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Successful preparatory meeting for World March of Women in the Year 2000
The International Preparatory Meeting for the World March of Women in the Year 2000 ended on an upbeat note. "I can't wait for the action phase to begin!" exclaimed Françoise David, president of the Fédération des femmes du Québec, after a marathon of spirited discussion in French, English and Spanish.
Meeting in Montreal for three days, 140 delegates from 65 countries in the North and South were able to agree on some 25 international demands aimed at reducing the poverty and violence affecting women the world over.
They also approved action scenarios that will reach a crowning point on October 17, 2000 when one or more rallies will present demands to international political and economic bodies, such as the UN, the IMF and the World Bank, as well as certain governments.
In a unanimous gesture of solidarity, the delegates expressed their support for women fighting all over the world: individuals such as Burmese leader Aung San Suu Kyi as well as groups, for instance, the women of Afghanistan, under the yoke of the Taliban, and the women of Algeria who are struggling for peace and democracy.
International Demands
Despite major cultural, economic and political differences, the delegates managed to agree on common demands, for example, that all States adopt a legal framework aimed at eliminating poverty; that the debt of all Third World countries be cancelled; that the UN pressure all countries so that the many international instruments referring to women's and children's rights be ratified and applied.
A compromise was reached on two proposed demands aimed at defending the rights of homosexual women after delegates from some parts of the world said they would not be able to get these demands accepted at home. Despite the solidarity they felt with women discriminated against because of their sexual orientation, it would be dangerous for some of them to show their support. In Pakistan and a number of other Muslim countries, for example, homosexuality is strongly condemned and even punishable by death. The final document, therefore, will specify which countries supported the two above-mentioned demands.
International Liaison Committee
An international liaison committee was struck to carry on the organizing work leading up to the March in October 2000. Made up of some thirty women from six regions as well as a representative of Native women, it will serve as the link between countries and the coordinating committee, which will continue to be composed of women from Quebec.
Action Scenarios
From now until the March is held, women in each country will work out their respective priority demands and the actions they will stage. One hundred and five countries have already confirmed that they will take part in the event. The 140 delegates meeting in Montreal approved the following action scenarios:
First, mass support will be sought for the international demands. Petitions or cards may be circulated, for example. Then national actions will be organized, which will reflect women's priorities in each country but always in relation to the themes of violence and poverty.
The national actions will culminate on October 17, 2000 with a series of rallies which have yet to take shape but whose purpose will be to obtain clear commitments from the international political and economic powers that be.
Last modified 2006-04-12 02:42 PM
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