Women to march for world justice
BY KAMALA EMANUEL
HOBART — Groups in at least 157 countries and territories will be part of the World March of Women against poverty and violence against women on October 17, the United Nations' day for the elimination of poverty.
In Hobart, the organising collective has been meeting since International Women's Day in March. Activists from the IWD collective and the Reclaim the Night collective have combined for an evening action to call for measures to combat poverty and violence against women.
The women marching will call for a very broad platform of changes to the world economic system, from the cancellation of structural adjustment programs and the Third World debt to the lifting of economic blockades and embargoes imposed against Third World countries by the major world powers. They will also raise many demands of direct importance to women: such as governments' adoption and implementation of the UN's conventions on the rights of women and children.
The Hobart demonstrattion will also address issues of pressing concern to women in this country, including abolition of the GST, restoration of childcare funding and the decriminalisation of abortion.
The street march and rally will start at Centrelink, to highlight the role of government cuts to welfare in promoting poverty. The collective is discussing a proposal that all women and men who support the above demands be urged to take part.
The action will commence at 5.30pm, October 13. Collective meetings take place every Friday, 1pm, at the Women's Health Centre, 326 Elizabeth St, North Hobart. Ph Andree on 6231 3212, Sue on 6234 7007, or Kamala on 6234 6397.
For more information about the World March of Women, visit <http://www.ffq.qc.ca/marche2000>.