IN OCTOBER, THE WORLD MARCH OF WOMEN IS MOBILIZING IN ALL CORNERS OF THE GLOBE

On Monday, October 16, the World March of Women will present their demands directly to the president of the World Bank, Mr. James D. Wolfensohn, and the managing director of the International Monetary Fund, Mr. Horst Köhler, with whom they will be meeting at 10:00 a.m. and at 11:15 a.m., respectively.

On October 17, the March arrives in the streets of New York. Starting at 9 a.m., women on delivery bicycles carrying the petitions signed by women from around the globe in support of the demands will leave the Bronx and cross New York City, arriving at the March rallying point in Dag Hammerskjold Plaza. Some 10,000 colourfully costumed women will march to Union Square where they will attend a performance (songs, dances, speeches….).

Meanwhile, a delegation of 200 women from across the planet will meet with the secretary General of the United Nations, Kofi Annan, from 1:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.

ACTIONS AROUND THE PLANET

In the week preceding October 17, local groups and national coordinating bodies in countries participating in the World March of Women are organizing numerous activities in support of the March:

October 10
In Spain, women in Galice are organizing a strike of domestic work; in Luxembourg, women are demonstrating before the house of the members of parliament and will submit their demands to the ministers. In Pakistan, a national conference is being held on violence against women and poverty.

October 11
In Laos, many events concerning violence against women and equality are being held on October 11-12, among them a seminar on gender issues in Laotian society, theatrical and sports activities.

October 12
In Ecuador and Guatemala, women will be marching. In India, a national rally will be held in New Delhi. The march will pass in front of the offices of the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank and UN.

October 13
In France, the Salon du livre de la Plume noire is taking place from October 13-15, and representatives of the March have been invited to speak. In Switzerland,  women are organizing a national rally in Bâle.

October 14
In Belgium, European groups who began travelling toward Brussels the preceding week, will converge in the capital. This European demonstration will include cultural events, workshops, debates and a music festival. In Québec (Canada), women will rally in Montreal and hold actions in all the regions. In El Salvador and Ecuador women are mobilizing during the entire week leading up to October 17.

October 15
Sunday, October 15 is the date chosen for the national action in: Peru, Burundi (at the same time as the Day of Rural Women), Canada, Hong Kong (where Asian migrant women will deliver giant placards to the head office of HKSAR. They will distribute thousands of paper purple roses inscribed with the women's demands. In Asutralia, the virtual bus arrives in Brisbane. An initiative of the Queensland Domestic Violence Services Network, the virtual bus left on September 15, picking up thousands of women on its route, in this way bringing them into contact with the World March of Women.

October 16
In Guinea, women are gathering in the capital in front of the UNDP. Women will also be marching in the regions.

October 17
Simultaneously with the rally in New York, women will be marching in many countries: Côte d'Ivoire, Jamaica, Japan, Martinique, Congo, and Mexico. In Australia, many meetings are planned in work places, schools, and communities. In Bolivia, Brazil and Canada, women will be meeting with their elected representatives in every region of the country, to present their demands. In Bangladesh, a major rally will be held in front of the offices of the UNDP and the World Bank in Dhaka. Demonstrators will form a human chain to protest against violence. In Guinea, women will present the President of Parliament with a White Paper. In the Philippines, women will be demonstrating and debating.… In Rwanda, women will be gathering in the villages. They will present their demands to representatives of government. In the United Kingdom women are organizing a vigil. In Saint-Denis, on the island of Réunion, a march, followed by personal testimonies will take place at the site of a plaque commemorating human misery. On the island of Rodrigues, there will be a succession of activities followed by a demonstration. In Germany, many groups will meet in Karlsruhe. In Iceland, October 17 will commemorate the 25th anniversary of the women's strike in this country. In Mozambique, it is the commemoration of the signing of the peace accords in 1992.

October 18
In New Caledonia, the March will arrive in Nouméa, after the "words of women" have made the rounds of all the provinces.

October 20
In South Korea, women are organizing a march in the framework of the Peoples' Forum during the Asian-European meeting (ASEM).

IF YOU WANT TO COVER THE EVENTS IN THE UNITED STATES, PLEASE CONTACT

Brigitte Verdière
Public Relations
World March of women in the year 2000
Tél. : 1 (514) 395-1196 (poste 21)
Fax : 1 (514) 395-1224