Gender equity and women’s rights at the World Social Forum

Invitation

Online discussion on

Gender equity and women’s rights at the World Social Forum

Monday 21, January through Saturday, 26 January 2008

Join ICCO and equalinrights for an online discussion on gender equity and women’s rights at the World Social Forum (WSF), Monday, 21 January through Saturday, 26 January 2008.

At the WSF 2007 in Nairobi, Kenya, gender equity and women’s rights received increased attention. The Human Dignity and Human Rights Caucus included gender equity as a key theme of its program, and more than 15 participating organisations held gender-focused events. The Feminist Dialogues held a pre-WSF meeting followed by a number of events on women’s issues. The Peace Women Across the Global movement staged workshops, an exhibition and a rally. A variety of grassroots organizations and networks also hosted events on women’s rights and gender issues in Nairobi.

Key issues and challenges raised in Nairobi included widespread impunity for violent crimes against women, lack of government accountability to citizens, failure to apply international law at the domestic level, women and girls’ lack of access to resources, and the need for greater and continued education, awareness raising and capacity building. Participants shared strategies for achieving gender equity ranging from capacity building and education to advocacy and political participation. Networking, solidarity and information sharing were also highlighted. At the end of the Nairobi forum, a number of participants called on the WSF to promote greater representation of women on WSF organising committees and at regional and local social forums that operate under the WSF Charter of Principles, was well as to incorporate gender equity and gender issues more fully into WSF events.

With this challenge in mind, ICCO and equalinrights invite organisations working for gender equity/women’s rights, which have participated in past WSFs and/or plan to attend WSF 2009 in Brazil, to join together for an online discussion during the week leading up to Saturday, 26 January – the WSF 2008 Global Day of Action. The objectives of the discussion are:

• Sharing information about local plans for 26 January.

• Identifying opportunities for continued sharing and networking.

• Collective brainstorming about how to bring gender and women’s issues more to the forefront at the next centralized WSF, to take place January 2009 in Brazil.

• Concrete action planning for shared initiatives to take place at the WSF 2009. A possible example is to establish a platform or coalition on gender equity.

What: Online discussion on gender equity and women’s rights at the World Social Forum

When: Monday, 21 January – Saturday, 26 January 2008

Who: Organisations working for gender equity/women’s rights, which have participated in past WSFs and/or plan to attend WSF 2009 in Brazil

How: Contact Janet Rodenburg, ICCO Advisor Gender & Partner Policy: Janet.Rodenburg@icco.nl or +31 30 8801596

PLEASE JOIN US!