World March of Women, 2006: Report and Perspectives

Montréal, June 23, 2006 - From July 2 to 9, 2006, the World March of Women will meet in a general assembly in Lima, Peru. In addition to deciding on a strategic plan and the actions to carry out in coming years, this 6th International Meeting will vote on the International Secretariat's move to a country in the South (Brazil and Mali are candidates).

This is a turning point since the Secretariat (executive team) of the World March of Women has worked out of Montréal, Québec, since the very start (1998). The choice of Montréal stems from a historical fact, namely, that the March began as a project launched by the Fédération des femmes du Québec. As the March developed into a worldwide phenomenon (164 countries and territories, and over 5000 groups are members), our concern about taking into account the diversity of sensibilities, visions and actions led us to this process.

A turning point is a good time to take stock of things. In Peru we will ask the delegates to tell us what the March has given them. In 2004, women of the March adopted the Women's Global Charter for Humanity, a document written collectively that describes the kind of world women want to build, a world based on the values of freedom, equality, solidarity, justice and peace. In 2005, women passed the Charter from country to country in a relay with about 50 stops around the planet. They carried out actions to increase awareness and to teach people about the Charter's contents, and at the same time, sewed quilt squares alluding to their view of the document. Today the squares are assembled in the 4 m x 4 m solidarity patchwork quilt, each colourful square reflecting the cultural values of each country and having its own significance.

Our exchanges about future actions will be an attempt to define how we can persuade our members, our allies and the media that the March is an irreversible movement. Even though we stage large-scale actions only at five-year intervals, in between those actions, the March goes on. We have been present at the World and Regional Social Forums from the start. We are co-organizers with Via Campesina of the International Forum on Food Sovereignty, to be held in Bamako (Mali) in 2007. The March national coordinating bodies carry out actions on subjects of concern to them (free trade treaties with the United States in Peru, Colombia and Ecuador; fight in France against institutionalized prostitution during the World Soccer Cup; fight for free abortion in Portugal; against impunity for U.S. military actions in the Philippines when the United States had bases there, etc.).

In Lima, we will hold workshops on peace and demilitarization; on violence and sexual trafficking, specifically patriarchy's use of women's bodies as a means of control; on access to natural resources and food sovereignty; and on women's work.

Contact: Brigitte Verdière, Communications Officer, bverdiere@marchemondiale.org

World March of Women , 110 rue Ste-Thérèse, #203,

info@marchemondiale.org