Voices of African Women

The Women International League for Peace and Freedom invites you to a three day seminar on the subject of African women’s struggle to bring and maintain peace to their countries and region. This is a rare opportunity to hear a debate between African grass-roots women and British activists and policy-makers working on Africa.

Africa is not just a huge war zone where development has failed to take place and which is now being mined by new economic interests. It is a diverse ethnic, religious and linguistic region. The women of Africa are coming to London to tell their stories: stories of struggle, justice and injustice and above all, of survival. We will be examining the affects of national politics, international politics and NGO driven policies on Africa’s present, and on its future. In doing so, we will be looking at what alliances exist and what alliances need to be put in place to safeguard Africa’s independence, its growth and its desire for abiding peace.

This seminar will be of special interest to activists, women’s groups, researchers and policy makers.

5th, 7th& 8th November 2008

1.Wednesday 5thNovember2008, 2 – 6pm, Parliament, London, SW1A 2LW

African women activists will be speaking about their experiences of conflict, and their work for human rights, peace building, aid effectiveness and development in their own countries. This meeting will be hosted by Baroness Joyce Gould and Jeremy Corbyn, MP.

2. Friday 7thNovember,1-3pm, Chatham House, Round Table meeting.

3. Saturday 8thNovember,10am – 4.30pm, Amnesty Action Centre, 17-25 New Inn Yard, London, EC2A 3EA

African women will speak and join in discussion groups with UK Diaspora organisations and NGO activists, considering how to further African women’s participation in peacebuilding, development and governance.

Key speakers include:

· MiriamMachaya from Zimbabwe (Family Support Trust, and Christian Aid)

· Mildred Sharra and Prosperine Kamanga from Malawi ( Action Coalition of Women Farmers - ActionAid )

· Alice Ukoko from Nigeria (Women of Africa /WILPF UK)

· Pauline Dempers from Namibia (NGO Forum and IANSA Women’s Network)

· Annie Matundu & Jeanine Ngungu from the D.R.Congo (WILPF & CAUSE COMMUNE RDC)

· Mrs Khadiga Hussein from Sudan (Sudanese Mothers for Peace)

· Marie-Louise Pambu & Marie-Claire Faray (Common Cause UK/WILPF UK)

· Amanda Khozi Mukwashi (Akina Mama Wa Africa)

· Video from Women For Women International

Other Speakers to be confirmed

Although both events are free, it is essential to book!

To reserve your place at either event please email: [email][email protected] or telephone: 020 7250 1968.

Alternatively please write to: UK WILPF, 52/54 Featherstone Street, London, EC1Y 8RT