Women Dressed in Black to Mark the Beginning of the 16 Days f Activism Campaign
by Losana McGowan

November 25, 2004 -(femLINKpacific) A group of women attending a Community Radio Consultation (CRC) in Suvaare all dressed in black today to mark the beginning of the 16 Days of Activism Against Violence Against Women.

The women who are representatives of non-government organizations and rural women’s groups from around the country agreed to show their solidarity and support the ‘Thursday’s in Black Campaign’ for supporters of women’s human rights around the world.

Organized by femLINKpacific: Media Initiatives for Women and supported by UNESCO, the consultation included participants from Sigatoka, Lautoka and Labasa.

“It is vitally important to listen to each and every woman’s story as most of them are untold and could contribute greatly to the development needs of this country,” said femlink coordinator Sharon Bhagwan-Rolls.

“That is why we have invited representatives from rural areas so we can teach them the skills and present them with equipments and they can go back into their communities, teach other women and record their stories.

“Then they can either send their stories to the mainstream media or to us,” Bhagwan-Rolls said.

The CRC will end on Sunday, the last broadcast of the year for fem’TALK 89.2FM , which will be stationed at the Ecumenical Centre for Research Education and Advocacy beginning at 8 in the morning. This Sunday’s broadcast will focus on the theme of the this year’s 16 days of activism campaign, “For the Health of Women, for the Health of the World: No More Violence

Organisations represented included the Fiji Disabled People’s Association Labasa and Sigatoka Branch, Foundation of the Rural and Integrated Enterprises & Development (FRIENDS), the National Council of Women, ECREA, the Catholic Women’s League, Poor Relief Society, Virtues Fiji Project, Kids LinkFiji, Fiji Media Watch and WIN NET.

Circulated by femLINKpacific