Celebration of International Women’s Day and
5^th Anniversary of the IFWF  

By the occasion of the International Women’s Day on 8th March as well as the 5^th anniversary of the International Free Women’s Foundation (IFWF) we would like to invite you to our celebration on 12th March 2006 in Den Haag.

March, 8^th calls us to reflect on the recent tasks and challenges of women’s organisations: The continuing wars that many peoples in the Middle East, Africa, Asia and Latin-America suffer from are calling for immediate peaceful solutions. Militarism as well as domestic violence, so-called “honour killings”, social, legal and economic injustice are threatening worldwide women’s and children’s lives.

But March, 8^th means also an opportunity for women from all over the world to celebrate the gains of women’s rights struggles. Organising women have shown, that they are able to make a difference: From striking women workers in Chicago and the suffragette movement to campaigns for women’s sexual and reproductive rights; from struggles against racism, colonialism and war to rally’s for peace and justice...

By recognising the diversity of women’s rights struggles we also gain a better understanding each others cultures and lives.

In this framework the IFWF and Foundation HELIN will introduce their approaches and activities by an informative, cultural event that gives women from different cultural backgrounds the opportunity to share their experiences. Together we want to take the chance to create inspiring outlooks and new networks of solidarity.

By saying: NO! to any form of violence against women and children – Women’s solidarity for a peaceful world!” we invite women from the Kurdish community as well as women from other communities, public institutions and NGOs in the Netherlands to join our programme on 11 March 2006 in Den Haag.

Yours Sincerely,

International Free Women’s Foundation IFWF

Programme

Date:      12 March 2006, 13.00 to 20.00 hours

Venue:   “Ons Huis”;  Beatrijsstraat 120, Den Haag
             (can be reached by tram no. 8 and 9; side street of Melis Stokelaan)

Presentations over activities for women’s rights and peace:

• Ann-Kristin Kowarsch, International Free Women’s Foundation – review on 5 years of IFWF activities and an outlook to projects and challenges in the future
  

• Tamara Idrobo, WGNNR – international campaigns for women’s reproductive and sexual rights
  

• Mariana Cense, Trans Act – projects against domestic violence
  

• Anja Meulenbelt, member of Dutch Parliament for the Socialist Party – women’s movement in the Netherlands and international solidarity
  

• Shelley Anderson, Women Peacemakers Program WPP – Women’s initiatives on peace building
  

• Günes Gündemir, Stichting Helin – Kurdish women’s struggle for emancipation in Den Hague

Cultural programme:

• Kurdish Singer Gulê
  

• Comedian Zînê
  

• Hip Hop Group Too Many MC
  

• Indian dance group
  

• Kurdish and Armenian music
   

• Theatre and dance
  

• Photo exhibition and short film presentations