Lepanto: Shattering its Own Myth of Safe and Responsible Mining
A Feature Story by The Cordillera Peoples Alliance, 1 July 2009
Edna (*not her real name) is near tears. The sinking in Colalo, Mankayan in 1999 remains fresh and real in her memory-and so does the fear it caused her and her family. "Wherever I am-in my vegetable garden at work or being here in front of you today-I am never at peace knowing that anytime, another disaster will happen. I think of my children who are now in school. What if the ground will suddenly collapse and sink again, like it did last June 5?" [...more]

Indian Rice is in Danger! Bayer: Hands off our rice!
The Tamil Nadu Women’s Forum (TNWF) joined the coalition for a “GM Free India” to say that, “we are not labrats” and joined others in exposing the University at Coimbatore for experimenting on BT corn. [...more]

TNWF Organised Seminar on Rice / Food Crisis and Livelihood
The Tamil Nadu Women's Forum (TNWF) organised a seminar on "Rice/Food Crisis and Livelihood" in continued observance of the Year of Rice Action (YORA). The event was held on 18 June 2009 at Kadambanallur, Arakkonam Taluk, Vellore District. [...more]

STOP Endosulfan! Stop Pesticides Poisonings!
Press Release by the Pesticide Action Network Asia and the PAcific (PAN AP), 3 December 2008
On the occasion of global "No Pesticides Use Day" this 3rd December 2008, Pesticide Action Network Asia and the Pacific (PAN AP) calls for the global ban and phase out of the production and use of Endosulfan, one of the most dangerous organochlorine pesticide in the world. [...more]

‘First’ International Day of Rural Women Celebrated
Media Release by the Asian Peasant Coalition (APC), 15 October 2008
The Asian Peasant Coalition today commemorates the first ever International Day of Rural Women, as established by the UN General Assembly declared in its resolution 62/136 last December 18, 2007. The observance of this day started in 1995 by various international non-government organizations at the Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing. Since then, this day honors the integral role of women in the agricultural sector, food production and food security. [...more]

Rural and Indigenous Women Assert Food Sovereignty!
Statement by the Asia Pacific Forum on Women, Law and Development (APWLD) on "World Rural Women's Day", 15 October 2008, and "World Foodless Day", 16 October 2008
15 October 2008, the first International Day of Rural Women
“World Rural Women’s Day” was put forward on 15 October, the eve of World Food Day, by international NGOs at the Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing in 1995. It has been celebrated primarily by civil society, across the world for over a decade to highlight the role played by rural women in food production and food security. And 15 October 2008, the first International Day of Rural Women will be observed as established by the UN General Assembly in its resolution 62/136 of 18 December 2007, which recognizes “the critical role and contribution of rural women, including indigenous women, in enhancing agricultural and rural development, improving food security and eradicating rural poverty.” [...more]

Informalisation of Work through Free Trade Agreements: Eroding Labour Rights
(Committee for Asian Women (CAW), 19-20th June 2008, Bangkok Thailand
On 19-20 June 2008, Committee for Asian Women (CAW), a network of 43 women workers groups organised a Forum on EU- ASEAN FTA and NAMA in Siam Beverly Hotel, Bangkok. The speakers at the forum were Lucia V. Jayaseelan from Committee for Asian Women (CAW), Chanida Bamford from Focus on the Global South , Naty Bernardino from International Gender & Trade Network (IGTN-Asia), Melody Kemp, a Board member Asian Network for the Rights Of Occupational Accident Victims (ANROAV) , Jurgette Honculada from the National Federation of Labour, Kiratngkorn Narintarakul from FTA Watch , Thailand, and Charlotte Wei from Globalisation Monitor. [...more]

Labour Day Solidarity Message from Committee for Asian Women
On 1st May when workers of the world celebrate International Labour Day, Committee for Asian Women joins in extending greetings and solidarity to all workers, especially women workers, to all defenders of rights of workers, to trade unions and human rights organisations all over the world. CAW extends solidarity to all its 43 member organisations in Asia. [...more]

Cordillera Day 2008: Resist Mining Plunder and State Terrorism!
22-25 April 2008
We gather this Cordillera Day 2008 to strengthen our unity, reaffirm our commitment and carry on the militant struggle of our people in defense of land, life and resources. We mark the 24th Cordillera Day with greater resolve to resist mining plunder and state terrorism and to fight for and secure our individual and collective human rights against the backdrop of a regime clinging to power through state terror and hell-bent on the sellout of our national patrimony.  [...more]

RURAL WOMEN'S DECLARATION
RIGHTS, EMPOWERMENT AND LIBERATION
6-8 March 2008
Arakkonam, Tamil Nadu, India

International Fact Finding Mission investigated displacement and destruction of livelihoods in Nellore district, Andhra Pradesh (India) due to SEZ and expansion of port
23 February 2008
Tirupati, India - An International fact-finding mission, comprising eminent civil society representatives from Thailand, Malaysia, Philippines and India, visited Nellore district of Andhra Pradesh (India) and expressed great concern over the displacement and loss of livelihoods of poor and landless tribal communities in those districts due to construction of Special Economic Zones (SEZ) and expansion of a Port in Krishnapatnam. [...more]

Rural Women's SRHR: Knowing the Complexities for Strengthening Strategies
ARROWS For Change, Vol. 13 No.1 2007
Rural women’s sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) are not simple and straightforward issues that can be addressed effectively and efficiently through universal blueprints developed in urban centers. They represent a complexity and dynamism that need to be understood because strategies to address the concerned issues would have to be placed within the domain of these complexities. [...more]

Unheard Voices - DALIT WOMEN
Even as we are in the 21st millennium, caste discrimination, an age-old practice that dehumanizes and perpetuates a cruel form of discrimination continues to be practiced. India where the practice is rampant despite the existence of a legislation to stop this, 160 million Dalits of which 49.96% are women continue to suffer discrimination. The discrimination that Dalit women are subjected to is similar to racial discrimination, where the former is discriminated and treated as untouchable due to descent, for being born into a particular community, while, the latter face discrimination due to colour. The caste system declares Dalit women as 'impure' and therefore untouchable and hence socially excluded. This is a complete negation and violation of women's human rights. [...more]

Victory over Pathway for Dalit children
It was the true story at the village of Rangapuram when the Dalit group hoisted their flag and kept Ambedkar photo in the school, the other caste reacted immediately: closed the pathway in the village. 60 Dalit children of the village have been going to school through this pathway for many years. [...more]

Save Marilou Ranario Campaign
September 26, 2007
Marilou, 35 years old, was arrested and imprisoned for the alleged murder of her female employer Najat Mahmoud Faraj Mobarak in 11 January 2005. She was sentenced to death by hanging by Kuwait’s Court of First Instance on 28 September 2005. Kuwait’s Court of Appeals upheld this sentence in February 2007. [...more]

Asia-Pacific Women's Groups Holds Consultation with the Special Rapporteur on VAW in Manila
Representatives of women's organizations and NGOs in the Asia-Pacific region met with Dr. Yakin Erturk, UN Special Rapporteur on Violence Against Women (VAW) on 12-13 September 2007 in Manila to dicuss about the political economy of VAW in the Asia-Pacific as a concrete input for the Special Rapporteur's report for 2008. [...more]

Press Statement
2 August 2007, Manila, Philippines
Over the last three days, from 31 July - 2 August 2007, 52 Asian rural women in 14 countries have come together in Manila, Philippines for the Asian Rural Women's Regional Consultation, a landmark meeting organised by the Steering Committee consisting of GABRIELA Philippines, TENAGANITA Malaysia, Human Development Organisation Sri Lanka, Tamil Nadu Women's Forum India, All Nepal Women's Alliance, Committee for Asian Women (CAW), Asian-Pacific Resource and Research Centre for Women (ARROW), Asia-Pacific Forum on Women, Law and Development (APWLD), International Movement Against All Forms of Discrimination (IMADR) and Pesticide Action Network Asia Pacific (PAN AP). [...more]