VOICES RISING
YEAR III - VOL 3. Nº154
September 23, 2005
content
1.- SELLING FEMINISM TO AFRICAN MASSES
2.- WORLD SOCIAL FORUM 2006
3.- WORLD LEADERS BLOCK PROGRESS ON UN POVERTY GOALS
4.- WORLD SUMMIT ON THE INFORMATION SOCIETY - NEWS
5.- CONFERENCES/EVENTS
...................................................
1. Selling Feminism to African Masses
Salma Maoulidi - Tanzania
smlidi@yahoo.com
While feminist activists from different parts of the world were lobbying heads of states and the UN in New York during the Millennium Summit this September, gender activists in Tanzania and the East Africa region congregated for the 7th Gender Festival. The Gender Festival is a bi-annual event spreading over four days convened by FemAct, a coalition of feminist activists comprising of about fifty organizations working on gender, human rights and social justice issues in Tanzania.
Over 3400 people, women, men, youths and children, participated in the Gender Festival most representing grassroots communities from different parts of Tanzania. About eighteen countries were represented with significant representation from organizations from the East African region and other parts of Africa including central, southern and western Africa. As is the case with past Gender Festivals friends from Europe and the Americas showed up in support.
This year’s Festival theme was ‘Popular Struggles for a Better Alternative World’ underscoring squarely the role of popular movements, mainly citizen organizations in resisting different types of domination. Indeed, faced by a number of global challenges there is a realization amongst activists that to make headway in our struggles for a better world, the masses have to be on board. On the other hand, seasoned activists have to acknowledge the numerous ways local communities resist global economic and political domination and in so doing raise critical consciousness on the need to link resistance struggles locally and globally.
It was therefore not by coincidence that Njoki Njehu was asked to present the activist voice to launch the festival. Njoki provided a powerful Key Note speech, which laid the tone of the festival, which was about challenging neo-liberalism from a feminist perspective: It was about taking stock of the advances and challenges in the Feminist Movement, at local, national and regional levels especially in the control resources: it was about appreciating the gains and obstacles in feminist and activist policy engagement at national, regional and global levels; it was about our struggles to develop alternative thinking, politics and leadership; it was about emphasizing the aspect of transformative leadership skills and culture as well as defining an analytical framework to bring this to bear.
Festival themes and workshops did not just confine themselves to theories but also presented real cases of popular resistance to build a consciousness and base for popular action while drawing out challenges of organizing and the potentials for building movement for an Alternative World. In this respect activists in Africa had a particular challenge in hosting the World Social Forum, to give it not only a uniquely African flavour but to also influence the Forum to reflect the continent’s development challenges including the question of gender equality, the plunder of her natural resources through the inciting of ethnic and religious prejudices, reparations for the slave trade and the unjust trade regime.
Since Tanzania is scheduled to undergo a general election in October 2005 a number of workshop sessions were devoted to local and national elections and the different strategies activists have devised to impact the political process, which increasingly appears to be dominated by big money interests. The challenge for activists in Africa, as probably elsewhere is around organizing popular movements not only locally but also globally.
A notable feature in the programme was a space to introduce and demystify Feminism as a critical ideology towards building transformative politics. Day Three hosted a powerful panel representing the different hues of African Feminisms, its theories and discourses of resistance. Salma Maoulidi from Tanzania in a paper entitled Of Virginity Tests, Briefcases and Pulpits- the advocacy challenge of African Feminist spoke in metaphors to show how women’s bodies and agency are controlled by religious, market and political forces using fundamentalist ideologies that seek to keep women subjugated. Beatrice Aber from South Sudan spoke about how women in the Sudan are forming a national body to advance their interests after a legacy of civil war. Idaishe Chengu from MWENGO based in Zimbabwe spoke about political repression and its impact on civil society and action stressing the importance for activists to engage in the political by actively seeking to occupy emerging policy spaces to infuse an alternative development agenda.
This panel was followed by a well-attended workshop on Feminisms, which mapped the evolution of the feminist movement in Tanzania and Africa generally but also sought to question whether there was an African Feminism and what informed a uniquely African feminist ideology. More importantly, the sessions in Feminism directly addressed the hostility the terms attracts globally and instead of solely engaging with theoretical debates tried to engage participants to understand the basis of feminist politics effectively challenging its elitists mostly academic base and basis by making it more accessible to the masses.
And become more accessible to the masses it did. During a recap session one of those facilitating the sharing of learning from the previous day, and who happened to have taught Salma in “A” Level class, confessed to have been taught a thing or two about feminism by his pupil! He proudly announced that henceforth he too identified himself as feminist, a revelation that was greeted with wild cheers and ululations. Similar support came from male and female participants in the Feminist Workshop who also had the benefit of looking more intimately at how culture, religion and policies advance a male centric world view denying the poor, women and youths similar rights on the basis of sexual, economic, racial and geographic difference.
The ability to personalize and localize feminist politics certainly enabled us to gain more converts resisting the old age competitive posture of the “us and them” in liberation ideologies. Certainly, as feminist we need to broaden our alliances particularly to mass movements. We also need to articulate our politics in a language and form that appeals to popular interests and realties. Our aim is collective- to end neo liberal hegemony in all its forms. Our tradition as trailblazers in human rights and social justice equips us with the theory to put transformative politics in practice, something a popular engagement with Feminisms during the Gender Festival dared to achieve.
*********************************
2. World Social Forum 2006
WSF Bulletin September 21, 2005
Registration of activities for the WSF 2006 is now available!
The activities registration and preparation tool for the polycentric WSF 2006 is already available in English and Spanish/Castellano! It is a virtual workspace where organisations, movements, networks, NGOs and other groups from all over the world will be able to register the activities they will hold in the three polycentric 6th WSF, which will take place in January 2006 in Caracas (Venezuela), Karachi (Pakistan) and Bamako (Mali). The new tool will allow organisations from all over the world to meet each other in order to prepare jointly activities for the WSF 2006 or activities related to the process. The tool will also work as a thematic consultation for the events in Pakistan and Mali.
See below how to participate:
1) First, enter the activities registration website. There are two ways of doing this:
a) directly at the website www.wsf2006.org through each polycentric forum website: (where you will find further
information).
b) through each polycentric forum website, which are under construction at the moment and where you will find
further information.
Caracas (www.forosocialmundial.org.ve), Bamako (www.fsmmali.org) o Karachi (www.wsf2006karachi.org)
2) Then, register as an individual
3) Right after, register your organisation
4) After, you will be able to fill in a form about the activity(ies) your organisation will hold on WSF events (options Bamako, Caracas or Karachi) or for the process (option "General"). Note: only organisations can propose activities, not individuals.Up to now, registration is available in English and Spanish. But soon, the French version will also be on-line. At this first moment, the individuals linked to organisations will only able to register activities. Later on, it will be possible to form discussion groups to debate links among different activities.
Attention: this website (www.wsf2006.org) is only for activities registration and preparation for the 03 polycentric events.
Registration and payment of organisations, its delegates, individual participants and media must be done at each polycentric WSF website, which are under construction now.
The organisations who are registered at the activities WSF 2006 workspace will be able to:
·Invite other organisations to prepare common activities
·Identify organisations which have interest on the same themes
·Search for organisations of the same field of activity
·Contact organisations in order to build links for common
activities
·Invite organisations that have similar interests to carry out joint activity(ies) and/or merge similar proposals in one
·Interlink windows activities (which can be carried out simultaneously in one or more polycentric events)
·In the case of Bamako (Mali) and Karachi (Pakistan), suggest broad themes for the two events.
In order to clarify doubts about registration of activities, please write to the email: programa@forumsocialmundial.org.br
For further information about each polycentric forum:
Bamako (Malí)
espaceforum@afribone.net.ml
Caracas (Venezuela)
fsmcaracas@forosocialamericas.org
Karachi (Pakistan)
43-4B, Block-6, P.E.C.H.S,
Behind Nursery Market
Karachi, Pakistan
Tel: 9221-8240716 Fax: 9221 8240714
E-mail: secretariat@wsf2006karachi.org
E-mail: sectt@wsf2006karachi.org
E-mail: mail@wsf2006karachi.org
World Social Forum Office in São Paulo
Team: Alessandra Ceregatti, Ana Roberta Alcântara,
Isabel Pato, Márcia Macedo, Patrícia Giuffrida
Address: rua General Jardim, 660 - 8th floor - São
Paulo - SP - Brazil
Postal code: 01223-010
Website: www.worldsocialforum.org
Information: fsminfo@forumsocialmundial.org.br
*******************************************************************************************************
3. World Leaders block progress on UN poverty goals
Global Action Forum
globalactionforum@whiteband.org
"You cannot score goals when you are standing still" said Kumi Naidoo, chair of the Global Call to Action Against Poverty. "15 million people around the world have called for action on poverty and their leaders are not listening. We would give this summit a 5 out of ten for rhetoric, and 2 out of ten for action."
The world’s largest anti-poverty movement believes politicians are blocking progress on the Millennium Development Goals. Whilst millions in poverty etch out an undignified living, decision makers are not acting on their commitment to halve poverty by 2015. The Global Call to Action against Poverty provides a platform for campaigners in over 90 countries to demand their governments live up to their promises. At the current rate of progress, there will be no goal scoring in 100 years, let alone ten.
The UN World Summit the leaders of the world sidestepped their responsibility to lead the fight against global poverty. While some progress was made on gender, peace and security, there were no new commitments on debt and aid, and things have actually slipped backwards on trade. Over the next two months, campaigners turn their attention to the World Trade Organisation ministerial in Hong Kong, focusing their efforts on pressurizing governments to commit to a trade deal that delivers justice for the world’s poor.
‘We have heard too many commitments expressed over the years,’ continued Naidoo. ‘Bitter experience requires us to be skeptical of the validity of the rhetoric. In fact, well-meaning speeches risk being nothing more than a regurgitation of stale and unfulfilled promises.’
Contacts: Nicky Wimble 858 205 8721 (nwimble@oxfam.org.uk), Kate Norgrove 858 205 8734 (knorgrove@gmfc.org), Ciara Gaynor 646 331 6982 (Ciara.gaynor@undp.org)
************************************************
4. World Summit on the Information Society - News
- APC WNSP, September 2005 -
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
The second phase of World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) will take place later this year. The third and final preparatory meeting is underway from September 19th to 30th in Geneva. GenderIT.org team is participating there to keep you informed about the activities of gender advocates, and women concerns regarding key issues on the agenda - women's concerns - internet governance and financing.
*Check out our WSIS section and news coming from GenderIT.org team in Geneva!*
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
**The new WSIS section**
Visit the new WSIS section where we collected a wide variety of resources and articles related to gender & WSIS. And read reflections from Karen Banks, APC Networking and Advocacy Coordinator, about the changes and challenges in gender equality and women's empowerment brought about by WSIS.
http://www.genderit.org/en/beginners/wsis.shtml
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
**Geneva Chronicle: Gender Peripheries of WSIS Prep Com 3**
Follow GenderIT.org writers Jac sm Kee and Brenda Zulu as they participate in the third and final WSIS preparatory meeting (PrepCom3) before the summit in Tunis. Read their postings from Geneva about the activities of gender advocates, and women's concerns:
*18 September 2005 - Civil Society Orientation Session (10:00am - 5:00pm): The first day of WSIS Prep Com 3 already promises to be volatile. The Civil Society Orientation Session featured at least two white elephants straining to break free...
http://www.genderit.org/en/index.shtml?apc=f--e--1&x=91658
*19 Sept 2005 Opening Plenary (10:00am 12:00pm): So, all in all, a much more politically charged day than I thought it would be. For the first time possibly ever, I was actually impatient to be on time for the
Opening Plenary of an event...
http://www.genderit.org/en/index.shtml?apc=f--e--1&x=91659
]*19 September 2005 - Gender Caucus Meeting (1:00pm 2:00pm): Admittedly I was late for this because I got hopelessly lost at the Palais de Nations Building. When I finally arrived, still hungry and panting, the meeting was in full-swing. Kind of...
http://www.genderit.org/en/index.shtml?apc=f--e--1&x=91660
**19 September 2005 - Civil Society Content and Themes Meeting (6:00pm 7:00): The evening reception happening outside of the meeting room really tested the commitment of the participants in this meeting (me!me!). But Tracey Naughton (MISA - Media Institute of Southern Africa) who chaired the meeting was amazingly efficient...
http://www.genderit.org/en/index.shtml?apc=f--e--1&x=91661
www.apcwomen.org; www.genderIT.org;
www.kryss.org; www.wao.org.my; www.sistersinislam.org.my
*****************************************
5. CONFERENCES / EVENTS
Amnesty International Invites You:
Public Meeting: Afghan Women and human rights
Date: 26 September, 6pm
Where: St Andrew's on the Terrace, 30 The Terrace, Wellington
Speakers:
* Amena Shams, an Afghan woman and active member of the Revolutionary Association of the Women of Afghanistan (RAWA), will speak on the topic of women and human rights in Afghanistan.
RAWA: The Association was established in Kabul, Afghanistan, in 1977 as an independent organisation of women fighting for human rights and for social justice in Afghanistan. The exceptional success of Rawa, despite a suffocating political atmosphere, is a direct result of the bravery and uncompromising attitude of its members. 25 years of activism, including massed demonstrations against both the Soviet Union and the Taliban, has cost the organisation dearly. Several members have been assassinated as punishment for their activism.
In recent years, RAWA has established hostels for boys and girls, a hospital for Afghani refugees in Pakistan as well as many schools offering nursing courses, literacy courses and vocational training courses for women throughout Afghanistan. Amnesty International became an outspoken supporter of Rawa in the early 1990 s following increased political and militant suppression of human rights workers in Afghanistan.
* Ced Simpson, Executive Director of Amnesty International New Zealand, will speak on Amnesty's current 'Stop Violence Against Women' campaign and Amnesty's work regarding the human rights of Afghan women.
* Special screening of Forgotten Voices- a documentary about the treatment of women in Afghanistan.
* For further information about the meeting please contact Luke Harrison: Luke.Harrison@amnesty.org.nz, (04) 499 3349.
* Please feel free to forward this invitation to your contacts.
Dr. Aldijana Sisic, Campaign Manager
Amnesty International Aotearoa New Zealand
International Human Rights & Development Centre
PSA House, 11 Aurora Terrace, PO Box 793, Wellington
tel: +64-4-499 3595 fax: +64-4-499 3505
**********************************
Program: Fifth international seminar on Debt and Law
3 days, 3 issues
cadtm@skynet.be
www.cadtm.org
- The United Nations 1986 Declaration on the Right to Development and how to implement it
- Auditing the debt
- How to make the international financial institutions legally accountable and how to control them
Dates : from Friday 7th to Sunday 9th of October
Venue : Brussels, congress room of the Belgian Senate on 7 and 8 October. On Sunday 9 the venue will again be the premises of the World Confederation of Labour, rue de Trèves. Registration : virginie@cadtm.org and olivier@cadtm.org
The day on auditing the Debt is coorganized by CADTM and Cetim (Switzerland)
- DAY 1. The United Nations 1986 Declaration on the Right to Development and how to implement it
Friday 7 october 2005
Robert CHARVIN (University Nice - France)
Malik OZDEN (CETIM)
Francine MESTRUM (ATTAC Flanders)
Camille CHALMERS (Plate-forme haïtienne de plaidoyer pour un développement alternatif PAPDA - Haïti)
Isabelle HOFERLIN (Director - Human rights and international labour standards -Confédération Mondiale du Travail/WCL-)
Reporters : Virginie de Romanet and Guillermo Garcia (CADTM Belgium)
- Day II. Auditing the debt
Saturday 8 october 2005
Member of the Parliament Dra CLAIR, Brazil
Member of the Parliament Edcel LAGMAN, Philippines
Member of the Parliament Mario Joyo AGUJA, Philippines
Benjamin CASTELLO (Jubilee 2000, Angola)
Hugo RUIZ DIAZ BALBUENA (jurist, CADTM)
Senator Pierre GALAND, Belgium
Reporter : Alex Wilks (Eurodad) and Julie Duchâtel (CETIM)
- Day III. How to make the international financial institutions legally accountable and how to control them
Sunday 9 october 2005
Alejandro TEITELBAUM (American Association of Jurists, Argentina)
Damien MILLET (CADTM France)
MP GYOSE (President Jubilee South Africa)
Rémy NGOY LUMBU and Victor NZUZI (DR Congo)
Lidy NACPIL (Freedom From Debt Coalition Jubilee South, Philippines)
Eric TOUSSAINT (CADTM Belgium)
Reporter: Claude Quémar (CADTM France) et Marta Ruiz (CNCD 11-11-11)
- Day IV. Hearing of several guests of CADTM by the Commission on Globalisation of the Belgian Parliament
Date : Monday 10 October at 2 pm
Venue : Belgian Parliament, Brussels
Working languages: French/English/Spanish (simultaneous translation)
Registration Form:
Full Name: ____________________________
Organisation: __________________________
Postal Address: ________________________
Country: ______________________________
Telephone: Fax ________________________
Email address: _________________________
Organisation’s URL or homepage: _________
Please respond by 23rd september 2005 to virginie@cadtm.org and olivier@cadtm.org