Information from 'Guests' of women in london rainbow logo
March
2003
Onwards
* Bits and Bytes: Short snippets of news and information about women and ict, the voluntary sector and other related news is now listed on microsyster's website on a section called:  Bits and Bytes
* Women's Events in London: organised by groups who are not part of women in london can now be added to or seen on the new calendar function:  http://www.calsnet.net/womeninlondon
* Women's Events in othe parts of the country: can now be added to or seen on the new calendar function:  http://www.calsnet.net/countrywide
* A Message Board: for visitors to the women in london web site can be read or contributed to by going to:  http://www.quicktopic.com/19/H/nV4WDtdd6iMqf

7, 8 & 9th
March
2003
The first national conference of South Asian women in Britain - Dreams, Questions and Struggles - Sapne, Sawal aur Larai was held in London on 7,8 and 9th March 2003.
Organised by a coalition of Asian women's groups - Asian Women Unite! it brought together more 200 South Asian women from across the country.  The resolutions passed were as follows:  Full details

March
2003
Women at Broadmoor used as guinea pigs for male sex offenders, says former patient - 16th March 2003   http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/health/story.jsp?story=387523
Broadmoor whistle-blower wins case - Manager 'driven out' after claims of widespread sexual abuse - 7th March 2003   http://society.guardian.co.uk/mentalhealth/story/0,8150,909321,00.html
Blowing the whistle
There are 350 male patients at Broadmoor Special Hospital in Berkshire. Men get sent to Broadmoor for crimes such as manslaughter, murder, severe sexual offences and offences involving serious violence.  There are around 70 women as well. They get sent there mainly for arson and other crimes stemming from mental disturbance.  But if what Julia Wassell, formerly a senior social worker at the hospital, says is true those women enter a dangerous world at Broadmoor, locked in with those men.
http://www.unison.org.uk/features/features/0303whistleblowing.asp

March
2003
Women in the Middle East - Bulletin # 11 March 03
Bulletin of Committee to Defend Women's Rights in the Middle East
* Afghanistan: Resurgent Taliban -style Islamic oppression of women
* Nigeria: Mother appeals against stoning
* Iran: Youth reveal anger and sadness
* Jordan: Another recent case of honour killings
* Pakistan: Honour killings, wave of terror unleashed against women
* Thailand: Islamists bid to install the Islamic Sharia law
* Sudan: Female circumcision resists abolition efforts
* Tunisia: Women to do military service
* Kashmir: Launching Islamic campaign to oppress women
* Saudi Arabia: A suffocating Islamic society oppressing women most
* Afghanistan: Sexual apartheid & oppression of women on rise
* The USA: Anti-stoning campaign
http://www.eclipse.co.uk/women

13th
March
2003
What My Mother Never Told Me
Writers Kate Figes and Jessica Howie talk about sex and the advice gap.
This event at the Women's Library and others are now listed on the new listings calendar http://www.calsnet.net/womeninlondon

8th
March
2003
Does Sex Make a Difference?
To celebrate International Women's Day (although it can be used anytime), the Women and Equality Unit has produced a fact pack - Does Sex Make a Difference? - for teachers and anyone who works with young people.
Go to: http://www.womenandequalityunit.gov.uk/WEU-ResourcePack_WEB.pdf

8th
March
2003
International Women's Day
Add you IWD event or find out about other events by going to Women in London's new calendar.
And you can send a message or ask a question or start a discussion or ... at our new message board.
For a History of International Women's Day - read about "We Want Bread and Roses Too"

27th
February
2003
Asylum and Exile:  Feminist Review
4.00- 8.00pm at University of London Union, Room 3D, Malet St, WC1
http://www.bbk.ac.uk/news/diary/intwomens.html

16th
Febuary
2003
Women's Aid publishes Children's Welcome Pack - aimed at children who come to stay in refuges
http://www.womensaid.org.uk/press_releases/index.htm#01
Hitting Home - the series on domestic violence by the BBC
Linked to this the BBC site has information, help and support for anyone affected by domestic violence at:  http://www.bbc.co.uk/health/hh/
Share your story - The BBC would like to hear from you if you've experienced domestic violence, you know someone in an abusive relationship or have worked with survivors, your story may help others in the same situation - go to:  http://www.bbc.co.uk/health/hh/real.shtml
Links & Organisations has help for those experiencing domestic violence including Ethnic minorities groups, Children and related issues, Housing, Crime, General - go to:  http://www.bbc.co.uk/health/hh/links.shtml

Febuary
2003
Onwards
Bits and Bytes
Short snippets of news and information about women and ict, the voluntary sector and other related news is now listed on microsyster's website on a section called:  Bits and Bytes

16th
February
2003
The Vagina Monologues
will be peformed at the Gate Theatre in Nottinghill on at 7.30pm (plus an Open Dress at 2.30pm)
All profits from this community event will be donated to the London Centre for Personal Safety, W11
and the Women and Girl's Network, W14.
V Day NOTTING HILL is one of over 1000 performance happening across the world in the 3 weeks from Valentines Day.  It involves local people in the cast and backstage.  They will collaborate with professional actors, singers (including 2 from Columbia), musicians and a director to create an amazing evening on Feb 16th.  It will include 2 new monologues written by local men and women and will raise much needed funds and awareness for the aforementioned local charities who work with women and girls who have suffered violence and abuse.
For other London events, please contact Tamsin Larby: 020 7851 0941or go to: http://www.vdayuk.org
To learn more about V-Day Notting Hill and for tickets contact: Rebeqa Lovett 020 7263 1716

15th
February
2003
Women Say No War - Invest In Caring Not Killing
The Global Women's Strike is calling for women to march together as a Women's Contingent on the anti-war protest against war in Iraq.  We will gather at 12 noon opposite Victoria Embankment Gardens (left out of Embankment tube) - look for the bright orange Global Women's Strike banner above the crowd.  For more info call:  0207 482 2496/07956 316 899.  Global Women's Strike
NB:  Women's Weekly Anti-war Picket on Wednesdays in Whitehall beginning again from 12th February from 6-7pm.  Come and have your say against the war.  Men also welcome.

13th
February
2003
The political culture of gender and nation
Heather Nunn, lecturer at Middlesex University and author of Thatcher, Politics and Fantasy (Lawrence and Wishart, 2003) will discuss the impact of Margaret Thatcher on the British electorate, and the political culture of gender and nation, with journalist and columnist Suzanne Moore - 7pm at Waterstones Bookshop, Islington Green, N1 (the nearest tube is Angel)
This event has been organised by Media, Communications and Cultural Studies at Middlesex University in association with Waterstones.

February
2003
Report on the plight of Britain's refugee women
focussing on their experiences of violence and isolation
Refugee Action, an independent, national charity working to enable refugees to build new lives in the UK, has recently launched a the above report.  The findings form the basis of a national campaign launched on 3 December.  The agency is calling on voluntary, statutory and private service providers to agree to minimum standards of safety for refugee women. 
Refugee Action is also asking individuals to sign and send in a pledge of support for refugee women, available from their website: http://www.refugee-action.org.uk/#
Contact: Leigh Daynes, Communications Manager, Refugee Action on 020 7654 7707 or by email to: leighd@refugee-action.org.uk

February
2003
The financial cost of domestic violence
Interim results from research announced by Barbara Rochs.  The key findings are that two women each week are killed by a partner or former partner, a total of over 100 deaths each year.
The cost of the domestic homicide of adult women is an estimated £112 million each year.  The calculation of this cost is in two parts.  The first, £40 million a year, includes the loss of the victim's lifetime earnings, the cost to the criminal justice system of investigating the murder and prosecuting the partner, and the use of victim support services by the bereaved family.  An additional £71.4 million comprises less tangible costs, such as the emotional suffering of the victim's family.  The £111.4 million total is the tip of the iceberg, because it does not cover the cost to the NHS, police and employers of the thousands of violent domestic assaults each year that stop short of death.
See:  http://www.womenandequalityunit.gov.uk/Violence/economic_costs.htm

10th
February
2003
Women and Single Equality Commission Seminar
6:00pm – 9:00pm at The House of Commons, Portcullis House
The National Black Women's Network (NBWN) and the African and Caribbean Finance Forum (ACFF) are hosting an essential seminar for women to respond to the consultation document, Equality and Diversity: Making It Happen which outlines arguments for a single equality commission in Britain.
Full details

January
2003
Onwards
Bits and Bytes
Short snippets of news and information about women and ict, the voluntary sector and other related news will be listed on microsyster's website on a section called:  Bits and Bytes

January
to August
2003
Before Stonewall
is looking for LGBT participants aged 55+ who would like to be interviewed and volunteers of any age who would like to learn how to do oral histories.  Are you interested?  Do you know anybody who might be?  If so please contact:  Charlotte Cooper  or visit:  for more information
NB Charlotte is working in London and Brighton, but has contacts for oral history workers for the project in Manchester, Cardiff, Bristol and the south west.  See also:  Before Stonewall messageboard

30th
January
2003
Safra Project report of initial findings:
Identifying the difficulties faced by Muslim LBT women in accessing social and legal services
The Safra Project, a project partially funded by Stonewall's Citizenship 21 awards, wil be reporting their initial findings.  The aim of the report is to raise awareness among service providers of the difficulties faced by Muslim LBT women in accessing their services.
The keynote address will be given by Barbara Roche MP, Minister for Social Exclusion and Equality and Deputy Minister for Women and will be held in Committee Rooms 4 and 5, City Hall, The Queen's Walk, London SE1 2AA.
Please note that people will only be admitted into City Hall if they have given their name in advance.
Contact:  info@safraproject.org  The report will be available to download from the Safra Project website http://www.safraproject.org from 30 January 2003.

January
to March
2003
Free 9 week development programme (1 day/week)
The Metropolitan University, London, is running a new programme between January and May 2003 to support businesswomen in the Boroughs of Barking and Dagenham, Hackney, Newham, City, Bexley, Havering, Redbridge, Greenwich, Lewisham and Tower Hamlets.  Over 9 Tuesdays, starting on 28 January, a range of business topics from Finance to Personal Image will be covered.
For more information email hilaryf@lgu.ac.uk

January
2003
Women in the Middle East - Bulletin # 9 Jan 03
Bulletin of Committee to Defend Women's Rights in the Middle East
* India, Kashmir: Islamic rebels kill women to impose Islamic veil
* Afghanistan: Women suffer under Islamic rule
* Pakistan: 461 Honour killings In two provinces in year 2002
* The Middle East & North Africa: Arab women are second class citizens
* Sudan: Women's lives under Islamic oppression
* Palestine, Gaza strip: "Mr. Perfect" on the scene
* Afghanistan: Women suffering Taliban oppression
* Saudi Arabia: Islamic rule brutally oppresses women
* Jordan: More honour killings of women
* Palestine: Poll on politics from women's perspective
* Iran: The Islamic regime forced to stop stoning
* Sweden: A three-day conference on
  -   Honour Killing, Violence against Women, Culture, Politics or Cultural Politics?
http://www.eclipse.co.uk/women

Ongoing GLA Public consultation on Equalities Framework
Promoting equality and challenging discrimination is part of our core business.   We would like your views on our approach to this important aspect of our work, particularly on our:
*  Equality and Diversity Policy Statement
*  The GLA Equality Strategy
http://www.london.gov.uk/approot/mayor/equalities/framework_consult.jsp

27
January
2003
off our backs, the longest surviving feminist publication in the United States, is soliciting manuscripts from women all over the world on a variety of women's issues including:
§  What is the status of women in your country/region?  Have things been improving or getting worse for women?  Why?
§  How does corporate globalization affect women in your region?
§  Reports on violence against women: rates of rape, domestic violence, honor killings, FGM, bride burnings, etc.  Has violence against women increased as women struggle for more equality?
§  What kinds of activism have women undertaken?  What has been effective?
§  Calls for action: cases of extreme injustice that you would like to call attention to and request help from women in other countries.
§  What would most improve the lives of women in your area? How do you envision feminism as it relates to women in your country/region?
§  Is feminism increasing or declining in your country/region?
The deadline is January 27, 2003.   Word length is between 500-2000 words.   For manuscript submission guidelines, please visit our website at http://www.offourbacks.org or email us at offourbacks@cs.com.
off our backs, 2337B 18th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20009 - tel: 202-234-8072 - fax: 202-234-8092

January
2003
Forced Marriage - Consultation on Guidelines for Social Services
The Community Liaison Unit at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office is currently producing guidelines for social workers dealing with cases of forced marriage.  The draft document will be available for national consultation during January 2003.  As part of this consultation process, the Unit is to hold eight regional consultation seminars around the country.  We would like to encourage delegates not only from social services but from all the statutory agencies including police, health, housing and education together with representatives from women's groups, support groups and community based organisations.
If you know of anyone who would be interested in attending please send their details to:
Community Liaison Unit, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Room G/55, Old Admiralty Building, Whitehall, London, SW1A 2PA.
Any queries please e-mail Eleanor Stobart:  eleanorstobart@compuserve.com or telephone 01943 602041.

calendar - london public message board calendar - countrywide
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