Saturday, November 15, 2008

SOLIDARITY WTH WOMEN WHO SPEAK OUT!

Today is the best of all in AWID International Forum Cape Town where more than 2,000 women from all over the world converge for POWER OF MOVEMENT CONFERENCE. I witnessed the most powerful protest in history today. The most important part of this protest ( 1 in nine campaign) was the fact that I was there. I was there to join women from all across the oceans, from all around the world to say NO TO VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN, to support our brother and sisters in SOUTH AFRICA to advocate for justice in different pending women's human rights issues, to remind the world TO STOP WAR ON OUR BODIES. We marched from CITCC were AWID Forum that brought together over 2,000 women from across the continents were having thier programs to deliver a memorandum to the premier of the Western Cape, Lynn Brown.
The protest is in solidarity with women who speak out against gender based violence, it was born in 2006 during the Jacob Zuma trial. The protest was a powerful one and it made me believe more in the power of Movement. As women, we need to know that one woman problem some place is a collective problem of women everywhere.
There was a banner carried by men with an overwhelming message that goes thus " ONE MAN CAN: stop rape, violence against women..." and another banner says"DEFY PARTRIACHY"! ( I will try and upload the pictures later, when I lay my hands on the pictures) Together we will change the world, together we will achieve gender equality! THE MOST POWERFUL MARCH IN THE HISTORY OF WOMEN STRUGGLE
Thanks Rucha Tadwalkar and Rosly for sharing the pictures and videos with me.

The detail of the cuase as it is, is added below:
The One in Nine Campaign invites you to join feminists and women's rights
activists attending the AWID forum and those based in Cape Town in a march
to protest violence against women and women human rights defenders. The
march is non-partisan, issue specific and premised on feminist principles,
particularly women's leadership.

PURPOSE OF THE MARCH: Worldwide, women human rights defenders are targeted
and silenced while criminal (in)justice systems and governments globally
fail to provide redress and justice.

We will march in memory of raped and murdered women in South Africa,
highlighting specifically the cases of Khwezi, Buyisiwe, Thandeka, Eudy,
Zoliswa, Gugu Dlamini, Nandipha Makeke, Lorna Mlofana, Sizakele & Salome,
Christina & Hola, and we will march to demand justice.

We will march in solidarity with women human rights defenders who are
harassed, beaten, detained, murdered, highlighting the ongoing abuse of
women leaders of civil society in Zimbabwe, including Jenni and MaG, two
detained WOZA women leaders in Zimbabwe. We demand an end to state sponsored
violence aimed at silencing women human rights defenders.

WE DEMAND:
. An end to impunity for perpetrators of violence against women
. Greater legal protection for women's rights through the enactment of
appropriate laws and policies, including the ratification and domestication
of all relevant international and regional human rights instruments
. A more responsive and survivor centred criminal justice system
. An end to state sponsored violence against women (in Zimbabwe, but also
globally)

Protesters will gather at the CTICC (Cape Town Convention Centre) at 12h30
on Saturday 15 November 2008.

ROUTE: The march will proceed from CTICC to Speakers Corner on Heerengracht
where formal assembling will take place. We will then proceed down
Heerengracht and Adderley Street (Heerengracht becomes Adderley Street)
proceeding past the Strand Street Crossing and the Golden Acre; we will then
turn right into Wale Street from Adderley Street to the Provincial
Legislature (situated in Wale Street). After handing over the memorandum to
the Provincial Legislature, the participants will march back to the
Convention Centre by proceeding up Wale Street and crossing Long Street.
Finally we will turn right into Loop Street and then proceed down lower Long
Street which will lead the march back to the Convention Centre.

ORGANISATIONS AND INDIVIDUALS ARE ENCOURAGED TO:
. send a message of solidarity to 1in9@powa.co.za or via fax to +27 11
4843195
. march with us
. submit the names & pictures of women silenced by sexual violence (only
with relevant permission from survivors or family)
. bring your organisations' banner to the march
. make placards with the pictures and names of women human rights defenders
and survivors of violence you wish to remember
. volunteer to be marshals (you will be provided with a marshal t-shirt on
the day)

THE ONE IN NINE CAMPAIGN WILL:
. ensure the necessary permissions are secured and services are on site
. supply 1000 One in Nine t- shirts for marchers
. supply 1000 placards
. ensure water is available along the route

17 comments:

Vera Ezimora said...

FIRST!!

Vera Ezimora said...

Standtall, this is sooo cool that you ladies did this, and you were even part of it. WOW. Way to be part of history!!

deola said...

stantall, I wish i could join in the march. I love your space here.

James Tubman said...

its a big problem all over the world and quite often the women suffer in silence

not only is it dehumanizing for the women but also for the men because when they are hurting these women they are becoming a monster

they no longer have any humanity

its not a hip thing to its terrible

and im glad you all are letting your voices be heard on this issue because its not going to go away as long as people remain silent

i loved loved loved the video too

beautiful women singing a beautiful melondy

what were you all singing

Jennifer A. said...

I'm glad to see that you were a part of something as big as this. Thanks for being a world changer...

Nigerian Drama Queen said...

Wow I'm so happy that you got to be a part of this...I really admire your stand for women's rights and gender-based violence. It makes my heart happy to see African women advocating for themselves. The pictures were gorgeous to. You are going places...I can tell...

Black Cat said...

Oh wow, I'm so glad to see this and that you, and a few white women too, were able to take part. It's so important for women to make their voices heard and STAND TALL!!! Go girl! :) xxx

P.S. Sorry I haven't been by lately - computer problems:-(

Kafo said...

Standtall,
thank you for standing tall,
thank you for representing and speaking out
thank you for the reminder

ShonaVixen said...

WELL DONE TO YOU!!!!

Sherri said...

Thanks for sharing this!
tis awesome u were a part of such an event!

this made me very proud!

Grahamn Kracker said...

It looks so sunny and warm down there - and there you are, in the midst, expressing yourself and standing up even for my daughters, way up here in ice cold Alaska.

Yewande Atanda said...

Let's rise up and fight against discrimination, harassment and victimisation of women. thanks God u're in alignment with the movement.
thumb up THE ACTIVIST

doug said...

Great stuff indeed. Africa is getting there gradually. Of course there's still a long road ahead, but it helps that people are speaking up more loudly than ever.

One thing I'm not sure about though is the meeting point between women's rights and christianity as concerning patriarchy. I don't want to start a flame war though.

How're you doing now? You just bone your guy like that...na wa o

bumight said...

wow, you're really taking this feminism thing to another level, i'm proud of you!

tommeh said...

Bein' a part of a struggle like this accounts for history itself. I hope they resolve the problem(s).

The Activist said...

Thank you all for your nice comments. Let's all of us continue to stand up for what we believe in.

Join women all over the world for 16 days of activism to end gender violence starting from tomorrow and ending on 10th of Dec.

Doug: what is your stand on Patriachy?

LISA VAZQUEZ said...

Hey there!

That is just sooo incredible!

Thank you for inspiring us all!

Peace, blessings and DUNAMIS!
Lisa

My Passion, my focus, the change that I want to see in the world - is my propellent factor.

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