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WORLD MARCH OF WOMEN NEWSLETTER - VOL.10  NUMBER 3

Editorial

1) WMW International Committee Meeting

2) 17th October: World March of Women? Present!

3) Newsflash: Martial Law imposed in Pakistan

4) WMW in Chile: Promoting the Cohesion in the Struggle against Neoliberalism

5) Activities on 25th November Denounce Violence Against Women

6) WSF International Council meeting in Belém prepares Global Day of Global of Mobilisation and Action and WSF 2009

7) Women in Black International Conference

8) Events Calendar / Contact us

9) Next edition

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Editorial

Dear sisters,

We are living in a world in conflict. While imperialist administrations consider themselves to be ‘the promoters of democracy’, dictators presenting themselves as anti-imperialist are, in their own eyes,  ‘the keepers of tradition and culture, those who guard against foreign contamination’. The resulting war and violence have horrific consequences: repression, intolerance, hatred for ‘the other’, domination, control, loss of freedom and basic human rights.

In too many parts of the world, conflict is the norm and populations continue to live lives severely restricted by the constant threat of violence and ideological and cultural boundaries. We are revolted by the violence, torture and imprisonment used by the Burmese and Pakistani military dictatorships against their own people, by the violent repression of trade unions and civil society in Guinea, by the authoritarianism of the United States and Iranian governments in the name of religious values, by the extreme physical and sexual violence perpetuated against the local populations of Kivu, Democratic Republic of Congo and Darfur, Sudan.  In our newsletter, and in every space to which we have access, we declare our solidarity with the women and men in these countries and in all those in which freedom and the possibility of fulfilling one’s capacities is not yet a reality.

However where there is repression, there is resistance, and our struggle against it - in all its different forms - comes necessarily from our strength in numbers. We are constantly reminded of the need to reinforce our movement - locally, nationally, internationally - and our alliances with other feminist and / or anti-capitalist movements and groups that share our values: Code Pink fighting against continued US military intervention in the Arab World; the Women in Black resisting all forms of conflict, whatever the justifications for it; the World Social Forum (WSF) process where alongside a growing group of allies (including the Iraqi Petrol Workers Trade Union recently nominated to the International Council) the belief that ‘another world is possible’ persists and grows.

In this edition of the newsletter you will find news of these and other spaces of resistance. Both 17th October and 25th November, for example, are days on which, around the world, we collectively resist the patriarchal, capitalist system imposed on us: here you’ll find news of World March of Women activities and mobilisations in Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Europe, Mexico, Peru and Quebec. News from our allies - Women in Black and the WSF process - are also included in this newsletter, as is a summary of the programme of, and decisions taken during, the International Committee (IC) meeting in Granja do Ulmeiro, Portugal, in the first week of October.

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1) WMW International Committee Meeting

The first, and only, International Committee meeting of 2007 was held in Granja do Ulmeiro (near Coimbra) in Portugal from 4th – 7th October. Eight of the ten Committee members were present: two representatives from Africa, two from Europe, three from the American continent (including the International Coordinator), and one from Asia (the other IC representative from this continent was not able to attend due to visa complications). Two ex-International Secretariat (IS) members from Quebec, two current IS staff and 10 guests from the Galician and Portuguese NCBs also participated.

During four intensive days of meetings they had the opportunity to come together, get to know each other better, share experiences, discuss different themes and make joint decisions regarding various aspects of the World March of Women at an International level. The packed programme included the following:

- The sharing of regional news by each IC member;

- Analysis and approval of the report of the penultimate IC meeting in December 2006;

- Analysis of the Strategic Plan 2007 - 2010 results and indicators;

- Discussion of the WSF and the WMW’s role in it – International Council, Liaison Group, the event itself, in partnership with other social movements;

- Debates around two of the WMW’s focus issues: violence against women and peace and demilitarization;

- Discussion of finances, the transition of the International Secretariat to São Paulo, Brazil and other administrative issues (website, texts to publish, updating the list of Active Participating Groups (APGs), etc);

- Initial plans for the next International Meeting of the WMW in Galicia in October 2008;

- Suggestions for the WSF Day of Global Action and Mobilization 2008 (26th January) and the WMW Global Action of 2010.

The WMW at the World Social Forum (WSF)

After much debate, IC members reaffirmed the significance of the WSF as an alter-globalisation, anti-capitalist space and the importance of the continued presence of the WMW within, and influencing, this space. It was decided that Wilhelmina Trout (replacing Diane Matte) would represent the WMW as from 2008 at the meetings of both the International Council and the Liaison Group - a recently formed facilitation group with the responsibility of accompanying the Secretariat of the WSF, preparing IC meetings and supporting the work of the WSF’s IC Working Groups and Commissions. The practice of always inviting a local activist of the March from the country / state where the WSF IC meeting will be held will be maintained.

There also exists a Social Movements Facilitation Group, whose current most important task is the organisation of 26th January. Diane and Miriam will continue to represent the WMW in this space until the next meeting of the March’s IC in April 2008. Lastly, it was decided to reactivate the WMW’s ‘Alliances and Globalisation’ Collective, to be “nurtured” by Nadia, Wilhelmina, Diane and Miriam.

It was proposed that for the Global Day of Action and Mobilisation, 26th January 2008, the WMW organises public mobilisations according to the local reality, that give visibility to the movement and its logos: such as feminist ‘batucadas’, slogans, songs, handing out pamphlets, etc. The members of the IC will support the CNs in their regions to plan and organise their events and the IS has created a blog through which we are already sharing the plans and preparations of the WMW for the 26th January around the world (see article: “WSF  International Council meeting in Belem prepares Global Day of Global of Mobilisation and Action and WSF 2009 “ of this newsletter for further information).

Two of the WMW’s Focus Themes: Violence against Women / Peace and Demilitarisation

The following decisions were taken at the IC meeting:

- To continue the debate around violence against women as a structural form of control within the patriarchal system;

- To reactivate the March’s ‘Violence against Women’ Working Group (WG) that will produce papers to stimulate debate and propose actions;

- To determine to what extent the theme of prostitution is / is not being discussed by NCBs. Jing (Philippines) and Diane are responsible for writing a paper bringing together the positions of the NCBs and proposing methods and contents of the debate around this theme prior to the International Meeting in Galicia.

- To prepare for (preparatory papers and debates), and support the presence of International delegates at, the seminar ‘Violence against Women and Militarisation’ to be held in Mexico in the 1st half of 2008;

- To diffuse a WMW Declaration for the 25th November 2007 that denounces the impunity of those responsible for crimes against women in war and militarised zones.

To access the papers discussed during the IC meeting, relating to these themes:

- The WMW and the WSF: Evaluation of the Current Situation (Diane Matte, September 2007):

http://www.marchemondiale.org/themes/alliances_mondialisation/cmicfolder.2005-03-02.3713067089/cmicarticle.2007-11-13.2494214198/en?set_language=en&cl=en

- Troubling Transnational Feminism(s): Contesting the future of feminism at the World Social Forum (Janet Conway, 2007):

http://www.marchemondiale.org/themes/alliances_mondialisation/cmicfolder.2005-03-02.3713067089/cmicarticle.2007-11-19.1825260542/en

- Transnational Feminisms and the World Social Forum: Encounters and Transformations in Anti-globalisation Spaces (Janet Conway, 2007):

http://www.marchemondiale.org/themes/alliances_mondialisation/cmicfolder.2005-03-02.3713067089/cmicarticle.2007-11-19.4952074920/en

- Key points from Janet Conway’s Work on the Feminisation of Anti-globalisation Spaces:

http://www.marchemondiale.org/themes/alliances_mondialisation/cmicfolder.2005-03-02.3713067089/cmicarticle.2007-11-13.4169994570/en?set_language=en&cl=en

- Peace: Feminism is the Missing Piece (Diane Matte, 2007):

http://www.marchemondiale.org/themes/trafic_sexuel/cmicarticle.2007-11-19.6063934312/en?set_language=en&cl=en

- Peace as a living requirement (summary of article written by Josée Kuzinza, 2006):

http://www.marchemondialedesfemmes.org/themes/trafic_sexuel/cmicarticle.2007-11-19.6468866715/en

 

WMW International Meeting 2008

Objectives: define the 2010 Global WMW Action; monitor the Strategic Plan; revise rules and regulations; elect 3 new IC members (and decide how to ensure the participation of Indigenous Women); political training; public mobilisation with the theme of ‘common good’ and food sovereignty.

When: October 2008, around 15th – 21st.

Where: Vigo, Galicia

Delegates: up to 3 per NCB

Observers / Allies: will be invited, but they will not number more than the delegates

Training day theme suggestions: eco-feminism, food sovereignty – importance for rural and urban women - and access to water, strengthening alliances, feminism and popular education…

Global Action 2010 proposal: Between 8th March and 17th October, marches of 10 days (or less, depending on the local context) to be organised in various countries, one after the other. This idea will be discussed with the NCBs before the International Meeting, so that in Galicia we are able decide on dates, number of countries, symbols, etc.

 

2) 17th October: World March of Women? Present!

17th October. A very significant day in the history of the World March of Women. For it was on this day – the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty – in the year 2000 that seven months of national actions to demand solutions to world poverty and the end of all forms of violence against women, organised in 161 different countries around the world, ended triumphantly with the delivery of 5,084,546 signatures to the UN Secretary General in New York in support of the 17 world demands of the March.

Every year since then, this day has been one on which we women have made our presence felt, heard and seen globally. This year was no exception. In recognition of the fact that the gap between rich and poor – the ‘haves’ and the ‘have nots’ – continues to get wider, and that the control of women’s lives and bodies through violence maintains the alarming proportions that it did in 2000, the World March of Women yet again mobilised in many different parts of the world.

It was in the Americas - from South to North - that the banner of the March was particulary visible around this date.  In Bolivia, both the cities of Tarija and La Paz hosted events co-organised by the WMW: in the former a cultural and artistic festival for ‘Equity and Equality’ organised with AMUPEI (“Association of Women for Equity and Equality”) on the 17th October itself, and in the latter the very successful event entitled ‘Women in Defence of Water’ on the 11th, in which rural workers, indigenous women, intellectuals and international guests discussed the issue of water from a gender perspective and their strategies against the privatisation of water. While in neighbouring Peru, a four-page newsletter (including the WMW 17th October Manifesto) was produced and distributed in various different activities that took place recently, including the ‘ethical-political’ National Court for the economic, social and cultural rights of women.

During this period a follow-up to the Nyéléni Forum was organised (on the 16th October - World Food Sovereignty Day) in Chile with the release of the “Women for Food Sovereignty” Declaration, while preparations continued for the Women’s Marquee organised during the Summit for “Friendship and Integration of Ibero-American Peoples” on the 8th and 9th November, a space in which the WMW was publicly presented, discussed and re-launched with local women’s organisations and movements. While in Mexico, the WMW launched their “One Million Signatures for Women’s Security” campaign, demanding the end of impunity for perpetrators of violence against women and a set of emergency actions on the part of the government to confront and eradicate feminicide and sexual abuse (see articles below – “WMW in Chile” and “Activities on 25th November Denounce Violence against Women”).

World March of Women? Present throughout Brazil! To mark 17th October, WMW members organized a series of activities in various different states: a manifesto presented to the population of Rio Grande do Norte reaffirming the commitment of women in their struggle against agribusiness, transgenic seeds and the destruction of the environment; a seminar in São Paulo to debate food sovereignty and integration of the Americas; street activities in the southern states of Rio de Janeiro and Rio Grande do Sul.

In Québec too, many different events marked the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, the day chosen by the Quebec NCB to launch their campaign for the economic autonomy of women in the country, “An end to poverty: a choice of society”.  In Montreal, WMW activists manifested their outrage of the ultraliberal ideology and policies of the Montreal Economic Institute and demanded the immediate increase of the minimum wage, while the masked women who marched in Quebec City held up traffic and stuck leaflets to exclusive shop windows as a way to make visible the conditions of poverty in which many women still live hidden and state their commitment to joint struggle against the elimination of this poverty.

Special note: Our sisters in Iran were not able to mobilise around the 17th October due to the heavy repression they face. Here is an email sent by them on 28th October: “Dear friends. We haven't freedom in Iran, Iranian Government is dictator, we cannot ceremony in Iran, because many women for freedom to put in jail. Freedom for all people.”

For more information about the situation in Iran, please access:

http://www.weforchange.info/english/   http://www.learningpartnership.org/advocacy/alerts/iranwomenarrests0307 (English)

http://www.weforchange.info/english/spip.php?rubrique7 (French)

http://www.weforchange.info/english/spip.php?rubrique12 (Spanish)

Sign the “One Million Signatures” campaign petition (English / French)

http://www.we4change.info/spip.php?article19 and the petition to free all women activists in Iran: http://www.PetitionOnline.com/maryam20/petition.html

 

3) Newsflash: Martial Law imposed in Pakistan

Considering the gravity of the current political situation in Pakistan, a country in which the WMW has a strong presence, we felt it was important to include specific news in this newsletter…

Since the 3rd November, the military government of Pakistan, headed by General Musharraf, has imposed a State of Emergency (read ‘Martial Law’) in the country, disbanded the Supreme Court and shut down the media. Civil society – and in particular lawyers, judges, journalists, opposition party leaders and human rights activists – have taken to the streets in large numbers ever since and are being brutally repressed, beaten, arrested and held under house-arrest or in custody (often in solitary confinement or being tortured).

But the people of Pakistan will not accept a military dictatorship. Popular resistance has been strong and organised and the people of Pakistan will not be silenced. Women too are very involved in the protests against the government, as this email from the WMW from 5th November shows clearly:

“…today we protested against Government Action in front of the Press Club, Majority of women from different walks of life, political workers, journalists and lawyers were there, we shouted against Government action. A large number of police and army men surrounded us and beat us very brutally with sticks. After that they locked us in the Press club, refused to release us. We shouted inside the club, they started to arrest the protesters.”

And on 8th November they sent us the following:

“…we are under-going very crucial situation in Pakistan, Emergency Law has been imposed […] thousands of lawyers, political leaders professionals and members of civil society have been arrested; we cannot raise voices against Military government for this action. Public meetings have been banned. Now we members of civil society and Human rights activist have planned to arrange flying demonstrations in front of Public places for only 10 to 15 minutes in one place with placards and banners, as police come to arrest us, we leave the venue and disburse from this place. We did it in two places and people are encouraging us.”

The WMW also continues to be active in Pakistan and the Southern Asian region, despite the repression. Meetings in five countries have been planned until the end of the year – India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Pakistan – with the objectives of: reorganising the WMM in the region; strengthening those NCBs that do exist and creating them where they do not; discussing the March’s four focus themes (violence against women, common good, peace & demilitarisation and women & work) and mobilising women for change in public policy with regards to them; reestablishing the link between national and international levels of the March; planning of activities within the framework of the Strategic Plan 2007 – 2010.

The WMW declares its solidarity with the women and men of Pakistan, continues to follow the situation closely and has created a weblog on which up-to-date information is available (in English): http://pakistan-wmw.blogspot.com/

 

4) WMW in Chile: promoting the cohesion of women in the struggle against neoliberalism

The World March of Women was reorganized in Chile during the preparatory process for the Summit for Friendship and Integration of Iberoamerican Peoples, which occurred between 8th and 10th November in Santiago, Chile, in parallel to the Presidents’ Summit.

Several organizations responded to the call by ANAMURI (National Association of Rural and Indigenous Women) to restructure the WMW, in particular the women of the National Peasant Coordination, popular urban organizations such as REMOS and MEMCH and youth and research organizations, as well as feminist networks linked to issues of health, violence and the economy.

The WMW marquee was always crowded with people attending workshops and panels focusing on our four fields of action.   Debates were conducted around reproductive work, female agricultural labourers, climatic change, sexist violence, reproductive health and a special session on building the WMW. 

Chilean women from all regions of the country combined forces with women from Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Cuba, Mexico, Paraguay, Peru and Venezuela who returned to their own countries to strengthen or launch the WMW.  A working commission was also formed to investigate the working conditions of female agricultural labourers in Chile, Colombia and Peru.

We contributed to the preparation of the final Declaration of the Summit and it can be read in full at: (available only in Spanish)

http://www.marchemondialedesfemmes.org/themes/alliances_mondialisation/cmicarticle.2007-11-19.1027186636/es

 

5) Activities on 25th November denounce violence against women

All over the world, 25th November is an occasion for feminists to mobilize, denounce and struggle against the violence suffered by women and to propose measures to put an end to these aggressions. 

During 2007, many groups associated to the World March of Women – chiefly in Mexico and France – have been preparing major actions on this issue. With relation to this date the International Committee also published a Declaration of the World March of Women denouncing the impunity enjoyed by those responsible for crimes against women in war and militarised zones. Read this document in full at by clicking on the link: 

http://www.marchemondialedesfemmes.org/themes/trafic_sexuel/cmicarticle.2007-11-21.1815555251/en

Mexico: campaign: “One Million Signatures for Women’s Security”

The alarming rise in feminicide and cases of violence against women reported in Mexico during the last few years provoked the mounting of this campaign by the World March of Women, the Feminist Space and the Vice-Presidency for Gender Equity of UNT (National Union of Workers). Launched on 11th September, the campaign demands an end to militarisation in the country, immediate release of women political prisoners and the end of feminicide and impunity. The campaign also demands urgent action within the framework of the “General Law of Women’s Access to a Life Free of Violence.” The Act was passed on 16th December, 2006, by the Chamber of Deputies and is the outcome of an intense mobilization by women in Mexico against feminicide.

Still within the campaign’s framework, debates about violence and marches took place between October and November (such as the forum “Women, Violence and Impunity” on October 26th, in Mexico City) and will continue into 2008. See the press release with more details about the campaign at:

http://www.marchemondialedesfemmes.org/themes/trafic_sexuel/cmicfolder.2007-11-20.9792176640/cmicarticle.2007-11-20.0092535005/es

Access to the full petition text at the link:

http://www.marchemondialedesfemmes.org/themes/trafic_sexuel/cmicfolder.2007-11-20.9792176640/cmicarticle.2007-11-20.2841791021/es

Impunity and State violence

The campaign draws attention to the responsibility of governments and States in the fight or increase of violence against women. In the example of Mexico, by leaving the path to impunity open and by militarising the country, the government - whose role is to ensure the right to life - turns out to be the main aggressor against women. According to a report sent to the European Parliament, 6,000 women and girls have been murdered between 1999 and 2006. In 2004 alone, 1,205 girls were murdered.

The Mexican State, through its military and political forces, has been using sexual violence as a way of intimidating women who mobilize. The figures speak for themselves. In the the City of Juarez, alone an emblematic example on the border of the USA, 464 women were murdered between 1993 and 2006. Sexual abuse of indigenous women and children were recorded in several other states in Mexico. Since 1994 there have been 8 documented cases of 35 women raped by soldiers in Chiapas, Oaxaca and Guerrero with no punishment to the offenders. Despite the International denouncement of these cases, very few of the perpetrators of this violence were taken to court.

Finally, the campaign draws attention to the risks of the “Security and Prosperity Partnership of North America” (SPP) agreements driven by the United States with Mexico and Canada, projecting strong militarisation of the border and of areas where there is strong popular mobilization. The current government, elected in a fraudulent manner in July 2006, has strongly supported the SPP, in spite of the innumerous risks and arguments against the partnership presented by diverse social organizations in the country.

Europe and France: Armband denounces violence and symbolizes support to victims

With the slogan “Not one more!”  the European coordination of the World March of Women launched, in Paris, on 24th November, the “Armband Campaign” focusing on violence against women. Each armband was used by participants – women and men – to symbolize the murder of a woman. In addition to publicly denouncing violence, the brassard is a symbol of support to victims and a warning to offenders.

In France, the campaign demands that a framework for a Law against Violence be voted and applied in all the dimensions, chiefly for prevention of violence against women, in the knowledge that repression on its own is not enough. 

During the entire development of the campaign, which will be extended until at least 2008, the March will emphasize the fact that violence against women does not only originate within the domestic setting but is also privileged in the very functioning of patriarchal societies, and that violence is tolerated or generated by societies or by the State, at the heart of families, on the streets, at workplaces and during wars.

For more information:

Mexico - ciam@laneta.apc.org / cofemo@yahoo.com.mx / codimuj@yahoo.com.mx / Mujeres para el Diàlogo - Cerro gordo #253, Col. Campestre, Churubusco. 04200 México D.F. 

France - French Coordination of the World March of Women, 5/7 rue des Envierges, 75202 Paris, marchfem@ras.eu.org   Tel: 0680639525

 

6) WSF International Council meeting in Belem prepares Global Day of Global of Mobilisation and Action and WSF 2009

The preparation for the Global Day of Mobilization and Action, scheduled for 26th January 2008, was one of the main subjects of the International Council of the World Social Forum (IC-WSF) meeting that took place between 29th October and 1st November in Belém, in the state of Pará, in Brazil. Miriam Nobre and Diane Matte attended the meeting that, among other topics, launched the discussions about the WSF that will take place in January 2009 in the Amazon region (in Belém) and defined the creation of a Liaison Group, accountable for facilitating the IC commissions and work groups (WGs).

The plenary meeting was preceded by IC Commission and WG meetings: assessment, facilitation, mobilization, strategies, expansion, contents, methodology and resources. The meetings, that were attended by roughly 150 people belonging to organizations from all over the world and many local representatives, discussed in depth the character of the WSF as a strategic space for the affirmation of organizations engaged in building another possible world and in the search for the strengthening of alternatives to the neoliberal model. The full report of this meeting will soon be available at the WSF site: www.forumsocialmundial.org.br

On 28th October an Assembly of Social Movements was organized with participants from local and international movements who together prepared a Declaration of Support for the call for the Global Day of Mobilization and Action, considered an important step in the preparation for the 2009 WSF in the Amazon region. The full statement, entitled: “On the way to Belém: the international network of social movements invite all to take to the streets on 26th January, 2008, in a joint action for another world” can be read on the Website of the World March of Women:

http://www.marchemondialedesfemmes.org/themes/alliances_mondialisation/cmicfolder.2007-11-21.3319821017/cmicarticle.2007-11-21.3953499952/en

The WMW on 26th January 2008

In several countries, the World March of Women preparations for 26th January have already started, both in terms of joining forces with other movements and independently; in the perspective of this being an important step in the preparation of 8th March. Members of the National Coordination Bodies (NCBs) in Québec, Brazil, Mexico, Guatemala, Peru, Cuba, Pakistan and Kenya have already reported that preparations for 26th January are well under way.

The March’s International Secretariat (IS) has created a blog http://wmw-action26january.blogspot.com so that groups and NCBs of the March all over the world may post information about the activities they plan to carry out. This blog also includes a quick guide on how to organize a “batucada” along the lines of the one that is practiced by the Brazilian WMW. The idea is to conduct debates, talks and seminars on the week leading up to 26th January, to raise awareness and deepen discussions around issues tacked by the March, according to local realities. Preparatory activities may include the building of instruments that could be used on 26th January, as an activity to make the March more visible and promote a dialogue with the society at large, distributing pamphlets and playing rhythms on the “batucada”.

Groups belonging to the March are invited to send a brief description of their planned actions to the IS, mentioning their name, e-mail address, the activity they are planning, the time and place of the activity. This information should be sent to nathalia@marchemondiale.org and globalaction@wsf2008.net 

A flyer with more information about 26th January and how to promote mobilizations can be downloaded from the WSF website:

- Spanish: http://www.forumsocialmundial.org.br/download/folder_2008_es.pdf

- French: http://www.forumsocialmundial.org.br/download/folder_2008_fr.pdf

- English: http://www.forumsocialmundial.org.br/download/folder_2008_en.pdf

- Portuguese: http://www.forumsocialmundial.org.br/download/folder_2008_pt.pdf

 

7) Women in Black International Conference

Women in Black is a world-wide network of feminist and anti-militarisation women committed to peace and actively opposed to injustice, war, militarism and other forms of violence. They denounce violence against women and call for female participation in conflict solution and peace negotiations. The objective is to end the culture of violence, domination, aggression to people and the destruction of coexistence and the environment. They believe that achieving a culture of peace will be impossible if change is not implemented in the patriarchal structure, rooted in the appropriation and objectification of women, and extended to all minority groups. This structure was achieved and is maintained through violence. They think that one of the ways to make this change feasible is to create relationships between women which are adequate and valid, horizontal and supportive and free from vertical positioning, hierarchical principles, information privatisation, manipulation, etc - elements that are rife in relations within the patriarchal structure.

The international network Women in Black celebrated its fourteenth meeting in Valencia, from 16th - 20th August.  Some 400 women belonging to 40 associations from all over the world attended the meeting. The main theme was “Relationships among women as an alternative solution to peace: Women in Black reflect on Women in Black”, and the program included the following discussions: Networking, Us and Violence; Conflicts, Processes, Us – Women in Black Activists; Women of the World; and a Concentration at the Malvarrosa Beach. There were also several workshops, many of them based around the theme of solidarity, telling of the situation suffered in some areas and discussing how militarism pervades our lives and our societies.

 

8) Events Calendar

Accompany the International events in which the World March of Women will be present during the next months:

2007

6th – 10th December: Via Campesina “Solidarity Village for a Cool Planet”, Bali, Indonesia, parallel to the Conference on Climate Change

7th – 9th December: Africa-Europe: What Alternatives? Meeting, Lisbon, Portugal

10th – 12th December: Participative Democracy Global Meeting, Lyon, France

28th – 31st December: Meeting of Zapatista women, Chiapas, Mexico

2008

26th January: WSF Global Day of Mobilization and Action

New telephone numbers of the International Secretariat

We hereby inform you of the new telephone numbers of the WMW International Secretariat: Tel. (+55) 11 3032-3243  /  Fax: (+55) 11 3032-3239

 

9) Next Edition

Special issue on free trade, with articles about:

* Threats presented by the SPP (Security and Prosperity Partnership of North America)

* Linking Alternatives – Bi-regional Network: Europe– Latin America and Caribbean

* Africa-European Union Partnership Agreements

* Costa Rica: assessing the referendum against the Central American Free Trade Agreement

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WMW International Committee

Miriam Nobre (International Secretariat), Nana Aicha Cissé and Wilhelmina Trout (Africa), Ynares Caridad (Jing) and Saleha Athar (Asia), Farida el Nakash (Middle East), Rosa Guillén and Gladys Alfaro (Americas), Celina dos Santos and Nadia de Mond (Europe).

 

WMW Internacional Secretary

Rua Ministro Costa e Silva, nº 36, Pinheiros

São Paulo - SP - Brasil

05417-080

Phone: (+55) 11 3032-3243 / Fax: +55 11 3032-3239

E-mail: info@marchemondiale.org

Website: www.marchemondiale.org

 

This issue was written and organized  by IS team:

Alessandra Ceregatti, Célia Alldridge, Maria Curione, Miriam Nobre and  Nathalia Capellini

 

Translation and revision:

Ângela Noronha,Catherine Degoulet, Maitê Llanos

Photos: World March of Women (WMW) archives

Designed by: Luciana Nobre

Financial Support: Novib (Oxfam Netherlands), Global Fund for Women, Fund for Non-Violence, Oxfam GB - Sur América, Development and Peace, E-CHANGER.

 

São Paulo, November 2007

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Last modified 2007-12-18 06:07 AM
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