Int’l Women’s Alliance holds First General Assembly

Quezon City, Manila, July 6. Photo: Women's Alliance Assembly

Special to Workers World
Quezon City, Philippines

The International Women’s Assembly successfully held its First General Assembly on July 5 and 6 in Quezon City, Philippines, under the theme “Advance the Global Anti-imperialist Women’s Movement! Strengthen the International Women’s Alliance!”

The FGA, hosted by GABRIELA Philippines, was attended by 99 delegates representing 66 organizations in 20 countries: Argentina, Australia, Canada, Ecuador, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Kenya, Kurdistan, Malaysia, New Zealand, Pakistan, Philippines, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, The Netherlands and the United States.

Gabriela youth leader Kenette Jean Millondaga and Monica Moorehead at International Women’s Alliance First General Assembly in Philippines, July 6. Photo: Raya Martin

On the morning of July 5, participants at the IWA FGA joined hundreds of individuals from all over the world at the opening of the International Festival of Peoples’ Rights and Struggles, a space for workers, peasants, women, migrants, Indigenous peoples, youth, artists and many other sectors from around the globe to learn, share and interact with one another on the issues and challenges they confront. A video greeting was given by Dr. José Maria Sison, chairperson of the International League for Peoples’ Struggle.

As co-sponsor of this event, the IWA organized a panel of grass-roots, gender experts composed of Azra Talat Sayeed of Pakistan, who talked about the struggle of oppressed women and people against imperialist attacks and terror in Pakistan, and Lina Solano of Ecuador, who discussed women’s resistance against foreign mining corporations in Latin America. The speech of keynote speaker Leila Khaled from the General Union of Palestinian Women — who was unable to come due to a family emergency — was read by Liza Maza of GABRIELA-Philippines.

The organizational meeting of the IWA began later the same day, with participants performing a ritual of unity led by GABRIELA’s cultural group Sining Lila (Purple Art).

Liza Maza, of the IWA FGA Organizing Committee, delivered opening remarks. She noted that the FGA continues the process started in 2008 when the Women’s Commission of the ILPS unanimously adopted a resolution calling for the formation of an anti-imperialist global alliance of women. The call was realized when the founding assembly of IWA was held last Aug. 16 following a two-day Montreal International Women’s Conference in Canada.

Maza stressed that the Alliance was formed as an anti-imperialist, anti-patriarchy, anti-racist, anti-sexist and anti-homophobic alliance to organize women as a political force and to link the women’s movement with the people’s movement for national and social liberation and gender equality.

The Organizing Committee presiding over the plenary approved the agenda of the FGA and of the applications of 30 new members, which makes nearly 100 IWA organizational members to date.

Reports for the Women’s Resistance Against Imperialism panel were presented by Sarojeni Rengam, of the Asian Rural Women’s Coalition and Pesticide Action Network Asia-Pacific (Malaysia) for Asia; Clelia Iscaro, of the National Encounters of Women (Argentina) for Latin America; Emime Ndihokubwayo, of Kenya for Africa; Daphna Whitmore, of the Auckland Philippines Solidarity (Australia) for Oceania; Monica Moorehead, of the Women’s Fightback Network (U.S.) and Kelti Cameron, of the Ontario Committee for Human Rights in the Philippines (Canada) for North America; and Monika Gaertner-Engel, of the Women’s Political Caucus (Germany) for Europe.

The panel of speakers coming from different regions across the globe spoke on the intensifying imperialist attacks on women’s lives and livelihood, and shared their strategies of resistance and the need to unite in the struggle against imperialism and all reaction.

Preparing for struggles ahead

The assembly deliberated on and adopted the Manila Declaration of Unity of the International Women’s Alliance that called for a global, militant, anti-imperialist women’s movement that will “link ourselves and our struggles to fight our common enemy — imperialism and feudalism including patriarchy — and to stop the economic and political domination of the capitalist system, and to end imperialist wars of aggression and measures against the oppressed peoples of the world.”

The IWA Constitution was also discussed and adopted by the assembly.

Workshops by global regions were held to deliberate on the draft General Program of Action of the Alliance and to draw up its Four-Year Plan of Action based on the major issues in the context of the regions.

The plenary then approved by acclamation the GPOA, the Four-Year Plan and resolutions on particular issues and concerns the Alliance will work on. The action plan includes the work of projecting IWA’s analysis and positions on major issues affecting the majority of the world’s women and oppressed peoples, building IWA regional chapters and encouraging young women to join IWA among others.

The Assembly elected members of the Executive Council, with their responsibilities noted: Chairperson Liza Maza; Vice-Chairperson for Internal Affairs Azra Talat Sayeed (Roots for Equity); Vice Chairperson for External Affairs Lina Solano (Women Defenders of Mother Earth); Secretary General Marie Boti (Women of Diverse Origins, Canada); Deputy Secretary General Maitet Ledesma (Filipinas in Holland, the Netherlands); Treasurer Retno Dewi (Alliance of Agrarian Reform Movement, Indonesia); Auditor Daphna Whitmore; and members Lana Linaban (GABRIELA, Philippines) and Monica Moorehead (WFN).

The EC assigned Valerie Francisco of the U.S. — who had energetically facilitated the two-day FGA — to lead the development of a platform for participation of young women in the IWA.

In the closing ceremony, the participants recognized and honored four Women of Valor — Edith Ballantyne, of the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom (Canada); Leila Khaled; Carmen “Nanay Mameng” Deunida of Kalipunan ng Damayang Mahihirap (Philippines); and Carmela Iscaro of National Encounters of Women (Argentina). These courageous women were recognized for their “steadfast commitment and invaluable contribution to the promotion of women’s emancipation, freedom, peace and social liberation.” Each honoree received a plaque in the shape of the IWA logo.

Singing songs of struggles and shouting slogans, Assembly participants linked arms, forming a large circle symbolizing great unity and strong resolve to carry the struggle forward in the 21st century.

For updates on the IWA FGA, including the upcoming Manila Declaration of Unity, go to internationalwomensalliance.wordpress.com.

Next: An exposure tour in a Manila urban area.