International Women’s Conference in Montreal, Canada, August 13-16, 2010
Cynthia Palmaria – BASICS Issue #19 – May/June 2010
This year marks the celebration of the centennial of International Toiling Women’s Day, which will be commemorated by a historic conference initiated by ILPS (International League of People’s Struggle) to strengthen the international global women’s movement. The conference, entitled “For a Militant Global Women’s Movement in the 21st Century,” was conceptualized with the objective of assessing the achievements of the global women’s rights movement during the last 100 years. We will be honouring the pioneers, celebrating the centennial and drawing up an action plan for advancing the women’s rights movement, starting with the formation of an anti-imperialist women’s alliance. The international initiative committee is composed of Gabriela Philippines, the convener of the Women’s Commission of ILPS and Women of Diverse Origins in Montreal, Canada.
The workshops will address a vast array of topics that fundamentally impact women’s lives here and abroad. These include women workers fighting exploitation, migration, the struggles of indigenous women, women resisting wars of imperialist aggression, religion, health, women’s sexual orientations and identities, violence against women, socialism and national liberation movements, and women from the peasantry and rural lands. Speakers and participants will come from different parts of the world including Canada, USA, Mexico, Africa, Guatemala, Indonesia, Pakistan, Palestine, Philippines, India, Belgium and Nepal.
The Toronto organizing committee for the conference is being led by the Migrant Women’s Coordinating body, an anti-imperialist alliance of groups such as GABRIELA Ontario, Migrante-Ontario, BASICS Free Community Newsletter, Justicia for Migrant Workers, CUPE 4308,Thorncliffe Neighborhood Office, Canadian HART and many individuals. Their preparations began around International Women’s Day, with educational workshops, cultural events and the march. Planning efforts are encouraging broad participation of women from different progressive communities, organizations, institutions. So far, the Toronto delegation will be comprised of women workers, migrants, solidarity groups, community organizations and union representatives.
For more information you can check the conference website at http://wdofdo.wordpress.com or get in touch with the Toronto organizing committee by emailing [email protected].
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