International Women's Week 2007
 

Once again, Hyndburn Women’s Forum have a busy week planned to celebrate and recognise International Women’s Week, next week. Trying to include something for everyone.

We launch the week on Sunday 4th March with a cheerleading spectacular at New Era. The Mayor and Mayoress will be in attendance as teams from throughout the Hyndburn area (primary and secondary) schools compete for the cheerleading crown.

On Monday 5th the activities move to the Women’s Centre 110 Abbey St, Accrington where there will be an open day. There will be free food ( Halal, Polish and Greek) and drinks and tutors on hand to talk about our courses and offer free demonstrations and pamper sessions. Translators for Urdu, Greek and hopefully Polish will be available. For information about this open day contact the Women’s Centre direct 01254 871771

On Tuesday 6th things move on to Haworth Art Gallery for workshops in conjunction with the exhibition ‘Handasah’ which means geometry in Arabic and describes the foundation and inspiration in Zarah Hussain’s work shown in this exhibition. Join Zarah’s sister, Sarah, in a painting workshop to re-create these beautiful images for yourself. 10.30am to 3pm, includes lunch. Limited places so please telephone and book your place by contacting Yvonne Robins, Haworth Art Gallery, 01254 233782.:

Then on Wednesday 7th it’s the main event. A conference is being held at The Hope Centre in Oswaldtwistle. Five speakers will be speaking on different subject from issues surrounding forced marriages to safety for women to confidence and motivation. This event is completely free, lunch is provided and is open to anyone and everyone. There are still some places so if anyone wants to attend please contact Gayle Knight on 01254 387851 to book a place.

Friday 9th sees an event at Accrington Town Hall n association with AAWAZ Celebrating Womens achievements. From 5.30 - 8pm, the event is open to anyone but we do need to know the numbers as there will be light refreshments

And the week finishes on Saturday 10th with a second workshop at Haworth Art Gallery, details as before except you will need to bring a packed lunch as it is not provided for this event.

All of these events are free and are open to anyone – for details about the events contact the organising venue or Gayle Knight on 01254 387851. They are funded by The Big Lottery and Awards For All.


It’s a rather packed programme!

Re: International Women's Week 2007
 

Anyone got the dates for International Mens Week ? :rolleyes:

Re: International Women's Week 2007
 

Week?

Men apparently get a whole month!:D


http://www.menstuff.org/calendar/intmensmonth.html

Re: International Women's Week 2007
 

uncle rindy will you be attending the womens centre? ;)

Re: International Women's Week 2007
 

I hope we get some dolly birds coming to ours.......:D

Re: International Women's Week 2007
 

When you organise it, I'm sure we'll all turn up.....









......but I won't hold my breath.:D

Re: International Women's Week 2007
 

You going to put your Green dress on Gayle ......:D


Sorry Gayle you know I support your efforts, good luck with it, I might even turn up for an hour. :)

Re: International Women's Week 2007
 

To which event - they are all book in advance ones.

Re: International Women's Week 2007
 

No. Good luck to them and all that, but by being aimed soley at one sex, that by it's very nature is divisive in my opinion. I'm against anything that separates people on lines of gender, creed, or culture etc.

I believe in integration in the general community, not separatism.

The days when empowerment, and visiblity was helped by separatism, for instance women's and gay liberation, as well as black power etc., are long over, now there is equality in law. The community and society should encompass everyone, not isolate them by targeting individual groups within it.

In the middle of an art history lecteur I once had a very heated debate with a hardline feminist historian, who thought all men were oppressors. I argued back that by it's very nature, because it separated people on gender lines, feminism was sexist. I won.

That said, this is purely my opinion, and as stated good luck, but I'm happy living in the wider community, rather than in a ghetto.

This isn't a dig at Gayle or anyone involved with this event locally, it's just my thoughts in general on things like this. I've said very similar things when it was suggested to having a Accrington Gay Pride.

Re: International Women's Week 2007
 

Tuesday the 6th sounds good. :)

Re: International Women's Week 2007
 

I actually agree with you Garinda.

However, as I have always said these aren't supposed to be divisive events and everyone is welcome to come. Admittedly the subject matter at the conference is targeted mostly towards women's interests but that doesn't mean men can't come.

Also, I don't think every event can be everything to everyone but as long as society in general covers all basis then everyone is happy.

Re: International Women's Week 2007
 

You'll have to phone the Haworth to book in.

Re: International Women's Week 2007
 

You've said before that everyone is welcome, even male Accy Webbers in flasher macs! That I applaud, but why not rename it Hyndburn's People Forum or something, then people can't say that it is separating any one section of the community from the other? Things have changed.

Re: International Women's Week 2007
 

The group was formed about 14 years ago to celebrate International Women's Day. So really it wouldn't be as impactful if it was celebrated by a People's forum.

But you know what - things haven't changed that much for some women or else we wouldn't have had the bhurka debate last year. If things are so changed why are women being systematically raped in war zones around the world.

This is from the V-day's website

While war exponentially increases crimes of violence against women and girls, it also draws attention to the strength and resilience among women rebuilding communities and leading governments to peaceful solutions. V-Day is dedicating its 2007 Spotlight campaign to Women In Conflict Zones to communicate these stories to global audiences and media. Introduced by V-Day star supporters, women who have persevered through conflict will share their personal stories of uprising:

Margaret Jayah, A Survivor, Sierra Leone
At merely 13 years old, Margaret Jayah was abducted by rebels in Sierra Leone. A sex slave for nine months, she was ganged raped, and to this day does not know who fathered her seven year old son. Margaret persevered through this horrific experience and is currently in high school at 20 years old.

Myriam Merlet, Chief of Staff of the Ministry for Women, Haiti
Like many who sought exodus from poverty and repression, she fled Haiti in the 1970's. After a politically active life in the Haitian Diaspora, Myriam returned to Haiti with her young family in 1986. As both a political activist and professional, Myriam remains committed to the process of social and political change in Haiti. Myriam is also a published author on women's rights, race and gender issues.

Zoya, Revolutionary Association of Women of Afghanistan (RAWA), Afghanistan
Born in Kabul in 1976, Zoya grew up during the wars that ravaged Afghanistan and took the lives of her parents who were murdered by Muslim fundamentalists. Today, Zoya works in refugee camps in Afghanistan and Pakistan and represents RAWA globally, speaking out for the plight of Afghan women. Zoya is the subject of the 2002 book "Zoya's Story: An Afghan Woman's Struggle for Freedom."

If things have changed so much, why are only 1 in 8 rape claims making it to the courts?

Re: International Women's Week 2007
 

If things have changed so much take a look at the statistics about violence against women on this website

http://www.who.int/gender/violence/en/

or perhaps this one

http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/cvict.htm

or may be you could look at this site about rapes against women

http://www.rainn.org/statistics/index.html

or perhaps the figures on amnesty international's site

http://www.amnesty.org.uk/

Things might have changed for the average, white, middle class woman but around the world and in many communities throughout the UK not only have things not changed but they have got far worse.

Re: International Women's Week 2007
 

Of course there are still injustices in the world. Terrible things that happen to men, women and children, of every race colour and creed, every single day, both in this country and abroad.

I still don't think gender specific organisations are the way to fight them though. I believe they should be tackled through inclusive organisations, that don't alienate a whole load of people who might otherwise be sympathetic to the cause. That's not taking into account any backlash from the people who feel they aren't being included. That I'm afraid is human nature. People fear what they don't know, and they can't begin to know or understand if they aren't made to feel a part of something.

Again, I'd also level this criticism at any gender specific organisation, like Fathers for Justice for instance. Even though a whole generation of men in this country are being treated appallingly by the British justice system, in regard to having fair and legal access to parent their children.

I could also list a whole load of links relating to male rape in the UK, or the killing and execution of homosexual men in Islamic countries. But if anyone started a Gay Men Against Islamic Torture, I'd also criticise them for alienating women, straight men, or whoever else, from perhaps also joining the campaign.

Cruelty, violence, and injustice in the world aren't confined to any specfic gender, colour or creed. They sadly apply to everyone, and everyone should be encouraged to fight it.

Re: International Women's Week 2007
 

Yes, but you can't highlight all injustices in one sweeping statement like that.

For instance, blind people in the UK get a raw deal some times, are you saying that there should be no charity that supports the blind people. You can't lump all people with disability together because they're all different.

And by the same token, all the injustices in the world are different.

Hyndburn Women's Forum (and I personally don't like the name that much for a few reasons - it limits it to Hyndburn, it gives men a wrong impression of it and it doesn't really do much talking which is what a forum should be), however, it was formed before I joined, it was based in Hyndburn, by women, to get women talking to each other.

Its aims are to celebrate International Women's Day - this is not something that HWF started, it's a multinational event and the giveaway is in the title - it's got women in mind!

As I've said, many times, you can't be all things to all people at all times. But, you can put on as many different events and activities so that in the grand scheme of things there is something for everyone.

We don't preclude men from the meetings, we don't preclude them from the events but I don't see the harm in having the events in the first place and having them targetted towards women - that's just marketing when it all boils down to it. I wouldn't organise a wrestling match under the HWF banner because it wouldn't appeal to the audience.

And yes, your final point about cruelty, violence and injustice not being confined to any specific gender is of course correct, they do apply to everyone and we should be encouraged to fight it but we can't fight it all in the same way and at the same time by the same people - it dilutes the arguments and confuses the issue.

Re: International Women's Week 2007
 

Of course I agree, but as stated earlier my worry is that groups formed along the lines of gender, colour, or creed, excludes and alienates people, for instance a black lesbian blind charity. As daft as it sounds, very similar groups to that do actually exist.

Like I said, it's nothing personal, and I wish you luck with the events. My ctiticisms would also, and have, been voiced, about other exclusive and separatist organisations. Gay ones being my particular bug bear. I totally believe that integration is the way forward for everyone.

Re: International Women's Week 2007
 

I have to agree with rindy, likes of domestic violence is usually subject lined to women victims, but domestic violence week supports both genders altho there is good support for women victims, male DV is recognised altho maybe more support for them should be balanced as with anything tables do swing round. PMSFL at the link you posted for mens week very interesting LOL!!!:D

Mind u if everything was a week celebration then surely the year needs to be extended hehehehehehhe:D