IWD: 'no sexism, no war!'

Erin Cameron, Melbourne

On March 6, 250 people attended an International Women's Day march under the banner "Women against war, racism and sexism".

Aboriginal rights activist Leonora Jackson explained the extreme day-to-day hardships facing indigenous women, and called for support for the stolen wages campaign.

Reihana Mohideen, from Women's Rage in the Philippines, told the rally that women would be marching in the Philippines on IWD to demand working women's rights, reproductive rights and an end to violence against women.

Earlier that morning, the Gender agenda a charter for women's rights, was launched by the Socialist Alliance.

Robyn Marshall reports that 200 people marched in Brisbane, after Aboriginal elder Aunty Ella welcomed rally participants to the land.

Speakers called for the repeal of Queensland's abortion laws, and discussed the impact on women of domestic violence, the occupation of Iraq and Australia's mandatory detention of refugees.

Emma Clancy reports from Perth that 150 people joined a rally and march to demand funding for child care, not warfare, and justice for women in the workplace.

Speakers included representatives from the Liquor, Hospitality and Miscellaneous Workers Union, the Civil Service Association, the Edmund Rice Centre for Social Justice and Oxfam.

Socialist Alliance member and co-chair of the rally, Kiraz Janicke, encouraged rally participants to attend the March 20 global day of action against the occupation of Iraq. "We stand firmly on the side of the Iraqi people in their struggle for self determination."

Following the march, women voiced their anger on an open mike at the occupation of Iraq and the Howard government's attacks on higher education, and called for an end to violence against women.

Katherine Bradstreet reports that 30 people attended a speak-out in Canberra. Greens Legislative Assembly member Kerry Tucker and Josephine Hunt from the Socialist Alliance addressed the crowd.

More International Women's Day rallies will take place on March 13. For details see the activist calendar on page 27.

From Green Left Weekly, March 10, 2004.
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