Saturday, September 19, 2009
For Immediate Release
18 September, 2009Committee for Asian Women (CAW)
Programme Officer: Suvechha Adhikari
Media Officer: Juliette Li
Website: www.cawinfo.org
Tel:+66(0)29305634
Fax:+66(0)29305633
Women Workers: Survival amidst Conflict and Suppression
on the International Day of Peace, 21st September 2009
Democracy and peace are inseparable from women’s right to and at work. Peace is more than the absence of war. Twenty six years since the declaration of International Day of Peace, women in Asia continued to struggle among conflicts and political repressions. They make up the majority of war refugees and internally displaced persons. Religious fundamentalism deprives their rights to work. Women organisers and advocates are isolated, tortured or murdered under the name of War on Terror. The financial crisis has worsened the burden of women workers with rapid impoverishment and economic displacement, compelling them to seek employment elsewhere that render them vulnerable to abuse and exploitation. The most powerful protection for women’s rights at work – freedom of association – has also been suppressed with the excuse of financial loss of their employers. Gender based violence (GBV), particular sexual violence, is widespread, as women workers struggle with their loss of livelihood, loss of labour rights and shrinking political space.
In Bangladesh during the two years of state of emergency which was only lifted in 2008, union activities were suppressed which resulted in hundreds of workers killed and injured. The military junta in Burma continue to ban any form of independent trade unionism and considers the Federation of Trade Unions of Burma (FTUB) to be an illegal, terrorist organisation. Hundreds of trade union activists and members of their families are rotting in Burmese jails. Women workers’ and their unions have suffered in the conflict-affected countries as their workplaces are destroyed, unemployment soared, wages reduced, exploitation and social injustices are committed, migration and poverty increased.
Yet women are the first campaigners of peace and dignity. For decades, women have not only talked about peace but have been torch bearers seeking non-violent resolutions to conflicts amidst a world of military and armed solutions. Commemorating this involvement of women in origination and promotion of peace through non-violence and strengthening of human rights and justice, the Committee for Asian Women (CAW) on the occasion of the International Day of Peace brings their contributions to light. On this International Day of Peace, Committee for Asian Women calls for the end to all forms of repression, the immediate and lasting resolution of conflicts in the region and the full and comprehensive participation of women in the pursuit of peace.
CAW is organising a day of action on the 21st of September 2009 in front of the UN building to raising public attention to the livelihood and struggle of women workers living in conflict and suppression towards sustainable peace building.
Committee for Asian Women (CAW) is a regional network of 46 women workers groups in 14 Asian countries that aims to empower women workers to protect, advocate, and advance their rights. CAW is part of the global movement advocating workers' rights for over 30 years.
Day of Action on the International Day of Peace
Women Workers’ in Asia:
Agents for Peace and Development
Date: 21st September 2009 (9am to 11am)
Place: In front of the UN building, Bangkok
Organisers: Committee for Asian Women, Thai Labour Campaign, Triumph International (Thailand) Labour Union
Participants: 100-150 Women workers and activists from civil organisations of Thailand, Burma, the Philippines, China and Pakistan
Background:
The global war against terror has created a new dimension of unprecedented consequences resulting in further polarisation of societies and aggravating latent cleavages such as communalism, fundamentalism, and gender violence. Since the “war on terror” women have been rendered more vulnerable, in terms of economic and political discrimination, as well as increased violence.
Asia’s war on freedom and its armed ethnic conflicts wound women’s bodies and lives even when they are not recognized as casualties. A particular vulnerability is their inability to provide remedies for themselves and their families and the lack of political power to pursue peace. The complete collapse of economic activity render women workers bereft of the right to decent work and freedom of association.
A sharp escalation in migration and trafficking in women and children have been noted from areas of conflict and suppression. As of 2009, an estimated 35 million people worldwide have been displaced by conflict, and most of them are women. During their time away from their homes and communities, these women are subjected to a horrifying array of misfortune, including privations of every kind, sexual assaults and severe psychological trauma.
This public action aims at raising public attention to the livelihood and struggle of women workers living in conflict and suppression towards sustainable peace building.
Activities:
9.00 to 9.30 gathering in front of the UN building
9.30 to 9.50 read out statement on International Day of Peace
9.50 to 10.20 solidarity message from groups
10.20 to 10.40 action: protect the freedom of association and freedom of speech
10.40 to 11.00 street drama: end violence against women
18 September, 2009Committee for Asian Women (CAW)
Programme Officer: Suvechha Adhikari
Media Officer: Juliette Li
Website: www.cawinfo.org
Tel:+66(0)29305634
Fax:+66(0)29305633
Women Workers: Survival amidst Conflict and Suppression
on the International Day of Peace, 21st September 2009
Democracy and peace are inseparable from women’s right to and at work. Peace is more than the absence of war. Twenty six years since the declaration of International Day of Peace, women in Asia continued to struggle among conflicts and political repressions. They make up the majority of war refugees and internally displaced persons. Religious fundamentalism deprives their rights to work. Women organisers and advocates are isolated, tortured or murdered under the name of War on Terror. The financial crisis has worsened the burden of women workers with rapid impoverishment and economic displacement, compelling them to seek employment elsewhere that render them vulnerable to abuse and exploitation. The most powerful protection for women’s rights at work – freedom of association – has also been suppressed with the excuse of financial loss of their employers. Gender based violence (GBV), particular sexual violence, is widespread, as women workers struggle with their loss of livelihood, loss of labour rights and shrinking political space.
In Bangladesh during the two years of state of emergency which was only lifted in 2008, union activities were suppressed which resulted in hundreds of workers killed and injured. The military junta in Burma continue to ban any form of independent trade unionism and considers the Federation of Trade Unions of Burma (FTUB) to be an illegal, terrorist organisation. Hundreds of trade union activists and members of their families are rotting in Burmese jails. Women workers’ and their unions have suffered in the conflict-affected countries as their workplaces are destroyed, unemployment soared, wages reduced, exploitation and social injustices are committed, migration and poverty increased.
Yet women are the first campaigners of peace and dignity. For decades, women have not only talked about peace but have been torch bearers seeking non-violent resolutions to conflicts amidst a world of military and armed solutions. Commemorating this involvement of women in origination and promotion of peace through non-violence and strengthening of human rights and justice, the Committee for Asian Women (CAW) on the occasion of the International Day of Peace brings their contributions to light. On this International Day of Peace, Committee for Asian Women calls for the end to all forms of repression, the immediate and lasting resolution of conflicts in the region and the full and comprehensive participation of women in the pursuit of peace.
CAW is organising a day of action on the 21st of September 2009 in front of the UN building to raising public attention to the livelihood and struggle of women workers living in conflict and suppression towards sustainable peace building.
Committee for Asian Women (CAW) is a regional network of 46 women workers groups in 14 Asian countries that aims to empower women workers to protect, advocate, and advance their rights. CAW is part of the global movement advocating workers' rights for over 30 years.
Day of Action on the International Day of Peace
Women Workers’ in Asia:
Agents for Peace and Development
Date: 21st September 2009 (9am to 11am)
Place: In front of the UN building, Bangkok
Organisers: Committee for Asian Women, Thai Labour Campaign, Triumph International (Thailand) Labour Union
Participants: 100-150 Women workers and activists from civil organisations of Thailand, Burma, the Philippines, China and Pakistan
Background:
The global war against terror has created a new dimension of unprecedented consequences resulting in further polarisation of societies and aggravating latent cleavages such as communalism, fundamentalism, and gender violence. Since the “war on terror” women have been rendered more vulnerable, in terms of economic and political discrimination, as well as increased violence.
Asia’s war on freedom and its armed ethnic conflicts wound women’s bodies and lives even when they are not recognized as casualties. A particular vulnerability is their inability to provide remedies for themselves and their families and the lack of political power to pursue peace. The complete collapse of economic activity render women workers bereft of the right to decent work and freedom of association.
A sharp escalation in migration and trafficking in women and children have been noted from areas of conflict and suppression. As of 2009, an estimated 35 million people worldwide have been displaced by conflict, and most of them are women. During their time away from their homes and communities, these women are subjected to a horrifying array of misfortune, including privations of every kind, sexual assaults and severe psychological trauma.
This public action aims at raising public attention to the livelihood and struggle of women workers living in conflict and suppression towards sustainable peace building.
Activities:
9.00 to 9.30 gathering in front of the UN building
9.30 to 9.50 read out statement on International Day of Peace
9.50 to 10.20 solidarity message from groups
10.20 to 10.40 action: protect the freedom of association and freedom of speech
10.40 to 11.00 street drama: end violence against women
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