DC Women’s Human Rights Action Team Monthly Meeting
12 October 2005
Mid-Atlantic Regional Conference UpdateThe Mid-Atlantic Regional Conference will be held 21-23 October 2005 in Philadelphia. Folabi Olagbaju, the Director of the Mid-Atlantic Regional Office talked about some of the multiple purposes of the conference: (1) To get members into Amnesty’s priority campaigns, by having workshops etc; (2) To have members participate in the resolution process; and (3) To bring members together to meet each other. This year, there will be a lot of focus on the human rights abuses connected with the War on Terror. There will also be many interesting speakers, including women’s human rights defenders from both Turkey and Bahrain. There will also be workshops on specific topics such as CEDAW, health as a human right and its intersection with violence against women.
In addition, Marla updated us on the Reproductive Rights Table at the Ideas Fair. Marla gave us some more background on the newly introduced resolution on reproductive and sexual rights, and the current status of this issue and the process of the resolution within Amnesty. Prior to the Conference, the Steering Committee will be putting together a resolution packet with background information, resource implications, and arguments for various options.
16 Days of Activism UpdateDC WHRAT is planning a serious of events for the 16 days of activism, which runs from November 25- December 10. This year’s theme is “For the Health of Women, For the Health of the World.” Janel recapped the previous week’s planning meeting. We are hoping to create a handout to circulate, which would give people a specific kind of action (big or small) to take on each of the 16 days. Additionally, we are planning to have both one educational event, such as a panel, and one more action-oriented event, such as a rally. The planning team had come up with a couple options for each, and everyone at the meeting voted on the options. We decided on: (1) an educational panel on the intersection of gender, health, and violence against women (with a possible focus on the DRC and/or Darfur); and (2) a rally in support of women in Juarez/Chihuahua, which will be linked to the current legislation related to Juarez/Chihuahua. Finally, Janel passed around a sign up sheet for those interested in helping to plan either the panel or the rally. Planning meetings and follow-up will be taking place outside of the regular meetings via emails, calls, and additional meetings if necessary. If you are interested in helping to plan the rally, please contact Janel, and if you are interested in helping to plan to panel, please contact Erica.
House Parties for Lifetime Trafficking MovieLifetime Television is about to premiere a movie on human trafficking, starring Mira Sorvino, who is also an Amnesty spokesperson for the SVAW campaign. Amnesty is urging all of its volunteers to host house parties for the premiere of the movie on October 24th at 9:00pm. If anyone has a home in the DC area which is metro accessible, has a TV with cable, and would like to host a small house party, please contact Erica.
Call for Volunteers to Design Our WebsiteCurrently, the DC WHRAT has a blog, but we have been hoping to also get a website up and running. Janel has secured a domain name. We are now looking for a volunteer to help us design and start up our website. If anyone would be interested in doing this, or has a friend who would, please contact Erica.
Teach-in -- Amnesty 101 with Folabi Olagbaju, Director of the Mid-Atlantic Regional OfficeThank you to Folabi Olagbaju, who provided us with a great introduction to Amnesty!!
Please remember:
The next meeting is:
Wednesday 9 November 2005 at 7pm Amnesty International Office (600 Pennsylvania Avenue SE) Eastern Market Metro.
