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VENEZUELA: Global Women Activists Speak Out Against War, Imperialism
By Humberto Márquez
CARACAS, Apr 13 (IPS) - Condemnation of the United States' war in Iraq was
rife at the 14th Congress of the Women's International Democratic
Federation (WIDF) which concludes this Friday in Caracas. Over 1,000
delegates representing 165 organisations in 80 countries participated.
"The fight against imperialist wars is part of the struggles we engage in
against all forms of oppression and violence, and for women to be
considered first-class citizens in every nation," said Marcia Campos, the
Brazilian president of the WIDF, at the inauguration of the congress.
The WIDF was founded in 1945, influenced by socialist movements, with the
aim of organising and mobilising women's groups and coalitions to work for
the causes of peace and equal rights for women.
"After the break-up of the socialist bloc, some people thought that it
would take a long time for social movements to recover, but we re-emerged
quickly and vigorously in the new hub of world revolution, which is Latin
America," communist leader and president of the Venezuelan state Institute
for Women María León told IPS.
Since last Sunday, the congress working groups have addressed issues such
as the negative impact of globalisation, state terrorism and imperialist
wars, and building international solidarity against political repression
and all forms of violence against women.
Other debates have focused on progress towards equal rights for women in
terms of employment, health, education, social security and overcoming
hunger; the rights of indigenous and Afro-descendant women in the
Americas; and human trafficking and treatment of women, children and
teenagers.
National struggles were also discussed. For instance, the Puerto Rico
Committee at the United Nations (COPRONU) proposed "breaking down the wall
of silence surrounding the island's struggle for independence," one of its
leaders, Wilma Reverón, told IPS.
"The political changes occurring in Latin America - in Venezuela, Bolivia
and Ecuador - are inspiring university students to resume the struggle
for Puerto Rican independence," Reverón said.
Fatime Larosi, who lives in a refugee camp in western Algeria, said that
"the last African colony has been forgotten. It's the Sahrawi Arab
Democratic Republic, and it's occupied by Morocco, which exploits its
mineral and fishing resources," she told IPS.
As an example of national reconciliation after a civil war lasting 30
years, Angolan Minister of Family and Women's Affairs Cándida da Silva
presented the case of her country, where she said the struggle for
political empowerment is still ongoing.
"We still have a long way to go to strengthen women's role in political
decision-making," da Silva told IPS.
Although 13 percent of Angolan members of parliament are women, women hold
only 2.5 percent of the decision-making positions in the executive branch.
The Angolan constitution "enshrines equal rights and equality of
opportunity, but we still have a long way to go, especially in building up
the education base, so that many more women get a higher education," da
Silva said.
In countries like Guatemala, "more women in public office" has also become
a political rallying cry, Julia Luchcar, a member of the National Union of
Guatemalan Women (UNAMG) and of the Broad Movement of the Left (MAIZ),
told IPS.
Walda Barrios-Klee, the president of UNAMG, is standing as MAIZ's
candidate for the vice presidency of Guatemala in next September's
elections. Nobel Peace Prize winner Rigoberta Menchú is running for
president.
The struggle against globalising capitalism and its effects on indigenous
peoples was stressed by participants like Hilaria Supa Huamán, an
indigenous Peruvian member of parliament. "We oppose violence, and most of
all we oppose the violence that the United States wants to impose on us,"
she told IPS.
"We want an end to war, because it kills people and nature, and brings
about climate change," Supa Huamán emphasised. "As small farmers and
indigenous people, we are opposed to pollution of rivers and land, and to
measures like those taken by (President) Alan García's government, which
bombs our coca leaf fields."
The WIDF congress "is another ally helping indigenous people to defend our
customs, languages, ceremonies, music, typical dress, and respect for
nature," Supa Huamán said, after which she joined Venezuelan indigenous
lawmaker Nohelí Pocaterra to tell stories to 20 or so indigenous young
people from Venezuela.
The WIDF event was held in facilities located in Caracas' Central Park, a
cluster of state-owned skyscrapers. Sellers of books on Marxism and
T-shirts printed with leftwing icons like Ernesto Che Guevara, Salvador
Allende, Fidel Castro and Hugo Chávez set up their stalls in the
corridors.
The congress will conclude Friday with a march in solidarity with the
Chávez administration, and the adoption of a final document which will
record the main demands that have been presented, León said.
(END/2007)
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