Some Advances in Legal Rights for Domestic Workers in Latin America

FRIDAY FILE - Long working hours, lack of rest time and poor treatment and compensation, in the absence of national legislation, often turns domestic work into a form of slavery in many countries. We reflect on some of the changes taking place in Latin America regarding decent work for domestic workers.

By Gabriela De Cicco

Reflections from the World Social Forum – Tunis, Tunisia 26-30 March

FRIDAY FILE - As the World Social Forum in Tunis wrapped up, many agreed that the vitality of the older days of the Forum was back. Taking place at the Al Manar University in Tunis, amidst the still unmet calls for dignity and justice of the Arab uprisings, it gathered about 54,000 people who were united in their hopes for a better world.

By Shareen Gokal

Women Moving Mountains – Successful Strategies and Funding Mechanisms to Eradicate Violence Against Women

FRIDAY FILE: A unique ‘aggregate analysis’ of the Dutch MDG3 Fund, conducted by AWID, with input from 33 fund recipient organisations provides a unique opportunity to highlight the broad range of multi-sectoral strategies that organisations are using a to tackle gender based violence (GBV) and the importance of continued and sustained funding for the work they do.

By Gabriela De Cicco and Srilatha Batliwala

Women’s Rights and Organizing in China

FRIDAY FILE: AWID interviewed Cai Yiping[i]about the status of women's rights and major issues affecting women in China - the history of women's struggles for equality, what has been achieved and what challenges remain.

By Rochelle Jones

AWID: How would you describe the status of women's rights in China at present and what are the major issues women are facing?

Young Feminists in the Caribbean “Catch a Fyah”

Friday File: Tonya Haynes spoke with AWID about a recent “Catch a Fyah” convening she organized of young feminists from different countries, religious backgrounds and ethnicities in the Caribbean.

Tonya coordinates online and offline activities for CODE RED in Barbados. CODE RED began as a student organisation of feminist women and men looking to find space within Caribbean feminism

By Masum Momaya

A Fifth UN World Conference on Women in 2015? Learn More and Share your Opinion!

We invite you to share your opinion in the comments box below.

FRIDAY FILE: A discussion about the implications of the proposed UN Fifth World Conference on Women in 2015 is urgently needed among feminists and women’s rights activists from all regions of the world.

There are diverse opinions about the organization, hosting and purpose of the proposed conference, which have not been broadly debated.

By Susan Tolmay[i]

The proposed 5th World Conference on Women

Asia Pacific Feminists Gather to Share, Strategize, Learn and Mobilize

From 12-14 December 2011 in Chiang Mai, Thailand, the first ever Asia Pacific Feminist Forum was held. Bringing together around 120 activists from the region, the Forum was organized by the Asia Pacific Forum on Women, Law and Development (APWLD)[1]. AWID spoke with APWLD’s Kate Lappin both before and after this historic event.

By Rochelle Jones

Unravelling, Exposing and Renewing : Thirty years of Latin American feminism

AWID spoke to Ana Cristina Gonzalez, member of the Strategic Steering Commission, about the objectives and expectations for the upcoming “12th Latin American and Caribbean Feminist Gathering” (EFLAC or Encuentro), taking place in Bogota, Colombia, November 23-26, 2011. This gathering marks a historical moment, as the 30th anniversary of the first Encuentro that also took place in Colombia.

By Gabriela De Cicco

The Relevance of the Feminist Encuentro for Latin American Feminist Movements

The 12th Latin American and Caribbean Feminist Gathering (EFLAC or Encuentro) will take place in Bogota, Colombia, November 23-26. This meeting space, which was started 30 years ago[1] has attempted to be diverse and plural, and has undoubtedly been provocative. AWID spoke to Virgina (Gina) Vargas*, about the history of the Encuentros and the importance beyond the regional focus. By Gabriela De Cicco

Honduras: “Neither Striking Down the State, Nor Striking Down Women”

FRIDAY FILE: On June 28, 2009 a civilian-military led coup d’état took place in Honduras, which led to the violent repression of social movements. This oppression has intensified over the past months.

By Gabriela De Cicco