100th Anniversary of International Women’s Day
Join Us on the Norfolk Bridge, Shoreham by Sea, to mark the 100th Anniversary of International Women’s Day 8 March 2011.
On 8th March, up to 100 women, children and men from all over Sussex will be making history by joining together on the Norfolk Bridge, Shoreham by Sea, to mark the 100th anniversary of International Women’s Day.
Local businesswoman, Ariana Gee, who runs Medics on the Move, Sussex, a successful rental and relocation agency, is organising the event in Shoreham. She says “We will be holding up banners and calling for an end to violence against women in war-torn countries across the world including Afghanistan, one of the most dangerous places in the world to be a woman. This is going to be a great event to raise the awareness of the plight of these women and the fantastic work carried out by Women for Women International and I hope to see as many of you there as can possibly make it.”.
Last year over 20,000 people, from Afghanistan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Kosovo, Canada, Mexico, and Belgium, took part in the first ever global Join Me on the Bridge campaign www.womenforwomen.org/bridge . 119 events took place last year, including in Afghanistan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Kosovo, Canada, Mexico and Belgium. In 2011, hundreds more event with thousands more people are being planned.
The global campaign is being organised by Women for Women International www.womenforwomen.org (a charity that helps women in areas of conflict to rebuild their lives) with a coalition that includes Amnesty International, the Fawcett Society, Oxfam and Women’s Aid, CARE, Global Changemakers at the British Council, U8, Save the Children, the White Ribbon Alliance and the Women’s Institute.
The event will convene at 6pm at Ropetackle Arts Centre where a short film will be shown about the tremendous courage of some of these women who have experienced violence. The women, children and men will then go onto the bridge, lighting candles and displaying banners of peace. Afterwards, for those who wish to stay on, the bar will be open at Ropetackle.
Kate Nustedt, Executive Director of Women for Women International UK says “A 100 years ago brave women stood up and changed the world for so many of us. Today, there are equally brave women standing up for equality in Afghanistan and other war-torn countries. Now is our chance to get behind these women and help bring peace and greater security to their lives.
Women in Afghanistan must be fully included in the peace negotiations. Peace without women doesn’t stand a chance, and the time to build peace is now - before the troops start withdrawing in June 2011.
Bringing an end to violence against women in areas of conflict and helping them have a greater say in the peace process is something we should work towards every day of the year, not just on International Women’s Day.”
If you would like to attend, to give us an idea of numbers please register at http://www.womenforwomen.org/bridge/attend-bridge-event.php
You can also get involved in the Join Me on the Bridge campaign by signing our online petition at http://www.womenforwomen.org/bridge/sign-the-pledge.php or by getting involved in our fundraising campaign 100 for 100 to raise £100, £1000 or more to help women in Afghanistan and other areas of conflict to rebuild their lives.www.womenforwomen.org/bridge
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