Women of the World Working Together One Voice for Peace and Justice

Presenters included Media Benjamin and others.

Some of the programs mentioned were:

• World March for Women – Feminist perspective. They have a global charter for humanity that they have used as an advocacy tool.
• Code Pink – www.codepink.org They sent $650,000 worth of humanitarian aid to Iraq. A hunger strike against the war will be starting on 7/4/06 and they are encouraging people to sign up for it at www.troopshomefast.org for a day or whatever one can do. They have started a voter’s block against the war. Designed to tell candidates that we don’t care what gender, race or party they represent we will not vote for them if they vote for war. I believe there is a website, but I don’t have it right now.

• Colombian Ruta Pacifica (Women’s Peaceful Ways) – Social movement that encompasses 350 different indigenous orgs. Works to protect the lives of women by accompaniment during their caravans of peace in dangerous war zones once a year. Also do trainings and education around feminist perspective themes.
• African Women’s Economic Policy Network – They bring voices of women to the UN to speak to politicians and link women’s groups to Parliamentarians. She said there is a definite link between HIV AIDS and war as women are used as sex slaves. She also described how in some war torn areas in Africa women would rather allow themselves to be raped when fetching water, instead of having their husbands go and, undoubtedly, be killed.
• Canadian Women for Women in Afghanistan – They have 14 chapters across Canada and commit to raise funds for an Afghan teacher’s salary for one year. They have raised 1/2 million dollars through potlucks. People come together with food, ideas and checks –  See www.breakingbreadforwomen.com

Also they are involved with access to information through a program called Idea access. Activists come to them with books they want translated. If their selection committee agrees, the book is translated into their language and distributed for free. They work in 9 different languages. They help set up libraries with 5,000 books and a 2 yr. revenue plan so that they can become sustainable.

• Woman from Venezuela about current government 

-3,000 schools created, free universities for everyone

-National Institute for Women has been created so women can receive    micro loans and land for free.

-New constitution calls for 50% participation of women in politics 25% currently.

-They want to reduce poverty by 50% by 2015.

-Daycare centers have been set up across country that give kids breakfast, lunch and a snack for free every day.

- The free literacy programs have helped 60% of women.

- Shelters and lawyers are provided to deal with domestic abuse. Before women had no recourse.