WMW will gather more than 1,000 women in Bukavu, DR of Congo, in a major event which will discuss, among other things, the effects of armed conflict on women's lives

More than 1000 women from around 40 countries will be gathering in Bukavu, Democratic Republic of Congo, for the closing event of the 3rd International Action of the World March of Women. From 13 – 17 October the representatives of this global feminist action movement will discuss the situation of women in the African Great Lakes Region as well as the effects of armed conflicts on women's lives all over the world.

For two days women from all regions of the world will exchange with women from the Great Lakes Region on four main subjects: peace and demilitarisation, common good and public services, violence against women and women's work. Besides the debates there will also be cultural activities like dances and theatres treating the questions of violence and poverty.  The participants will travel to the town of Mwenga to inaugurate a memorial honoring all women martyrs of war and of local conflicts. As a symbol of women's resistance a bosquet will be planted in the center of Bukavu. The action will close with a march for peace on 17 october in the capital of the province of South Kivu. The same day the World March of Women in many countries around the world will organise action in solidarity with the women in the DRC and other countries and regions in conflict.

In accepting the invitation to hold the closing event in Bukavu, the WMW wants to strengthen the voice of of women of the congolese civil society, to contribute to the economic autonomy of congolese women and to support their demand that the natural ressources of the DRC benefit the congolese population. With the actions in Bukavu and simultaneously in many countries around the world, women join their voices against the continued use of rape as a weapon of war and for the culpabilisation of those responsible of the atrocious acts. Also the interests of governments and multinationals in the north that constantly feed this conflict will be denounced with the goal to prepare the way for a sustainable peace for the whole Great Lakes Region that starts with the gradual and negociated retreat of the MONUSCO.

The Third International Action of the World March of Women (WMW) began on March 8, 2010. Since that date, national actions have been held in 52 countries, directly involving more than 38,000 women who have built national platforms around four action areas: women's economic autonomy, common good and public services, violence against women, and peace and demilitarization. In Pakistan, women came out on the streets, even after fundamentalists had exploded bombs to terrify the population. In Mali, women debated on peace-building and demonstrated in Gao, an area of armed conflict. In Greece, they held demonstrations against the persistence of high military expenditures during the financial crisis - at a time when other public spending is being cut, denouncing the lack of public policy in response to increasing unemployment levels (already high among women). In Brazil, more than 2,000 women marched for 10 days under the banner: “Women on the march until we are all free.”

Over the course of 2010, three regional actions were organized, leading to debates and public demonstrations. In Asia, women from 10 countries met in Manila, Philippines, and demonstrated against the intervention, control and military presence of the United States in Southeast Asia. In Europe, women from 23 countries came together in Istanbul, Turkey, and proclaimed their demands under the slogan, “Women, Peace, Freedom.” In the Americas, the WMW joined together with the Women’s Social Movement against War and for Peace and other people’s movements to raise awareness and to denounce the reality of the Colombian conflict and to protest in front of the Palenquero Military Base in Colombia, one of seven bases where the United States wants to set up operations in the interest of gaining geopolitical control of the region.

What is the World March of Women?
The World March of Women is an international movement full of feminist actions, gathering groups and grassroots organizations that work to eradicate the causes of the poverty and the violence against women. We fight against all forms of inequity and discrimination against women.  Our values and actions are made to create political changes, economical and social development. They are focused on the globalization of solidarity, of the equality between men and women, between women and their people, in respect and the recognition of the diversity of women, in the multiplicity of our strategies, in the enforcement of leadership of women and the strengthening in the allies between women and other social and progress movements.

How is organized?
The World March of Women is organized in National Co ordinations, that gather participant groups, this is, groups and NGO´s  of Women, Committees of mixed groups of women (comprised by men and women) and mix organizations where women have a leadership role in the March Organization, although they do not have a specific committee of women.  At the present, there are National Committees (NC) in 70 countries. The principal instance of decision of the World March of Women is the International Meetings, that are held each two or three years (depending on the calendar of actions organized) and gather three delegates chased by the National Committees. At these meetings the Representatives are elected by Region (Africa, America, Asia-Oceania, Europe and Middle and Arabic World) that integrate the International Committee(IC) of the WMW, which meet at least twice a year. The IC, in conjunction with the International Secretariat (IS), are responsible to follow up the decisions made at the International Meetings and keep the regular communication on the prepared actions by the NC´s in different countries. Since August 2006, the International Secretariat is located in Brazil.

Brief History of the World March of Women
The World March of Women was born in 2000 as a grand mobilization that gathered women of the world, all in a campaign against the poverty and the violence. The actions started on March 8, International Day of Women, and ended on October 17, organized since the calling “2000 reasons to march against the poverty and violence sexist”. The inspiration for the creation of the World March of Women came from a manifestation held in 1995, in Quebec, Canada, when 850 women marched 200 kilometers, asking, symbolically “Bread and Roses”. The action marked the recommencement of the mobilization of women on streets, making a hard criticism of the capitalist system as everything. At the end, several conquers were achieved, as the increment of the minimum salary, more rights for the immigrant women and support to the solidarity economy.

The World March of Women has already developed two international actions, in 2000 and 2005. The first counted with the participation with more than 5000 groups from 159 countries and territories. Its Closure mobilized thousands of women all over the World. In this occasion, it was delivered to the UN, in New York, a Document with 17 points of reivindication, supported by 5 millions of signatures.  This action was characterized as the first widely outreach call to action, a big step for the consolidation of the World March of Women as an International Movement.

The second World Action was performed in 2005, and once again it brought with thousands of women on streets. The March built the World Letter of Women to the Humanity, in which is expressed its vision on the alternatives in economy, social and cultural to build a world based in the principles of equality, liberty, justice, peace and solidarity between peoples and human beings, giving respect to the Environment and the Biodiversity. From March 8 to October 17 on that year, from each country, was built a great quilt of the World Solidarity, a symbolic way to symbolize the Letter. This quilt under construction toured various countries, starting from Brazil to America, Europe, Asia and Africa. The final place of the tour was Ougadougou (Burkina Faso) On October 17.
 
For Interviews and more information
1. International Secretariat of the World March of Women, to contact the International Committed and National Co ordinations in other countries:  telephone numbers with AlessandraCeregatti: + 243 – 814-923-935, with Miriam Nobre: +243 -814-640-054
2. Third International Action´s Web page: www.mmm2010.info and WMW´s: www.marchemondiale.org