WIB Internationally

This section lists some of the websites for WIB groups Internationally. There are many more active groups that do not have websites, but who communicate with each other through international listservs.

14th International Women in Black Conference August 16 to 20, Valencia Spain

From Uruguay we send you an embrace of peace and solidarity and want to tell you that yesterday, 25 November, International Day Against Violence on Women, we had our first demonstration in the streets. We had the support of many women, as well as Amnesty International, the Network Against Domestic and Sexual Violence of Uruguay and the Human Rights Commission, all of whom were very interested in our organization. The Human Rights Commission invited us to a fair on 9 December to make a presentation to the organizations that work for human rights of both men and women and they offered us a stand, which we have accepted. For this reason, I would like to ask Women in Black from all over the world to send us brochures and information and whatever else you can send about your respective organizations. Please e-mail information to us and we will make xerox copies, as we want the stand to be not just for Uruguay but for all Women in Black. I am going to make a power point program to be continuously available for the organizations that have a web page.

13th Women in Black International Conference, Jerusalem, August 12 - 16, 2005. 750 women from more than 40 countries attended, including our own Andrea! Conference photos, interviews, blogs and webcasts can be found at: http://www.radiofeminista.net/indexeng.htm

International WiB mailing-out list in English: if you want to subscribe, send an email with a short introduction to mailing-out list

International INTERACTIVE WiB e-list:if you want to subscribe to this INTERACTIVE WiB e-group, go to http://groups.yahoo.com/group/interactiveWiB and follow the instructions.

http://www.gilasvirsky.com/
WIB co-founding mother Gila Svirsky's new site with a book telling the early history of Women in Black in Israel.

Women in Black Belgrade: receives prestigous human rights award, and

Needs international support: under harassment for human rights work.

Award: On 21st December 2005, Women in Black received the Konstantin Obradovic Prize for the promotion of human rights culture, for “a courageous and relentless non-violent resistance to war, militarism, and ethnic homogenization.” The award was given by the Belgrade Centre for Human Rights.

Need for Support:

Women in Black Frederick joins vigils worldwide, and Amnesty International in calling for an end to harassment of human rights organizations, independent journalists and others.

On 11/29/05 Amnesty International issued an alarming report concerning attacks in Serbia and Montenegro on human rights activist and independent journalists who attempt to keep debate about past atrocities in the public view. The report states, in part:

"These attacks are startlingly reminiscent of the clampdown on human rights activists, journalists and opposition activists which dogged the final days of the presidency of Slobodan Milosevic." The Amnesty report documents threats reportedly made not only by private individuals, but by members of the security forces, and members of the government or political parties in coalition with the government. Although the perpetrators of the majority of the incidents remain unknown, it is reasonably suspected that they are linked to right-wing nationalist groups.

The report highlights the fact that most of the human rights activists targeted are challenging the continuing climate of impunity for war crimes and are encouraging both the Serbian authorities and public to acknowledge the truth about the past, focusing in particular on the 10th anniversary of the massacre at Srebrenica during the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The full report (Serbia and Montenegro: The writing on the wall, Serbian human rights defenders at risk, (AI Index: EUR: 70/016/2005) can be read at: http://web.amnesty.org/library/index/engeur700162005. The report specifies the attacks on a number of human rights groups, including Women in Black, Belgrade. A complete AI press release on this matter appears at: http://news.amnesty.org/index/ENGEUR700182005

WIB Frederick has sent a letter to Serbian and US officials stating, in part:

WIB Frederick Letter

Letters of support can be sent to the following: Contacts for letters supporting WIB Belgrade

Report from Belgrade:

In their recent report on their extraordinary activites in 2005, WIB Belgrade says:

"On this occasion, we wish to express our deepest gratitude to all the activists from organizations and networks for human rights and peace throughout the world who lent us supports during this difficult period, in which we endured various kinds of pressures and attacks from a range of clerical-fascist and neo-Nazi organizations in Serbia and administrative pressures and obstacles created by the government institutions of the Republic of Serbia. We see this support as vital for the strengthening of civil society and for the globalization of peace, justice, non-violence, feminism, anti-militarism, etc…

Furthermore, we would like to highlight the fact that, in addition to the important international recognition for our efforts (the Nobel Peace Prize nomination as part of the initiative ‘1,000 Women for Peace’), we are the recipients of a very important award in the field of human rights in Serbia. On 21st December 2005, Women in Black received the Konstantin Obradovic Prize for the promotion of human rights culture, for “a courageous and relentless non-violent resistance to war, militarism, and ethnic homogenization.” The award was given by the Belgrade Centre for Human Rights.

Thank you from WIB Belgrade:

To our sisters in black,

Thank you very much for your letters expressing concern about the actions of the Serbian government. We greatly appreciate knowing that we are in your thoughts & that you are taking the time to make your voice heard on our behalf. Support from the international community makes the continued police repression easier to bear.

Thanks again and may you continue your important work.

In Solidarity,

Women in Black - Belgrade

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