twofold impact on women, since women are responsible for keeping society going during conflict and rebuilding afterward. Recent assessments show that 80% of the people who die in wars are civilians and the majority are always women.

Women have many reasons to fight for peace.

Fernanda Estima, World March of Women - Brazil

The March at the 3rd Intercontinental Youth Camp

The World March of Women worked with young people on the big opening march of the WSF. They were ready when the youth contingent arrived, escorted by police. The women headed the group, playing their drums and shouting slogans. This was just the beginning of a festive, heartening atmosphere that lasted for the days that followed….

In the 3rd Intercontinental Youth Camp, the feminist presence was new and caused a great impact, even for the thousands of young women camped there, who discovered that their feminism was stronger than they imagined. The success of the March initiatives in the camp was an event in itself, because in previous years feminism was not visible in the youth’s program of activities associated with the World Social Forum. The workshops were held outdoors, like most of the activities in the camp, with participants sitting in a circle in the shade of a tree.

The activity “Feminism and the new political generation” brought together young feminist activists from Brazil, Québec, Argentina, Portugal, Italy and the Netherlands. The discussion centred on feminism and women’s space in groups and coalitions of movements opposed to neoliberal globalization, and the dynamic between generations within the women’s movement. This was certainly one of the most important political initiatives taken in the camp. The guests gave a talk on their experiences and outlined the social, political and historical context in which they carry out their actions. The themes presented by the participants also led to exchanges about the space for lesbians in the movement and how young women can assert their presence and their demands in different countries. The activity saw the beginnings of an international network to build and strengthen the feminist movement among the “new political generations.”

Participants in the workshop on the use of graffiti to criticize poster advertising talked about sexist representations of women in the public space and in the media, and then critical graffiti were painted over reproductions of advertisements. The closing event in this exercise was a demonstration by the group in the youth camp who exhibited the painted posters and flags from the Brazilian World March of Women, accompanied by feminist slogans and percussion instruments. After an exchange during which the young women had to act with determination to maintain their leadership in the discussion and action, some young men showed their support by marching and singing in the middle of the group.

To the strong, rhythmic beat of feminist slogans, this spontaneous demonstration grew as the camp became more and more animated. It was a joyous and stimulating experience for all the women who participated. Then and there they made up new feminist slogans to denounce harassment and violence against women, a reality that the young women also experienced in the youth camp.

Generally speaking, the feminist activities in the Intercontinental Youth Camp were a real success and will certainly help generate new ideas and encourage other young women to assert themselves and become involved in feminist action. What is more, the idea arose to create a young feminists network linked to the World March of Women as well as a network of worldwide resistance.

Elsa Beaulieu, World March of Women - Québec
Julia Di Giovanni, World March of Women - Brazil

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Newsletter, February 2003, Vol. 6, no 1

Focus on Women and Militarization

Thanks to the continuing efforts of the international Secretariat and the Brazilian WMW organization, the World March of Women was more visible in the World Social Forum this year. The March organized a number of activities on very important subjects, under the five themes of the Forum. March representatives from different countries also participated in activities organized at the regional and international levels, in addition to the marches to at the opening end conclusion of the Forum.

Here is a summary of some of the activities in which I took part.

An international Tribunal against the U.S. blockade imposed on the Cuban people for the past 40 years and the assets of Cubans living in the USA. Roughly 10 different people gave personal accounts. The Jury included Mrs. Marrsia Csmpous – President of the World International Democratic Federation, Dr. Samir Amin, from Egypt and Genevieve Vaughan from the USA.

A meeting on Fundamentalism, attended by at least 3000 people, featuring three significant speakers: Dan Brutos from South Africa, Dr. Shareef Hatateh from Egypt and Al Sourany from Gaza/Palestine. They stressed the danger of religious fundamentalism, whether it is Christian, Muslem or Jewish. They condemned neoliberal capitalist globalization, military domination and the belligerent intentions of the United States government in its determination to launch war on Iraq. They denounced the continued Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories and their atrocities against civilians, supported by the USA.

Panel on Globalization and Militarization: Obstacles in developing countries with specific focus on the Arab region. The panel highlighted the challenges that Arab Countries are facing in the context of neoliberal globalization and its apparent hegemonic tendencies. The Arab region is increasingly facing the consequences of the Palestinian conflict and the threats of war against Iraq. Dr. Samir Amin (Egypt) chaired the panel and speakers represented the European Parliament, Social Watch, Palestinian NGO network, Arab NGO Network for Development, Third World Network and Enda Tiers Monde.

Workshop on The Future of the Social Movements in the Arab Countries. The workshop was attended by delegates from Lebanon, Egypt, Jordan, Tunisia, Morocco, Algeria and Iraq. They discussed the development challenges facing Arab countries and assessed the role of popular and social movements in facing the challenge of designing clear strategies to identify the obstacles to ensuring political, social, economic and cultural rights, and struggle for their implementation and respect. At the end of the discussion they decided to form an Arab Social Forum.

Workshop on Democracy, Human Rights, Freedom and impact of Globalization on Arab Women. Speakers from Egypt, Tunisia, Morocco, Palestine, Lebanon and Jordan launched a debate about the alternatives to the current social and economic systems. The debate introduced new frameworks for achieving genuine sustainable development in Arab countries, with the participation of civil societies and social movements. The session addressed the question of gender within the context of globalization in Arab countries and its implications for women’s rights, democracy and access to resources. The discussion pointed out that despite the active participation of Arab women in the daily struggle, the weak participation of women in policy design and decision-making processes, particularly at the political and economic levels, is becoming a challenge to achieving sustainable development.

Panel Discussion on the Global Crisis and Politico-Military Imperatives of Globalization. The Panel was chaired by Nicola Bullard (Thailand) and the speakers were: Srilata Swamina from India, Rarda Sanioura from Palestine, Gigi Francisco from DAWN South-East Asia.

Panel Discussion on Feminist Interrogations of Imperialist Wars. The speakers were from the Philippines, India, Indonesia and Brazil. Naty Bernardino from the Philippines chaired the Panel.

Solidarity Demonstrations. The Arab delegates and participants in the Forum organized two demonstrations in support of the Palestinian people in their legitimate right to struggle for freedom, independence and the implementation of Security Council resolutions to have their own sovereign independent State, and against the U.S. war on Iraq.

Emily Naffa, World March of Women - Jordan

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Newsletter, February 2003, Vol. 6, no 1

Women at the WSF : active agents in the fight against globalization

Leaving behind the reality of our small country, Euskal Herria (the Basque country), we went to Porto Alegre to learn about the different situations in which women live and to gather experience for the Basque women’s network that we are setting up. We must emphasize that there are only a few of us and that we are building our country from all parts of society—but always from a feminist perspective and without ever forgetting that it is essential to fight for women’s rights when we talk about creating a fair society, a socialist society.

Women’s participation in workshops, seminars, conferences and specific activities was quite positive because they brought up their own concerns there. It is worth pointing out, too, that globalization from a gender viewpoint was discussed in specific activities but it also cut through a large number of other activities. Even so, it is crucial that in the main thematic areas of the Forum, the gender-based perspective be given a specific place as is the theme of the right of peoples.

Izaskun Guarrotxena, World March of Women – Basque country

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Newsletter, February 2003, Vol. 6, no 1

2003 reasons to march

The World Social Forum III ended with the strengthening of our determination to build resistance to militaristic and machista neoliberal policies and with the formulation of alternatives to promote the globalization of equality.

In the global movement that has emerged against the neoliberal offensive and the rise of the right, the March stands out as a worldwide network of feminist action that voices the demands and proposals of women all over the planet. This leads to our growing presence in the World Social Forum process as we seek horizontal participation, not only thematically but also in terms of the diversity of spaces and ways of doing things that Porto Alegre allows for.

We held seminars and workshops to continue developing our analyses and proposals. We took part in coordinating thematic area II, on human rights, diversity and equality, which allowed us to understand the dynamics of the International Council and act within it. This was indeed a valuable experience in enhancing our critical skills and our contribution to the WSF. It came, moreover, at an important juncture, when the Forum is planning to move to India and will be enriched by the growth of the regional forums plus a year of decisive local and world struggles.

While looking for many alliances, we are also key players in creating the Social Movements International Network. There we are presenting the fight for gender equality as a radical dimension of the utopias, practices and strategies of social movements struggling to overcome all forms of oppression and to build a new world.

Julia Di Giovanni, World March of Women - Brazil

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Newsletter, February 2003, Vol. 6, no 1

Thank you

We thank the authors of articles in this issue of our newsletter (Diane, Elsa, Emily, Fernanda, Izaskun and Julia) and Nancy Burrows, who coordinated its production. A special thank you goes to our valiant team of translators whom we don’t thank often enough: Elise Boyer (Spanish and French into EnglishSpanish and French into English), Nicole Kennedy (French into English), Margot Lacroix (English into French) and Magaly Sala (French and English into Spanish and Spanish into French).