Number 5 | April 2000 | ||
Contents |
Yin-Yang Workshop Call to women: Is there a "Women's art of management"? Among the social movements in the second half of this century, the women's movement has been, no doubt, one of the most innovative. If in the first place, it was a matter of urgency to express ourselves against what we disliked in our so-called male chauvinist societies, there is now a shift in the challenge. The time seems to have come when we are told, " Apart from the justified defense of women's rights, how do you propose to manage society in a different manner, in a way that is more yin? What makes for a women's way of management? How differently do you conceive power? How do women relate to time, money, conflict management, and management?" Contact: Edith Sizoo, Réseau Cultures Women for Women's Human Rights / WWHR (Turkey) A reader on "Women and Sexuality in the Muslim World" is expected to be published by WWHR, an independent NGO based in Turkey, by early 2000. The reader brings together the selected work of various writers, researchers and activists from countries as diverse as Algeria, Palestine and Turkey among others. The sections of the reader address a variety of issues around sexuality ranging from pleasure and desire or lesbianism to diverse practices such as female genital mutilation, honor killings, and forced marriages, among others. WWHR intends to follow up on the publication of this reader with an international symposium planned for late 2000 in Istanbul on the topic of "Women, Sexuality and Social Change in the Middle East and the Mediterranean." The symposium would be organized by WWHR with the support of a new international organization called NEW WAYS - The International Alliance for Social Innovation. Contact: Ipek Illkkaracan, WWHR European Network of Pro-feminist Men We intend to bring together all men who support, in one form or the other, the struggle against patriarchy and male domination. We support feminist struggles and thinking, positioning ourselves as men who are conscious that male domination exists and that we must understand it in order to diminish it and to make it disappear. Supported by the European Community we wish to deconstruct the male gender, hone our critical studies of modes of male domination, understand how male chauvinist and homophobic societies make us men and rulers. We want to reaffirm our wish to live in peace, without violence, without war between men, without oppression between men and women. We wish to carry out the setting up of a resource bank on the Internet in order to increase the visibility of existing groups, journals, studies on men and the masculine, networks and men already committed to anti-sexist views and behaviour. Contact: Daniel Welzer-Lang, coordinateur REHP The World according to Women (Belgium) The World according to Women is a Belgian NGO which is setting up a network of European, Francophone African, and Latin American women's associations to share their experiences in their struggle for equality between men and women. The NGO organises training and talks on Gender and development and publishes the journal "Palabras" and other pedagogical documents. It is actively participating in the Global March of women in the year 2000. Contact: Poupette Choque, Le Monde selon les Femmes Association of Women Journalists (France) The Association has been in existence for the past nineteen years and brings together French and foreign women working in France with view to defending the place of women in their profession as well as on the Radio, the Screen, and the print press. Every year it confers awards in the field of books, advertisement, cinema, and print press conforming to its aims. Three of its members have just published a book entitled "Dites-le avec des femmes" (Say it with women) published by CFD, Paris. Contact: Marlène Tuininga Maghreb Equality Group (Morocco) In 1991, at the invitation of the Democratic Association of Moroccan Women, women's associations and researchers of the three countries of the Maghreb, (Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia) decided to start a group called the 'Collectif 95 Maghreb Egalité' in Rabat. They have realised that if, on the one hand, the condition and status of women have undergone considerable changes, on the other hand, social and political resistance still remain very strong and new threats to the rights and gains of Maghreb women are also emerging. Hence, three documents of the Collectif 95 could be prepared: an assessment of the socio-economic, political and cultural conditions of the Central Maghreb women - "Maghreb women, Changes and Problems"; an official report on the state of ratifications, harmonisation and application of international conventions concerning women's rights in the Central Maghreb States - "Maghreb women under restrictions"; an egalitarian Maghreb Code of Individual Status and Family Rights entitled "Hundred Steps and Measures". Contact: Rabia Naciri, Collectif Maghreb Egalité New ways, International Alliance for New Ways was founded in August 1999, in the Mediterranean region by women working towards change in the social relationships between the sexes and in the relations between human beings in the world. It is open to all men and women who see the questioning of social relations between the sexes and classes as a necessary condition for constructing peace and democracy. It sees itself as a space dedicated to promoting new ways for building peace and real democracy. New Ways is inspired by already existing initiatives and feels part of a larger movement working for social change, justice and peace. Contact: Caroline Brac de la Pérrière Popular University of Mothers of May Square (Argentina) "Since Utopia is not yet a material place and since revolution continues to be a necessary dream, we the Mothers of May Square, have decided to create another place of struggle and resistance. The construction of a new society requires men and women who have political and ethical training, are sensitive and imaginative and are capable of using both science and art. The Popular university of Mothers will give birth to new sons and daughters in order to struggle every day for life and dignity. We wish to leave behind as our only legacy political commitment, ideological coherence, intellectual training and a passion foe struggle which we have inherited from our 30 000 sons and daughters." In order to support the establishment of this university, please send your donations payable to Asociacion Madres de Plaza Mayo, at the following address: Contact: Solma, Solidarité avec les Mères de la Place de Mai pour l'Université populaire des Mères de la Plaza Mayo Association Nkoulbebend (Cameroon) The association works mainly for the promotion of women : education, sensitisation, training, better working conditions for women, gender. It mainly concentrates on themes such as : the therapeutic role of widowhood rites; dowry- good or bad practice?; change in basic education between boys and girls; women's role in traditional society and man/woman relations in modern society; promotion of art and culture; traditional leadership roles; etc. Contact: Louise Yanga, Association NKOULBEBEND Discussion Group on gender gap (Argentina) Contact: Sergio Sinay (see article) |