January Meeting Notes

Wednesday, January 12th

Thanks for all who came out to meeting- we had a great discussion and have some exciting upcoming events!

The first item on our agenda was the upcoming International Women’s Day celebration on March 8th. Right now, we are in the planning stages with the Mid-Atlantic Regional office but the layout has been put together, thanks to much hard work by Anne Ellsworth.
The Action Team will be pairing up with the DC Independent Film Festival to premier one short and one feature length film at the City Museum on March 8th from 7-9 pm. A reception, with speaker, will follow. We have decided to show Battered, Bruised and Broken as the short film (12 minute) and are still deciding on the feature length. A movie night will be held soon to preview film options; please watch the listserv for details or email Erica Morgan at ericachandra@hotmail.com. For more information on getting involved with the planning please email either Jennie Simpson at giasupertar@yahoo.com or Erica Morgan.

Our Sudan panel is moving right along! It will be held on Wednesday, February 23rd, from 7-9 pm at the George Washington University. We are in the process of finding speakers and Janel Kasper-Wolfe has put together a great summary and background piece to send out to potential speakers. Here it is:

In 2004 Amnesty International launched their ground breaking Stop Violence Against Women Campaign (SVAW Campaign). The campaign has made the link between violence against women and human rights by focusing on a range of issues, including violence against women in conflict. In support of the SVAW Campaign the DC-Women's Human Rights Action Team, George Washington University chapter of Amnesty International and the Women's Information
Network is sponsoring a panel discussing Violence Against Women in Armed Conflict: Darfur, Sudan.
According to Amnesty International USA, over 70,000 people are believed to have lost their lives since the conflict in Darfur, Sudan erupted in February 2003. Systematic human rights abuses have occurred by all parties involved in the conflict, but primarily by the Sudanese government and government-backed Janjawid militia. Over 1.5 million civilians have been
internally displaced by the conflict and 200,000 have sought refuge in neighboring Chad. Amnesty International USA has also reported that many of the human rights violations in Darfur have been gendered, specifically targeting women and girls for abductions, sexual slavery, rape, torture and forced displacement.

We are presenting a panel discussion that can address the general situation in Darfur, Sudan and address some of these specific questions:

* What is the background of the armed conflict in Darfur?
* How is the armed conflict gendered? How are women and girls
specifically targeted?
* Over 1.5 million people have been internally displaced and 200,00
are refugees in Chad, are the situations different for women than for
men?
* Are children in general specifically at risk, is there a difference
between
girl and boy children?
* What are international and local NGOs doing to address the gendered
aspects of this conflict? In particular to address violence against
women?
* Are women involved in the peace process?
* What can we do?

We are hoping to not only educate the audience about the links between armed conflict, human rights abuses, and violence against women but to motivate them to act by giving them specific ideas for action.

If you would like more information or to get involved, email Janel Kasper-Wolfe at Janel.kasper@verizon.net.

And finally, we discussed the possibility of holding a “feminist convergence” this fall. An organizing group has already been formed to take on the task of imagining and planning this event. Some of the questions to think about:

* With a focus on grassroots feminist activism, what do we imagine this to include?
* The format for the convergence- all day workshops, panels, etc…?
* If it is based on a call for proposals framework, how do we envision doing this? Where will we distribute to?
* Comments, suggestions, ideas??

If you would like to get involved, email Jennie Simpson at giasuperstar@yahoo.com.

Upcoming Events of Interest

J-Flag Tour

The DC OUTfront Action Team, Amnesty International USA (AIUSA), The Jamaica Forum for Lesbians, All-Sexuals & Gays (J-FLAG), the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), Human Rights Watch (HRW), and Gays and Lesbians in Foreign Affairs Agencies (GLIFAA) invite you to join us for a public forum featuring 2 speakers from J-FLAG, where we will come together to discuss homophobic violence and ways to demand justice from Jamaican authorities.
In Jamaica, violent of crimes against the LGBT community, including rape, beatings, and even murder, are reported each year. Prominent recording artists incorporate graphic references to homophobic violence in their music. And government leaders refuse to address the issue.

One group is speaking out. The Jamaica Forum for Lesbians, All-Sexuals & Gays (J-FLAG) will be appearing in Washington, DC to tell their stories of pride, struggle and courage in the face of injustice. Come learn what's happening in Jamaica, and what you can do about it.

When: Thursday, February 3, 2005
Reception at 7:00 PM, Program at 7:30 PM
Where: Equality Center, The Human Rights Campaign
1640 Rhode Island Ave NW, Washington, DC 20036

This event is free and open to the public. For more information, please contact the DC OUTfront Action Team at http://us.f514.mail.yahoo.com/ym/Compose?To=info@dcoutfront.org or (202) 390-7888, or visit http://www.dcoutfront.org/.


Visions in Feminism Film Screening: Ladyfesto

Join Visions in Feminism for a Screening of
Ladyfesto: A documentary on Ladyfest Philly, March 20-23, 2003

Wednesday February 2, 2005, 9 PM $5 to benefit
Visions in Feminism’s 2005 Conference
All ages at the Black Cat 1811 14th Street, NW DC

http://www.visioninfeminism.org/
http://www.blackcatdc.com/
http://www.ladyfest.org/
http://www.ladyfestphilly.org/

An hour long documentary about and shot during Ladyfest Philly, a women's art festival, March 2003 Co-directed by Anne Crémieux and Kerry Pyne.

Email kalotto@hotmail.com for details


National Conference on Organized Resistance, February 3-6, 2005

The National Conference on Organized Resistance (NCOR) has been happening every winter on the campus of American University in Washington DC since 1998. It aims to provide a space for activists to meet each other, have in-depth discussions, analyze strategies, tactics, beliefs, learn a few new skills, and give everyone a lot to think about after an inspiring weekend. Activists of all ages or levels of experience are welcome, as are curious non-activists and anyone looking to resist systems of oppression and create something new! For more information, visit http://www.organizedresistance.org/.

Take Action: Protect Women Survivors of Violence and the Right To Health Care Services

According to Amnesty International USA "Worldwide, at least one of every three women – nearly one billion women – will be beaten, coerced into sex, or otherwise abused in her lifetime, whether at the hands of family members, government security forces, or armed rebels. Urge President Bush to help stop violence against women and girls, address the needs of survivors of violence, and lift US restrictions on health care services worldwide."

You can take action by going to the AIUSA Action Center and sending a letter or email to President Bush and asking him to life current restrictions on health education and services, often referred to as the "Global Gag Rule."

January Meeting

I hope everyone had fabulous holidays and a much needed break. This wednesday (January 12) is the DC Women's Human Rights Action Team's monthly meeting. We'll be brainstorming for the following events:

• March 8 Celebration for International Women's Day (the team's 2 year anniversary!)
• A panel on violence against women in the armed conflict in Darfur, Sudan
• A conference/teach-in/day of workshops this fall. We're hoping to call for proposals from local community activits/organizers. It will be a day of workshops that can strengthen our skills as organizers and activists but also feed our souls!

The meeting is at 7:00 pm. We are back to meeting at the AIUSA office at 600 Pennsylvania Ave, SE 5th floor. The AIUSA office is right off of Eastern Market. Email dcwhrat@yahoo.com with comments, suggestions for the meeting agenda, or questions.