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This Friday March 8th is International Women's Day throughout the world. To mark the event in our region, the Northern TUC's Women's Group, UNISON Northern and War on Want are holding a joint event ‘Women, Human Rights and the Globalisation of Resistance – Inspiration and culture in times of crisis' at the Assembly Rooms, Fenkle Street, Newcastle between 4.30pm to 7.30pm.

date: 7 March 2013

embargo: for immediate release

Colombia and Palestine come to the North East to make it a truly International Women's Day

This Friday March 8th is International Women's Day throughout the world. To mark the event in our region, the Northern TUC's Women's Group, UNISON Northern and War on Want are holding a joint event 'Women, Human Rights and the Globalisation of Resistance - Inspiration and culture in times of crisis' at the Assembly Rooms, Fenkle Street, Newcastle between 4.30pm to 7.30pm.

The event will be a mix of inspirational speakers, detailing their personal stories of resistance and hope, celebrating women in the global struggle and some great live music and performance poetry.

The evening's Keynote speaker is Alfamir Castillo, president of the Women Sugar Cane Cutters Committee, Colombia. In 2008 Alfamir led the mobilisation of the wives, sisters, mothers and daughters of sugar cane cutters who were engaged in an historic two-month strike in protest against 'slave-like' working conditions in the southwest of Colombia. The women played a vital role, organising solidarity for the strike, as well as confronting police. Alfamir also suffered the terrible consequences of the Colombian conflict. Her 15-year old son was murdered by the Colombian army in 2008 and the resulting court case against the soldiers responsible has led to kidnap attempts, gun attack, and constant threats and harassment on her and her family.

Other Speakers include:

  • Rafeer Ziadah, Palestinian performance poet and War on Want Senior campaigns Officer
  • Clare Williams, UNISON Regional Convenor and Chair of the Northern TUC Women's Group.

Clare Williams, Chair of the Northern TUC Women's Group said: 'It is a real privilege to have these amazing women in the north east to highlight what International Women's Day is all about; strength, tenacity, selflessness and a collective will to make things better - not just for women, but for everyone. Due to the global recession the gains that women have made on equality are under attack at home and across the globe. It is important not to take any progress for granted and to continue to strive for further advancements for women everywhere, from Colombia to Newcastle.'

Jackie Simpkins, War on Want Trades Unions Liaison Officer said:' 'Today's International Women's Day event is about highlighting the role which women are playing in the global resistance to a failed economic model, but also showing the brutal human consequences of that model. Alfamir Castillo is a Colombian leader, as well as a mother, whose life is under threat from paramilitaries every time she leaves the house.

'Today's event will pose the question, how do we build solidarity not only to support people in places like Colombia and Palestine, but also to build the global movement for change?'

NOTES TO EDITORS:

- Northern TUC press releases www.tuc.org.uk/northern national releases www.tuc.org.uk and www.twitter.com/tucnews

- Register for the TUC's press extranet: a service exclusive to journalists wanting to access pre-embargo releases and reports www.tuc.org.uk/pressextranet

- For TUC advice and information on the world of work www.workSMART.org.uk

Media contacts:

Kevin Rowan T: 0191 227 5565 M: 07766250074 E: krowan@tuc.org.uk

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