WIA 1997-2 Women and Human Rights

EDITORIAL: Women's Rights are Women Rights
by Luz Maria Martinez

WOMEN AND CHILDREN, MILITARISM AND HUMAN RIGHTS
A statement from the International Working Conference
on Okinawa p14

THE UNITED NATIONS: WORKING AT THE GRASSROOTS? p15

FOREGROUNDING WOMEN'S HUMAN RIGHTS
by Kumudini Samuel
Sri Lankan women have creatively used local and international
forms of struggle to push for their rights. p20

NO, I DON'T
by Amtul Naheed of Shirkat Gah
Arranged mariages contradict the rights of women assured by the constitution of Pakistan. p24

DEBATE ON PROSTITUTION:

IS IT A HUMAN RIGHT TO PROSTITUTE?
by Cecilia Hofmann p28

IT IS STIGMATIZATION THAT VIOLATES HUMAN RIGHTS
by Nelia Sancho as told to Leti Boniol p29

OPPRESSION IN BURMA
by Alison Tate
Around .25 million have fled the
repression. p43

CHANGING THE MUSLIM WORLD
Dozens of ways that counter patriarchal norms are evolving p60

CENSORSHIP FIREWALLS
A short list of censorship acts in China. p62

ARTICLE 19: FOCUS ON ASIA
This advocate of freedom of expression broadens its scope. p63

WOMEN JOURNALISTS DOING INTERNATIONAL NEWS
by Ma. Ceres Doyo
Hail the women writers. p64

MEDIA BILLS THREATEN PAPUA JOURNALISTS
by John Millet
Stringent regulations can throw journalists in jail. p65

THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN NO WARS...
by Vesna Peric-Zimonjic
Serbian women are victims of past developments they had little influence over at the time. p66

AFRICAN FIRST LADIES' PEACE INITIATIVES
by Remi Oyo
Timely but some doubt whether it's just lip service. p68

CHILDREN OF WAR, LEADERS FOR PEACE
by Lyn Fine
A program builds a youth movement to act on local and international issues. p69

STILL A WOMAN'S WORK
by Margie Wylie
Even in the computer world, it still is. p72

Maria Rosa Henson, Woman of Courage: 1927-1997
by Luz Maria Martinez
An insider's account of CEDAW
p58

One on One: Aurora Javate-de Dios
by Leti Boniol
An academic and activist poses a challenge. p38

Country Report: Afghanistan
by Mae Buenaventura
The Taliban's reign of terror intensifies. p73

Health Updates
p77

Women In Action covers a broad range of issues affecting women globally, but focusing on the particular needs and concerns of women in the Global South, and forwarding a progressive perspective tempered by the experiences of the third world women's movements.

On the cover: Untitled by Carlito Dumalaon, 9 years old, a streetchild under the care of Tanglauj Kabataan.

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write to the Editors: <communications at isiswomen.org>

BnIFacade Isis International Women’s House (Bahay ni Isis).

Bahay ni Isis provides a safe haven for guests visiting Manila, with lodgings, meeting rooms and facilities for workshops and other events. It is a comfortable women-friendly space and a gathering place for many non-governmental organisations engaged in issues affecting women around the globe. Welcome!

The Isis Feminist Activist School aims to strengthen the communication capacity of women from the Global South so that they can effectively articulate and take on leadership roles in organisations, communities, networks and/or social movements.

we!, the Isis International e-newsletter, provides news and information on women’s activism, campaigns and events around the globe as well as analyses and commentary on current issues affecting women.

WiA carries in-depth articles on issues facing women globally from a feminist perspective. This social movement publication links women’s issues to larger social issues and features women writers from around the world.

Research Report, Women and Peacebuilding, Philippines

Recognising Women’s Participation in Sustainable and Lasting Peace. Isis International realised it is essential to initially find out to what extent or if any at all do peace advocates include or consider women and gender in their peace work with from ICCO foundation, Isis carried out a study on women peacemakers in the Philippines.

Click here to see some of these historical treasures.

Relive the historical milestones of the women’s movement with this Isis collection of posters.