BY MARGARITA WINDISCH
SYDNEY — On November 6, the International Women's Day (IWD) Collective commenced meetings here to organise the annual IWD march scheduled for March 10. IWD is recognised as a day of unity, solidarity and action for women's rights throughout the world.
The IWD collective meeting agreed to call an action, in conjunction with the Committee in Defence of Iraq Women, to voice outrage at recent "honour killings" of women in Iraq. It will take place on November 18, 12.30pm, in Pitt Street Mall.
The next IWD Collective meeting is November 20, 6pm, at the Newtown Neighbourhood Centre. Contact Kim on 0401 082527 for more information.
On November 9 in Melbourne, the 2001 International Women's Day Collective held its first meeting. Twenty-five women — campus feminists, trade unionists, women from migrant communities and socialist activists — attended the meeting.
The need for an inclusive collective that reflects a range of women's experiences was an important theme of the discussion. There was a strong desire for lots of feminist actions leading up to the IWD march and rally.
Surma Hamid, a member of the Committee in Defence of Iraqi Women, made a passionate plea to the IWD collective to endorse the action to end the killing of her sisters. The sexist and reactionary Iraqi family law allows the killing of a woman if her behaviour affects the "honour" of the family or country.
As a result of US-backed sanctions, many women are forced into prostitution and are being punished for their abject poverty having their heads chopped off and hung on the front doors of their houses, said Hamid. Saddam Hussein's son has been leading groups of men armed with knifes.
The protest action will demand an immediate stop to the honour killings of women and the end of the economic blockade of Iraq. The protest will also call on the Australian government to open the borders to the refugees. The protest will take place on November 25 at noon, outside the United Nations Association, 179 St Georges Rd, North Fitzroy. For further information call Surma on 9813 3606 or Margarita on 9639 8622. If you want to get involved in the IWD Collective, contact Justine on 9639 8622.
Feminist activists in Hobart are to launch the International Women's Day collective for 2001. Anthea Stutter, an activist from the Hobart World March of Women Collective and a Resistance member, told Green Left Weekly: "The feminist movement should build on the successes of S11 and the world march of women to put the spotlight on government and big business policies that undermine women's rights here and around the world. Around the world, women make up 70% of the poorest of the poor.
"It's not just something that happens overseas. Women in Australia are still largely ghettoised in low-paid, insecure work, or unpaid work in the family. And all women suffer the consequences of sexist media images and harassment or the threat of it. We can use International Women's Day next year to mobilise grass-roots political support for demands that will improve the lives of women, by eliminating poverty and violence against women, strengthening reproductive rights, and supporting the rights of refugees and Aboriginal women."
The Hobart collective's first meeting will be on November 15, 6.30pm, at the Hobart Women's Health Centre, 326 Elizabeth St, North Hobart, 6.30pm. Phone Kamala Emanuel on 6234 6397.