Spanish Version

Patricia Guerrero

Women and Memory Forum
Egypt

Founded in 1997, Women and Memory Forum (WMF) uses art, research and literature to challenge traditional gender norms and cultural biases against women in current Arab societies. The group provides a crucial space for Egyptian women to come together and discuss cinema, feminist literature and produce creative publications. For example, one project focuses on rewriting fairy tales, and encourages participants to reinterpret and re-write Arab and Islamic folk tales from a gendered perspective. The forum has made storytellers of the women who write, re-write and narrate stories that offer a way for children and adults to re-shape their cultural memories. WMF is currently also creating a documentation project that collects and archives the writings of women activists, writers, and journalists in the Arab world.

Young Women/CURE
Bosnia and Herzegovina

CURE started in 2004 as an informal group of young human rights activists committed to providing a space for young women to express themselves and receive encouragement for realizing their power and strength. Last year, CURE organized PitchWise, the first ever festival of women’s art in Bosnia and Herzegovina. A spectacular creative feast of art exhibitions, music shows and performances, it showcased women’s enormous power and creativity and fostered discussions in art, history, feminism, politics and activism. The festival brought together a diverse group of people in all fields – artists, activists, students, youth and the general public. The many events and workshops addressed issues such as reproductive rights, violence, and the importance of depicting women as powerful in visual media and art. Mainstream news outlets covered the festival widely. The group's work is testimony to the transformative power of art for social change.

Web Resource http://pitchwise.fondacijacure.org/en/index.php

League of Displaced Women
(Liga de Mujeres Desplazadas de Bolívar )
Colombia

Founded in 1998 by Patricia Guerrero, a tireless advocate for women’s rights, the League of Displaced Women strives to protect and advance the rights of the most marginalized women affected by 40 years of militarized conflict in Colombia. The League is perhaps the only group in the world to start not just a community center, but an entire city for Colombia's displaced women. Largely female heads of households, war widows and displaced women, the city has provided a home for more than 500 displaced people to date. Despite the risk – the city has been attacked by paramilitary and other criminal forces – the women persist in building institutions to educate, heal and house their families. It now plans to expand its reach and impact by using mass communication to share messages of justice, peace and hope for women in Colombia, and throughout the world. The project was nominated for the King of Spain Human Rights Award 2007. Read more about the League of Displaced Women in this article published by IPS News

Web Resource www.ligademujeres.org

Sisters in Islam
Malaysia

Started in 1988 by Zainah Anwar and a group of like-minded Muslim women, Sisters in Islam (SIS) challenges the aspects of Islamic Shariah law in Malaysia that are unfavorable toward women. In addition to holding workshops and lectures on women's rights in Islam, SIS publishes a weekly legal advice column in the largest selling Malay newspaper. The group educates men as well as women. In addition to working in Malaysia, the group reaches out to Islamic women across national boundaries to promote women’s rights within the Islamic faith. Recently, SIS partnered with 11 other women’s groups to form the Coalition on Women’s Rights in Islam, which launched a high profile campaign to reform Family Law in the Muslim context. They are also drafting a Model Islamic Family Law (IFL) to guarantee women greater rights in areas such as travel, child custody and inheritance. Read more about Sisters in Islam in this article published by the New York Times

Web Resource http://www.sistersinislam.org.my/

Positive Women’s Network
South Africa

With dynamic Prudence Mabele at the helm, Positive Women's Network (PWN) has been a trailblazer in pushing for gender equity and a strong human rights framework in HIV treatment and prevention in South Africa. The situation is dire, for South Africa has the alarming distinction of having the most people in the world who are living with HIV/AIDS - 5 million. PWN formed in 1996 when 60 black South African women came together to challenge the stigma and treatment of women living with HIV/AIDS. Risking their lives, they openly and bravely declared their own HIV status. PWN’s successes include modeling honesty about sexual practices and links with HIV/AIDS transmission, lessening discrimination against people who are positive, and successfully challenging pharmaceutical companies to provide anti-retroviral drugs at reasonable prices.

Web Resource http://www.un.org/Pubs/chronicle/2006/issue2

Women, Peace and Security Africa
(WIPSEN)
Liberia

Leymah Gbowee began organizing Women in Peacebuilding Network (WIPNET) in 2001 in Liberia, at a time when the Liberian people were completely traumatized and overwhelmed by the country's 14-year civil war. At great risk to her life, Leymah was at the forefront of a historic sit-in for peace in 2003 by Liberian women, that occured during harsh weather, and posed great risk to her life. They had gathered to protest the stalemate in peace talks between militias and government forces who together perpetuated Liberia's civil war, which caused the internal displacement of over a million Liberians, and brutal violence against women. WIPNET eventually led to the formation of Women Peace and Security Network Africa (WIPSEN-Africa), a pan-African organization based in Ghana, with chapters in Sierra Leone, Nigeria and Liberia. In working with grassroots women across religious and community lines, the group ensures that women, who bore the brunt of violent conflicts and wars, have a place at the table in peace processes in post-conflict Liberia. Today, WIPSEN is a leading force in women's call for peace.

Web Resource http://www.wipsen-africa.org/