Freedom for Gultan Kışanak, Ayla Akat Ata and for all women in Kurdistan

Delegation of the 2. World Women´s Conference of Grassroots Women to Diyarbakır

 Freedom for Gultan Kışanak, Ayla Akat Ata and for all women in Kurdistan

We, the official delegation of the 2. World Women´s Conference of Grassroots Women to freedomnorthern Kurdistan, demand the immediate release of the imprisoned members of municipalities and the reinstallation of all dismissed co-mayors. The women and men are democratically elected representatives of the people.

The sequestration of towns and municipalities is another step further in direction to a fascistic dictatorship. The european and the american government may watch no longer, how the turkish government accelarates its power attempts and thereby subjects ethnic groups and denominations like the Kurds, Alawites and Yasidis repeated times to unwarranted pursuit with poor excuses and aim to suppress or even to extinguish them.

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Invitation for the 5th European Conference on November 6, 2016 in Germany

Monika Gärtner-Engel, Halinka Augustin, – European Coordinators
Angélica Urrutia, Maria Hagberg – Deputy Coordinators
06.07.2016 4. Europakonferenz Athen

Dear Worldwomen in Europe,

We European Coordinators would like to cordially invite you to our 5th European Conference on the 6th of November 2016 in Gelsenkirchen, Germany

Dear women,

Congratulations again for our successful 2nd World Women’s Conference of grassroots women 2016. We owe our special compliments and thanks to the hosts, the women of the United Women’s Association in Nepal. They worked together excellently and under hard circumstances, the consequences of the earthquakes and the boycott by the Indian government for the success of the conference.

In our unanimously decided resolution we determined:
“Let us resolutely develop our structures for worldwide, continental and regional coordination and bring it to a higher level. Let us improve our organizational work!” Throughout Europe we women have pressing reasons to form stronger connections for a future worth living in.

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Call for an International Action Day against Feminicide of Yazidi Women

3 August 2016 marks the 2nd anniversary of the Feminicide and Genocide by Islamic State (IS) against Yazidi people in Sinjar/Shengal. On 3 August 2014 IS attacked and captured Sinjar, which is the historical homeland of Yazidis, a Kurdish religious minority whose ancient religion is linked to Zoroastrianism. ISIL destroyed Yazidi shrines, executed resisters and demanded the residents to swear allegiance or be killed. During the IS-massacre in Sinjar up to 5.000 Yazidis were executed. Almost 200.000 people managed to flee. 50.000 Yazidis fled into the Sinjar Montains, where they were trapped without food, water or medical care, facing starvation and dehydration.

At the same time approximately 5.000 Yazidi women and children were captured. They were appropriated as spoils of war and sold as sex slaves to Muslim men or given to ISIL commanders. Those who refuse to convert were tortured, raped and eventually murdered. Babies born in the prison where the women are held were taken from their mothers to an unknown fate. Women allegedly raped by ISIL fighters have committed suicide by jumping to their death from Mount Sinjar. While a high number of women managed to flee or could be liberated, approximately some 3.000 women are still in ISIL captivity.

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Gabriela Philippines: Press release Why a rape joke is no joke!

Dear Emily!
Very interesting, thank you!
And many many greetings and congratulations for the release of Sharon Cabusao! Really good news!!
Can we publish your statement “Why a ‘rape joke’ is no joke”? Very good and helpful

Hugs Monika

On July 4, at 11:30 am Emily Cahilog wrote:

Dear Monica,Gabriela Summit

GABRIELA really encouraged women to take part in the summit to create a platform for change to be presented to the incoming administration for review and implementation. The Women’s Summit was a success. Women representatives from different sectors and various organizations gathered in Davao City. The discussions and workshops during the summit revolved around the key women’s demands summed up in the word “CHANGE”. It stands for (C) Comprehensive social services; (H) human rights, peace and social justice; (A) Anti-discrimination and violence against women (N) National sovereignty; (G) Genuine land reform and national industrialization and; (E) Environmental protection after President-elect Duterte has issued several statements that signify the changes that his administration is set to implement. Duterte administration also talked about key reforms in governance such eliminating contractual employment and the resumption of peace negotiations gaining much support from women as these will help bridge the difference and make significant changes that Filipino women want. After six years of neglect and poverty, low wages, unemployment and violence women are hungry for change.

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