Women solidarity against war

The end of the armed violence in Macedonia
20 years of the women peace campus Greenham Common

The tenth reunion of the International Network of Women Solidarity Against War / Network of Women in Black, which took place in Novi Sad from 23rd to 26th of August 2001, was attended by 250 activists from 16 countries. Among other things, the International network of Women in Black has confirmed their decisiveness to continue the nonviolent resistance to war, all forms of militarism, by building the network of solidarity among women, above state, national, ethnic and other boundaries and divisions.

It has been brought to decision on this meeting, on the initiative of Women in black from Belgrade, that we start an International action on September 5th this year: The end of the armed violence in Macedonia. In dozens of towns, both in states of ex-Yugoslavia and in Europe and outside of Europe, activists of the International network of Women in black will make the women solidarity against war, militarism, and all forms of ethnic homogenization visible.

Besides the protest against violence in Macedonia, on the same day we will note the 20th anniversary of the women peace campus in Great Britain - Greenham Common. By bounding these two occasions, Women in black prove that they do not accept to fulfill their roles of passive victims of military and sexist violence, but they organize public nonviolent actions against all forms of militarization, global as well as local.

We demand an urgent end to all armed conflicts and use of force, as a necessary condition for establishing peace and return of the displaced citizens. The international community is committed to prevent the use of force and to disarm all those who do not respect the signed peace agreement.

In this occasion, we support all the organizations from Macedonia, no matter what their ethnic structure may be, which aim to establish peace and resolve problems in nonviolent way. We support organizations of Macedonian women, of Albanian women, of Turkish women, of Serbian women, of Roma women and others who oppose all forms of ethnic homogenization and militarism.

Women in Black from Belgrade and Creative workshop from Kraljevo, together with the Spanish activists - participants of 10th reunion of International network of Women in Black, will give a peace performance "DEMILITARIZE OURSELVES, DEMILITARIZE OUR ENVIRONMENT" on September 5th 2001 on Republic Square in Belgrade, from 15:30 to 16:30. The peace actions will be organized on the same day in many towns in Serbia and Montenegro.

WOMEN IN BLACK

Women In Black New York stand in silent vigil to protest war, rape as a tool of war, ethnic cleansing and human rights abuses all over the world. We are silent because mere words cannot express the tragedy that wars and hatred bring. We refuse to add to the cacophony of empty statements that are spoken with the best intentions yet may be erased or go unheard under the sound of a passing ambulance or a bomb exploding nearby.

Our silence is visible. We invite women to stand with us, reflect about themselves and women who have been raped, tortured or killed in concentration camps, women who have disappeared, whose loved ones have disappeared or have been killed, whose homes have been demolished. We wear black as a symbol to mourn for all victims of war, to mourn the destruction of people, nature and the fabric of life.

Women in Black is an international peace network. Women in Black is not an organization, but a means of mobilization and a formula for action. Women in Black vigils were started in Israel in 1988 by women protesting against Israelþs Occupation of the West Bank and Gaza. Women in Black has developed in the Italy, Spain, United States, England, Azerbaijan and in FR Yugoslavia, where women in Belgrade have stood in weekly vigils since 1991 to protest war and the Serbian regimeþs policies of nationalist aggression. Women in Black New York have been standing in solidarity with the women of Belgrade since 1993.

We stand in silent vigil in front of the New York Public Library at 5th Avenue and 41st Street the last Wednesday of every month from 5:30 Í 6:30. Come join us.

For information, please visit our website at http://balkansnet.org/women
Tel: Indira at 212 560-0905.
E-mail: 074182@newschool.edu to get on our mailing list.
Donations may be sent to P.O. Box 20554, New York, NY 10021, and should be made payable to RACCOON, Inc., with WIB in the memo line.
See also http://wib.matriz.net.