SEXISME et DROITS des FEMMES / SEXISM and WOMEN'S RIGHTS : Bulletin 2003

SEXISME et DROITS des FEMMES / SEXISM and WOMEN'S RIGHTS : Bulletin 2003 - 19

Cher-e-s ami-e-s, dear friends,
Ci-joint quelques courriers. There is some news.
Merci de prévenir si vous ne souhaitez plus en recevoir;
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Sororalement. Sisterly yours.
Michèle Dayras

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SEXISME et DROITS des FEMMES / SEXISM and WOMEN'S RIGHTS : Bulletin 2003 - 19

* "Les femmes qui militent en faveur du respect des droits fondamentaux doivent être protégées. Il incombe aux gouvernements de garantir aux femmes qui œuvrent pacifiquement, individuellement ou en association, à la promotion et à la protection des droits de la personne humaine, la jouissance de tous les droits énoncés dans la Déclaration universelle des droits de la personne humaine, le Pacte international relatif aux droits civils et politiques et le Pacte international relatif aux droits économiques, sociaux et culturels.

Les organisations non gouvernementales, les organisations féminines et les groupes féministes ont joué un rôle catalyseur dans la promotion des droits fondamentaux des femmes, en menant des activités au niveau local, en créant des réseaux et en menant des campagnes de sensibilisation, et les gouvernements doivent les encourager, les appuyer, et leur donner accès à l'information nécessaire à leur action." (Programme d'action de Beijing, Objectif stratégique I, § 228)

* Une professeure d'anglais écrivit cette phrase au tableau, / A female English " woman witout her man is nothing ", et demanda aux élèves de mettre la ponctuation. / and asked the children to add the punctuation.
>>>> Les filles écrivirent / the woman ! without her, man is nothing !
>>>> Les garçons écrivirent / the woman, without her man, is nothing.

***

1 - France
* Politique familiale : danger (communiqué)
* Internet et la pédo-pornographie
* Pétition pour Olympe de Gouges
* Un guide pour les femmes étrangères

2 - Nigeria : Amina Laval

3 - USA
* FGM in Georgia
* "Gender, Violence, and Power: Making the Connections"

4 - Afghanistan
* "Climate of fear"
* One Book (RAWA)

5 - India : Urgent Appeal Women's reservation bill !

6 - Europe leads on women's rights

7 - International
* Violence against women
* Une vie pour sauver les femmes victimes du crime d'honneur
* Women and Peace
* A Message from the Women's Caucus for Gender Justice
* Pas d'impunité pour les crimes de guerre commis par les troupes US en Irak ! (Pétition)

***

1 - France

* Politique familiale : danger (communiqué)

Communiqué de presse du 29/04/03
POLITIQUE FAMILIALE, DANGER !

Les mesures de politique familiale qu’annonce aujourd’hui le Ministre de la famille sont globalement catastrophiques pour les droits des femmes et l’égalité entre les sexes. Nous dénonçons une incitation à la natalité, et surtout au retour au foyer pour un plus grand nombre de femmes, en particulier les plus précaires.

* La prime à la naissance ? Certes, le Collectif national pour les droits des femmes a toujours demandé que chaque enfant, y compris le premier, donne droit à la même allocation, ainsi que l’augmentation de cette allocation qui devrait suivre l’enfant tant qu’il est dépendant de la famille. Mais nous en sommes loin. Même sous le nom “ prestation d’accueil du jeune enfant ”, ce PAJE est uniquement une “ prime ” à la naissance. Quand on sait que l’âge moyen de la première naissance recule, c’est bien un encouragement à faire un enfant sans attendre. Ce “ cadeau ” ne fait en réalité qu’étendre aux classes moyennes l’allocation pour le jeune enfant (APJE) que seuls percevaient les ménages modestes, dont les revenus n’excédaient pas 1907 ¤ par mois. Le nouveau plafond de revenus serait de 4100 ¤ (27400F par mois !). Cette prime accordée à de larges classes moyennes constitue une fameuse addition … La politique nataliste revient cher, c’est connu.

* Le congé parental dès le premier enfant ? Voici une mesure encore plus claire. En période de croissance du chômage, les gouvernements sont tentés d’inciter les femmes à cesser de travailler. D’abord instituée à partir du 3ème enfant, l’Allocation parentale d’éducation (salaire maternel au rabais pour une durée de 3 ans) ne concernait alors pas grand monde, mais, étendue en 1994 au 2ème enfant, elle a provoqué un accroissement important du nombre de femmes se retirant du marché du travail : 540 000 femmes la prenaient fin 98. À part quelques fonctionnaires, assurées de retrouver un poste, l’APE a surtout tenté les femmes précarisées, aux franges du monde du travail, ayant des temps partiels mal rémunérés. Presque la moitié d’entre elles ne retrouvent pas de travail, ou n’en cherchent plus, après ces 3 ans d’interruption.

Étendre ce “ salaire maternel ” à la première naissance incitera encore moins l’employeur à embaucher une jeune femme. Et la précarité galopante laisse présager un recul de l’emploi des femmes, d’autant plus que l’idéologie de la femme au foyer s’est insidieusement développée ces dernières années. Espérons que les jeunes femmes ne se laisseront pas tenter, car majoritairement elles tiennent à leur travail et la présence d’un seul enfant leur pose moins de problèmes.

Plus généralement, nous pensons que les hommes sont aussi concernés que les femmes en ce qui concerne la prise en charge de leurs enfants, alors que ces mesures sont dirigées principalement vers les mères. La politique familiale doit mettre au rang de ses préoccupations l’égalité en ce qui concerne les responsabilités des deux parents dans la famille et leur place dans l’emploi. Cette mesure n’y contribue pas ! . Le terme de “ parental ” est une tromperie : même pas 1% d’hommes troquent leur salaire plus important que celui des femmes (idéologiquement et numériquement) contre cette maigre allocation.

* L’accueil de la petite enfance ? Simplifier le système des prestations en instituant une seule allocation, c’est de la poudre aux yeux : comme celle-ci sera modulable selon de nombreux critères, la simplification n’est pas évidente !

Par contre, nous approuvons une augmentation de cette prestation pour les assistantes maternelles agréées qui restent trop chères pour les revenus modestes. De même, on peut se féliciter de la promesse d’assurer un meilleur statut à ces travailleuses. Il leur faudrait aussi davantage de formation.

Cependant, alors que l’argent part de tous les côtés, nous pensons que la priorité des priorités demeure la crèche collective qui a été la parente pauvre depuis des décennies. Aujourd’hui la pénurie est grave (seuls 8 % des enfants de moins de 3 ans ont accès à une crèche collective). Le gouvernement promet la création de 20 000 nouvelles places… mais avec une préférence marquée pour les crèches privées ou les crèches d’entreprises, façon commode de se dédouaner. La promesse de 20 000 places est d’ailleurs largement insuffisante, et nous craignons fort qu’elle ne soit pas même honorée, vu les sommes affectées à la garde individuelle , en particulier par la mère, et vu la pénurie de personnel formé.

Le Collectif national pour les droits des femmes rappelle son exigence de création massive de crèches de qualité, de Maisons de la petite enfance réunissant les différents modes de garde, en vue d’instituer progressivement un véritable système d’accueil de la petite enfance, accessible à tous, gratuit comme la maternelle.

From : Collectif National pour les Droits des Femmes <colcadac@club-internet.fr>

* Internet et la pédo-pornographie

Le projet de loi présenté le 9 avril par le ministre de la Justice alourdit les peines concernant la pédo-pornographie et prévoit l'interception de correspondances par voie de télécommunications.

Il modifie l'article 227-23 du code pénal. Les peines prévues allaient de trois a cinq ans de prison selon les délits (création, enregistrement, diffusion d'images) et étaient fixées a cinq ans pour le cas précis de diffusion sur " un réseau de télécommunications " . Elles passent toutes a dix ans.
Le texte prévoit donc non seulement l'interception, mais aussi l'enregistrement et la retranscription de correspondances transitant par voie de télécommunications (il n'est jamais question explicitement de messages ou de communications électroniques, encore moins d'Internet). Ce pour un délai de quinze jours maximum, renouvelable une fois.
Le texte réprime, par ailleurs, plus sévèrement la propagation de propos racistes. L'article 16 du projet rallonge le délai de prescription prévu pour "la répression des messages racistes ou xénophobes". La loi du 29 juillet 1881 sur la liberté de la presse établissait ce délai a trois mois, il passe a pressent a un an pour les infractions de provocation a la haine, a la discrimination et a la violence raciale, de contestation de crime contre humanité, de diffamation ou d'injures de nature raciale.

From : http://www.murielle-cahen.com/p_news.asp

NDLR : Il n'y a que les insultes, injures, affiches ou vidéos SEXISTES qui ne sont pas réprimées par la loi en France...les hommes en sont bien trop friands !

* Pétition pour Olympe de Gouges

Vous pouvez écrire à bernard.lefort@kiron-espace.com, qui centralise les signatures :

« En 1791, Olympe de Gouges rédige une Déclaration des droits de la femme et de la citoyenne. Elle marque ainsi le changement d'époque, et donne l'exemple d'un engagement radical en faveur de la libération de la femme. Elle s'est battue également contre l'esclavage des noirs, pour le droit au divorce, pour l'éducation des filles, pour la création d'hôpitaux et d'ateliers d'Etat pour les travailleurs sans emploi. Plus de deux siècles après sa condamnation à mort et son exécution, les signataires de ce texte proposent son entrée aux Panthéon, parmi les " grands Hommes ", juste symbole réparateur d'un oubli de la nation envers son oeuvre pionnière."

Si vous soutenez cette demande de reconnaissance, veuillez envoyer vos noms-prénoms et éventuellement, votre fonction-profession. Merci de transmettre cette pétition à qui vous semble intéressé-e.

* Un guide pour les femmes étrangères

Connaissez-vous le guide "Madame, vous avez des droits" ? Réalisé par l'association Femmes contre les intégrismes (FCI) et Femmes Informations Juridiques internationales Rhône-Alpes (FIJIRA) ?

Ce guide est destiné aux femmes étrangères ou d'origine étrangère qui vivent en France. Il aborde les questions liées au mariage, au divorce, aux enfants (etc.).
Pour les contacter cif69@wanadoo.fr

From : marche-paris@ras.eu.org

***

2 - Nigeria : Amina Laval

Chers amis/es
Amnesty International aimerait clarifier les informations qui circulent au sujet d'Amina Lawal, et particulièrement une pétition que vous avez peut-être reçue de diverses sources.

Les mails qui circulent comportent en effet de fausses informations au sujet de la date où sa sentence - condamnation à mort par lapidation - devrait être exécutée. Le site web d'Amnesty International en Espagne est tout à fait injustement cité comme source de cette information. Le 3 juin est la date de l'audience en appel d'Amina devant la cour d'appel de la Sharia de l'état de Katsina, au Nigéria, et non la date de son exécution. Aucune date n'a été fixée pour son exécution et Amina attend la suite de sa procédure d'appel. Si celui ci est rejeté le 3 juin, elle devrait pouvoir faire ensuite appel à un niveau supérieur de la juridiction nigériane.
D'autre part Amina Lawal n'est pas actuellement en détention et bénéficie d'une excellente représentation juridique. Elle est également soutenue par une coalition de groupes féministes nigérians ainsi que par des groupes de défense des droits humains avec lesquels nous sommes en contact constants.
C'est pourquoi l'utilisation de fausses informations dans une campagne sur internet ne peut que causer des problèmes à ceux qui sur place soutiennent
la jeune femme, notamment l'association BAOBAB. Si vous avez déjà, en toute bonne foi, fait suivre un tel mail, merci de bien vouloir faire suivre cette information à vos contacts.

Très cordialement
Pour la commission Femmes d'Amnesty International, Moïra Sauvage

Hello again:

Here is a synopsis (a long one, I'm afraid) of the case of alleged FGM in Georgia. As mentioned, according to the reports we have received, an Ethiopian man, Khalid Adem, was arrested in early April for allegedly circumcising his toddler girl. The story was reported in a number of articles, including an AP piece dated April 4, 2003. I will fax you copies of these articles.

The mother's lawyer sent us copies of the child's pediatrician's dossier. It seems clear from these records that the baby's mother often went to the pediatrician, who kept diagnosing the child with severe diaper rash and dermatitis, starting in December 2000 (DOB 9/99) and prescribing various ointments. In June 2002, the doctor reported vaginal itching with complaints from the mother that the baby was "always scratching herself."
The doctor discussed hygiene with the mother, but then when the mother expressed fear that her Ethiopian in-laws may take the child to perform FGM, the pediatrician referred her to a specialist. Dr. Terese DeGrandi (Center for Advocacy and Protection, Children's Healthcare of Atlanta) confirmed that the child has been subjected to Type I Female Genital Mutilation (clitoridectomy) and alerted the authorities. Mr. Adem is being charged under state law for aggravated battery and cruelty to children, although he is now out on bail (allegedly courtesy of the Ethiopian community in DeKalb County). There is no state law in Georgia prohibiting FGM.

A number of people I have spoken with mentioned that the Adem case may not be the only FGM case in DeKalb County. The mother's lawyer, Zenobia Arnold, has spoken to a number of immigrant women whose young daughters either have been or are at risk of being circumcised in the Atlanta/Decatur area. I had an independent conversation with Anna Blau, the director of the International Women's House in Decatur who confirmed that 3 Somali women have run away from their homes and sought refuge at this shelter, fleeing domestic abuse and/or imminent circumcision of their daughters. One of these women's daughters had already been cut in DeKalb county. As in the Adem case, it is unclear who would be performing these circumcisions, but according to the accounts of these Somali and Ethiopian immigrants, circumcisers can be easily found in the state within the practicing immigrant communities. A certain Somali doctor in Decatur by the name of Dr. "Omar" may be prescribing painkillers or other medication to families in the Atlanta community to relieve the little girls after the cutting.

The mother and her lawyer have asked Equality Now to assist them in raising awareness about the occurrence of FGM in Georgia, and in mobilizing efforts to stop the practice, including working with grassroots organizations wit

Forwarded by Amina Adam

Please send this to all who might be able to help. Thanks

From : Leslie Wright

"The international community has allowed warlords and local military commanders to take control of much of the country," its representative Loubna Freih told the U.N. Human Rights Commission, now ending its annual six-week session in Geneva. She said that instead of providing security, the warlords were terrorising the local population in many parts of the country, with kidnappings, arbitrary arrests, armed robbery, extortion and beatings widespread. Freih said the warlords had in some places maintained law and order "by creating a climate of fear, not unlike under the Taliban..." Political opponents, journalists and ordinary Afghans "are attacked and intimidated into silence," she added.

The United Nations Assistance Mission for Afghanistan (UNAMA) and the Afghan Independent Human Rights Commission (AIHRC) has announced that serious human rights violations had taken place in Bala Morghab District in the northwestern province of Badghis.

"According to reports, during the recent conflict in Akazayi village, 38 civilians died, while 761 homes and 21 shops were looted," David Singh, a media relations officer for UNAMA, told Integrated Regional Information Network in the Afghan capital, Kabul.

NNI, April 22, 2003

An Afghan regional commander said on Tuesday the Afghan government needed to take courageous action against unruly warlords if it was to extend its rule around the country. He said the government's authority did not extend much beyond the capital, Kabul. Soldiers and police -- who were to have been retrained by U.S. and other troops involved in an international security force also largely limited to the capital -- "regularly abduct and rape women, girls and boys," Freih said.

"Religious fundamentalism is on the rise, with new restrictions on freedom of expression and movement of women and girls. Gains in education are now at risk as many parents, afraid of attacks by troops and other gunmen, keep their daughters out of school," she said.

Under the hardline Islamic Taliban, women and girls were largely restricted to their homes and were only allowed out if fully veiled and in the company of a male relative. Washington sent troops into Afghanistan to try to destroy the Taliban which was accused of harbouring Osama bin Laden's al Qaeda network. The United States blames bin Laden and al Qaeda for the September 11 attacks. The Bush administration hailed education for women as one of the successes of the operation. There are some 11,000 U.S. and allied troops still in Afghanistan, many hunting Taliban leaders and members of al Qaeda. Bin Laden and Taliban chief Mullah Omar are still at large.

The U.N. Human Rights Commission is considering proposals to replace its current investigator who has a special mandate to look into the rights situation in Afghanistan with a "special expert" whose mandate would be much less clearly defined. Sources close to the commission say the United States has been opposed to any resolution at all on Afghanistan this year as well as to creation by the U.N. body of an international commission of inquiry into past rights abuses in the country. In her speech, Freih said creation of such a commission was "crucial in establishing the rule of law". Without it, efforts to break a "cycle of impunity and the stranglehold of gunmen are unlikely to succeed," she added.

By Robert Evans, Reuters, April 22, 2003

From : rawa2@rawa.org

5 - India : Urgent Appeal Women's reservation bill !

You all know that the Women's reservation bill is listed for the discussion in the current session of the Parliament. You may also be aware of the various points of view expressed in the media regarding this Bill .Now when our dream is going to be realized I appeal to you to send millions of letters to the Prime Minister of India Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayi requesting him not to give in to the pressure of hand full of MP's who will be forgotten in History who are opposing this bill. Also let me make it clear that we are not going to agree to any change in the 33% reservation of seat. We will not accept anything less than 33%.

I on behalf of Joint action front for Women want to emphasize that, Gender balance in politics is about women's full, equal and active participation in politics. It is about getting a critical mass or at least 33% of women in positions of power and decision-making so they can change the nature and practice of politics to genuinely respond to society's problems. Gender balance-in politics is an agenda for change; it seeks to transform power relations in society so women can fully exercise their rights as citizens. As citizens, political candidates, and elected officials, women must be able to exercise their right to political participation to transform politics and make a difference in their homes, in their communities and in society. By engaging in transformational politics, they not only increase women's numbers in decision-making but also change dominant political values, processes and institutions to effectively address women's needs and concerns.

Needless to emphasize that, the right to political participation is a human right - inherent, inalienable and indivisible. As a right, states have the duty and obligation to fulfill and implement the right of women to participate in politics equally with men. This and other human rights of women are guaranteed in Articles 4, 7 and 8 of the Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW).
There is sufficiant evidence that only when there is a critical mass (at least 33%) of women in all their diversity in decision-making that the "politics of care" is practiced through policies on childcare, caring for women victims of violence, unpaid labor among others.

The United Nations Five-Year Review and Appraisal of the Platform for Action shows that countries that have applied quota systems in decision-making including governmental bodies, national parliaments and political parties experienced a significant increase in women's representation. These include less developed countries like Bangladesh, Tanzania, Uganda, South Africa, and Argentina; and developed countries like Sweden, Denmark, Norway and France.

So Friends act NOW!!!!!!! Send your letter right away!!!!! I know we have only two more days to act so do it. Send this e-mail appeal to all persons you know .

(Prime Minister of India's Contact Information:
Permanent Address: A-302, Laplaz, Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh)
                                Tel. (0522) 220909
Present Address:    7, Race Course Road, New Delhi-110011
                            Tel. (011) 3018939, 3011156
                            Fax. (011) 3019545 / http://pmindia.nic.in/ )

Ranjana Kumari
Coordinator - Joint Action Front For Women : csr@vsnl.com

From : "J.M. Dimaandal" onlinewomen@mydestiny.net

A new report by the United Nations Development Fund for Women (Unifem) shows Europe led the way in promoting political gender equality in 2002.

Seven Western European states were among 11 nations to reach a 1995 goal of having at least 30% of parliamentary seats taken by women.

But Sub-Saharan Africa had greater female representation in parliament than some of the world's leading economic powers, Unifem's latest two-year survey of global women's rights revealed.

Despite these gains, however, women still accounted for only about 14% of members of parliament worldwide in 2002.

Increasing women's share of seats in parliament is not a panacea - it can only level the playing-field

Unifem

"There is much more to be done to ensure that women are accepted as equal partners in key decision-making processes," said Noeleen Heyzer, Unifem's executive director, at the launch of the report in New York.

"Real progress towards gender equality will be seen when women have more say in the decisions that affect their lives."

Parliamentary representation, Unifem said, was still the only indicator of advancement not tied to national wealth.

It noted that in a number of Gulf Arab states women had neither the right to sit in parliament nor even to cast a vote.

Quotas

Unifem's report - Progress of the World's Women 2002 - measured countries against the target set by the 1995 Beijing World Conference on Women for parliamentary representation.

SHARE OF THE SEATS

Emily Pankhurst (1858-1928), British campaigner for women's political rights

Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Norway, Iceland, Netherlands, Germany, Argentina, Costa Rica, South Africa, Mozambique - 30%

Rwanda - 25.7%, Uganda - 24.7%

US - 12%, France - 11.8%, Japan - 10%

Britain - 17.9%

Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Norway, Iceland, Netherlands and Germany had all reached the 30% goal by the end of 2002 along with Argentina, Costa Rica, South Africa and Mozambique.

The organisation noted that states had met the target through quota systems.

It also pointed out that 13 developing countries in the sub-Saharan region - the poorest area on Earth - had higher proportions of women MPs than the US (12%), France (11.8%) and Japan (10%).

Of those Gulf states which have parliaments, neither Kuwait nor the United Arab Emirates give women the right to vote or stand for election.

Poverty trap

"Increasing women's share of seats in parliament is not a panacea," Unifem warns in its report.

"It can only level the playing-field on which women battle for equality."

On non-political indicators of gender equality, the old rule that the richer a country is, the better conditions for women still largely held in 2002, Unifem found after surveying education for girls, women's literacy and non-farm employment worldwide.

The UN organisation cited as a success its role in helping promote women's issues at the 2002 parliamentary election in Kenya.

Not only was the number of women MPs increased, but six women cabinet ministers were appointed - the first ever to take office - and a ministry for gender, sport and culture was established, Unifem said.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/2995687.stm

*** OMCT Expresses Concern at Violence Against Women in Turkey at 30th Session of the Committee Against Torture

May 1, 2003 (OMCT Press Release) The World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT) expresses its concern regarding violence against women in Turkey at the 30th Session of the UN Committee against Torture.. For the full story, visit: http://www.peacewomen.org/news/May2003/OMCTTurkey.html

*** Focus on Iraqi Women's Needs

April 30, 2003 (Refugees International) Women in post-war Iraq will require assistance in three critical areas: reproductive health services, education, and political participationŠRefugees International is concerned that the U.S. government and the Office of Reconstruction and Humanitarian Assistance (ORHA) are not making women's issues a top priority. For the full story, visit:
http://www.reliefweb.int/w/rwb.nsf/480fa8736b88bbc3c12564f6004c8ad5/65094f84c3f3acde49256d1800009cea?OpenDocument

*** Indonesia Military Accused of Sex Slavery

April 29, 2003 (AP) The Indonesian military systematically forced dozens of East Timorese women to become sex slaves for officers during its 24-year occupation of the half-island, a former governor said Tuesday. For the full story, visit: http://www.peacewomen.org/news/April2003/sexslaves.html

*** What Liberation? Iraqi Women Pay the Price of War

April 29, 2003- (Reuters) The U.S.-led war in Afghanistan was hailed as a triumph for the rights of women, but in Iraq women say liberation American-style has brought them little but hardship. For the full story, visit: http://www.reliefweb.int/w/rwb.nsf/480fa8736b88bbc3c12564f6004c8ad5/e3722cb5c01ffa4749256d180006988d?OpenDocument

*** Women Call Afghan Warlords As "Criminal" As Taliban

April 29, 2003 (UN Wire) More than 100 Afghan women gathered in Islamabad yesterday to protest the Afghan central government's continued support of warlords with histories of abusing women's rights. For the full story, visit: http://www.unfoundation.org/unwire/util/display_stories.asp?objid=33430

*** East Timor Public Hearing on Women and Conflict

April 22, 2003 (East Timor Truth Commission Press Release) ³Over and over again I had to lower myself in front of the Indonesian military. But I am not able to do anything. I am in their power. My body doesn¹t belong to myself any longer. But my soul will always remain mine.² For the full press release, visit: http://www.peacewomen.org/news/April2003/CAVR.html

*** UNIFEM Researching Gender Gaps and Division of Labor in Afghanistan

April 22, 2003 - (IRIN) The United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM) has launched a research project to establish how vulnerable and disadvantaged women are in Afghanistan. The study is focusing on sexual division of labour to explore the dynamics of the country's diverse livelihood patterns and how they fit into the larger picture of reconstruction. For the full story, visit:
http://wwww.reliefweb.int/w/rwb.nsf/480fa8736b88bbc3c12564f6004c8ad5/7e25ed5def92510185256d10005468be?OpenDocument

*** African Women to Talk Peace in Kampala

April 21, 2003 (The Monitor -Kampala) Women delegates from 10 African countries meet in Kampala this week to prepare a documentary on women's peace initiatives on the continent. For the full story, visit: http://allafrica.com/stories/200304210147.html

*** What If Women Ran the World? An Interview with Swanee Hunt

April 15, 2003 (Business Week.com) When I look at the news these days, I can't help but wonder: Wouldn't we be a lot better off if women were in charge, given all the violence and atrocities perpetrated by men and male-run governments in places like Bosnia, Rwanda, and Iraq? Would U.S. troops be in Iraq today if, say, Hillary Clinton were President, and not George W. Bush? For the full story, visit:
http://www.peacewomen.org/news/April2003/Womenrunworld.html

*** Ugandan Women's Workshop Resolves "War-Monger" Husbands Should be Denied Sex

April 10, 2003 (New Vision-Kampala) If your husband is a war monger deny him sex, women attending a one-day public dialogue in Kampala have resolved. "Women should use all their means to dissuade their husbands from engaging in war. If they still insist then it should be a yes-to-war, no-to-sex situation," Jackie Asiimwe, the coordinator of the Uganda Women Network, read the resolution on Tuesday [8 April] at the International Conference Centre. For the full story, visit: http://www.peacewomen.org/news/April2003/Ugandasex.html

From: http://www.peacewomen.org