GUIDELINES

This document was distributed to the delegates during the International Preparatory Meeting of 16-18 October, 1998

From October 16-18, 1998, Montreal (Quebec, Canada) will be hosting an international preparatory meeting for the World March of Women in the Year 2000. The aim of this meeting is to bring together representatives from all participating countries for a work session where we will:

1. formulate the world demands together;
2. agree on common actions aimed at winning the demands and effectively fighting against poverty and violence against women;
3. establish a coordinating mechanism for the organization of the March.

1. Formulate the World Demands Together

Drawing on the consensus reached at various international meetings over the past few years, we have prepared a working paper outlining the proposed world demands for which women will be marching in the year 2000. We opted for demands addressed to the United Nations primarily, consisting of modifications or additions to existing international agreements. We hope this will facilitate the achievement of consensus during the meeting. We are aware, however, that the demands will need to be rewritten in clearer, more dynamic language.

Please read this paper, discuss it within your group and with the other participating groups in your country. We are counting on these early discussions to make improvements to the paper during the October work session. It is important to keep in mind that in October we will adopt only those demands for which there is a broad consensus because our aim is to win these demands when we march in the year 2000.

Reference Tool: Working paper on the demands (attached)

Steps to Follow

• circulate the Working paper;

• plan a meeting with participating groups in your country before the end of September;

• inform us of any major modifications to the demands as soon as possible (October 5, 1998 at the latest).

Tips

• take the time to share information with each other about any demands already formulated by women in your country concerning the two main issues of the March;

• concentrate more on the demands contained in the working paper than on rewriting the analysis, unless you have major disagreements with what is being put forward;

• the content is what is most important in your proposals for amendments to the demands -- the final formulation can come later;

• delegate someone to provide us with a brief summary of your discussions and your amendments or additions before the first week of October 1998 (take care to mark the name(s) of the groups who participated in the discussion and the name of your country).

2. Agree on Common Actions

Without coordinated actions in all participating countries, the World March of Women in the Year 2000 will not succeed. The heart of the project is the national actions, accompanied by demands relevant to the local reality, developed and realized by women's movements in each country. Although we refer to the World March we could just as well refer the "world marches" because, in fact, the project is the sum total of the actions and marches organized at the national level and possibly continental or world rallies as well. These multiple actions will stimulate others to join forces with us, giving us the numbers we need to win our demands.

Reference Tool: Action Scenarios (attached)

Steps to Follow

• circulate the working paper on action scenarios;

• plan a discussion on the action scenarios to be held during the meeting referred to above;

• inform us of any new regional (continental) or world action proposals as soon as possible;

Tips

• pay particular attention to questions concerning the support cards and rallies;

• if you are unable to discuss these action scenarios with the other participating groups, at least discuss the feasibility of organizing a collective action in your country;

• provide us with a brief summary of this discussion along with any new proposals.

3. Establish a Coordinating Mechanism for the Organization of the March

The organization of the World March of Women begins with coordination on the national level. The work of popular education, mobilization, and action will only succeed with the active involvement of all participating groups, therefore a coordinating body is crucial. Perhaps, in your country, there is already a committee, coalition or network willing to assume a coordinating and consulting role. You can also create other consulting and coordinating mechanisms more appropriate to your reality or work culture. Whatever the case, please remember to send us the address of your national coordinating body. If it is impossible for you to consult at the national level, contact us to discuss alternatives.

National Consultation/Coordination

Why?

• to discuss the working papers produced for the October 1998 international preparatory meeting (world demands and action scenarios);

• to collectively decide on the demands to present at the national level and coordinate national actions to take place in the year 2000;

• to choose your country's delegates to the October meeting in Montreal.

How?

• read over the attached list of participating groups; you might find the address of the group responsible for consultation/coordination in your country. If so, and you were not aware of the existence of this structure, contact the group to find out how you can join;

• we urge groups with a consultation/coordination role to contact new groups to invite them to join the national structure; if there is no such structure in your country, please contact the other participating groups and study the possibilities for consultation/coordination in the framework of the World March of Women;

• plan at least one meeting before the end of September 1998 to discuss the contents of the working papers and, if needed, discuss the possibilities for consultation/coordination in your country.

Who?

• The invitation to participate in the World March of Women in the Year 2000 was sent far and wide: to different networks of women's groups across the world and through the multiple networks where women are active (labour, community organizations, ecumenical groups, popular education, etc.). Mixed groups are invited on the condition that women take the leadership in the action. The consultation/coordination body should be open to working with all of these groups;

• Talk about the March with those around you and encourage more groups to join ranks with women's movements of the world in this mass action.

International Coordination

Why?

• To assure the coordination of the March at the international level, respecting the interests of women and participating groups in all world regions.

How?

• At the moment the Coordinating Committee of the World March of Women in the Year 2000 is composed essentially of representatives of the Quebec women's movement. This was a necessary stage in the organization. During the October meeting, however, you will be invited to choose representatives from each region of the world to make up the Coordinating Committee.

Delegates for the International Preparatory Meeting

• Countries with a consultation/coordination body are invited to choose their delegates from the list of participating groups and according to the criteria listed on the appropriate registration form;

• In those countries where there is no consultation/coordination body we ask groups interested in participating in the October meeting to carefully read the criteria we will be applying to choose groups and fill out the form that has been provided;

• We are planning to host a maximum of five (5) delegates per country;

• We are also inviting international or regional (continental) networks working on one or the other of the two areas of concern of the World March of Women to send delegates;

• We are working on raising the funds needed to facilitate delegates' travel from the South. If you have suggestions of funding agencies, contact us; if you want to contribute, send us a solidarity donation.