CALL TO THE THIRD INTERNATIONAL ACTIONIn 2010, we – activists of the World March of Women from all five continents – will be on the march once more. We will march to demonstrate our perseverance and our strength as collectively organised women with diverse experiences, political cultures and ethnic backgrounds, but with a common identity and goal: the desire to overthrow the current, unjust world order that provokes violence and poverty, and to construct the world we want based on peace, justice, equality, freedom and solidarity.We will march in solidarity with those women who do not have the freedom to do so as a result of war and conflict; the sexual division of work that maintains women prisoners in their own homes; the capitalist and patriarchal systems that determine that the public sphere – the streets, the workplace, spaces of learning, spaces of leisure activity – is the reserve of men; and the lack of time women have, as they juggle their responsibilities as primary care-givers.We will march to demand our rights. We will march to resist those who would seek to take away the rights we have already gained in our struggle against the offensive of religious fundamentalisms and conservative sectors of society and the State. We will be on the march for the world we want, in which autonomy, self-determination and solidarity are the pillars of the organisation of our societies. We will march in the struggle against the commodification of our lives, sexuality and bodies. We are not objects to be bought and sold! We refuse to be treated as pieces of meat for the pornography, trafficking and advertising industries! We will not accept violence in our homes and workplaces. We will be on the march until all women lead lives free of violence and threat of violence. We will march to denounce the sexist, racist, homophobic capitalist system that exploits the daily reproductive and productive work of women while concentrating riches in the hands of the few. We demand equal pay for equal work, a fair minimum wage, the reorganisation and sharing of care-work and social security, all without discrimination of any kind. We will be on the march until all women achieve economic autonomy. We will march for the immediate end to conflict and to the use of women’s bodies as spoils of war. We will march to demonstrate the economic interests behind conflict – the control of natural resources, the control of peoples, the profit of the arms industry. We will be on the march until women are recognised and valorised as protagonists of peace and reconstruction processes, and in the maintenance of active peace in their countries. We will march in our fight against the privatization of natural resources and public services. We will march for food and energy sovereignty, and against the destruction and control of our territories and false solutions to climate change. We will be on the march until our rights to health care, education, drinkable water, sanitation, land, housing, and autonomy over our traditional seeds have been fulfilled.
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One woman can do change somethng, many women can change the world
One woman can change something, many women can change the world
Timeline and Tentative Program for 2010 Global Action
The International actions of the WMW are moments for strengthening our identity as a movement. Being “on the March” expresses the idea of moving ahead freely, without constraints and impediments, to express the strength of women organized collectively in associations, groups, and movements. It also expresses the strength derived from the fact that we are women with different experiences, political cultures and diverse ethnicities but who have a common identity, which is to overcome the current unjust order that provokes violence and poverty. Part of our identity is also international solidarity and the fact that we are attentive to what happens to our sisters in other parts of the world.
• Constituency planning meetings towards 2010 actions.
WMW –Kenya has been preparing for 2010 global actions by mobilizing the communities through monthly community meetings with the aim of building a strong and sustainable women’s movement. By organizing masses of women to challenge, resist and transform the socio-cultural, economic and political processes that have exploited, marginalized or violated the rights of women in different ways, We are planning to hold the 1st WMW congress in Kenya in October 2009, in one of the communities in Nairobi, where we will bring members from different constituencies and provinces where WMW already draws its members from, and areas we are seeking to mobilize for new membership. This will enhance free participation and interaction that will allow an open, women driven process. The earlier we involve them, the more they feel part of the wider movement.
• Sub –Regional Activities towards 2010
, Since WMW –Kenya was mandated to coordinate the East Africa sub – region in the 1st African regional meeting which was held in Bamako – Mali in 2009, we are planning to invite representatives from Uganda, TanzaniaSudan and Madagascar in March 2010, with the aim of mobilizing for greater sub regional presence at the 3rd International action of the WMW in Sud Kivu, Congo. This is also a way of strengthening women’s protagonism in the resolution of conflict while strengthening and deepening international alliances of the WMW with other social movements in the African continent.
The period from March 8th – 18th, the Kenyan NCB is planning actions around these days. Our schedule of planned activities includes:
• 8th – Launch of the 10 days activities while marking 100 years anniversary of the declaration of International Women’s day in a road show around Nairobi and its environs, to create more awareness and popularize the March
• 9th – cultural event in the community which will encompass theatrical performances, film exhibitions, traditional presentations / performances
• 10th – 13th – a sub regional conference in Nairobi to encourage debate on the action areas of the March and our entry point as a sub –region in the 3rd International Action of the WMW
• 13th – Women’s March ( from community A to Community B with strategic routes where we will make the masses aware of the actions happening world wide)
• 14th – Vigil (a Solidarity night) with songs, dances, drama and theatre, poetry and spoken word marking the night. We will light candles to celebrate our past and present fallen heroines, while denouncing the continued oppression of all the women of the world.
• 15th – 17th Community visits and mobilisation (for collective actions in October) with the aim of introducing our sisters from the sub region to the communities where WMW is strong and where WMW needs to build its strength
• 18th – Free day for our sisters from the neighbouring countries to reflect with members of the Kenyan NCB
Trip to Sud Kivu –Congo
October 2010 simultaneous actions and marches will be happening around the world. On October 17th 2010, the international meeting point of the WMW will be in Sud Kivu,Congo and Kenya will be represented too by grassroots women to this 3rd International action of the WMW. As the meeting will be going on in Congo, there will be actions in Kenya. Plans for these actions are underway.