Northern TUC International Women's Day Event
International Women's Day 2009
NTUC EVENT SATURDAY 7 MARCH
ASSEMBLY ROOMS NEWCASTLE
The Northern TUC International Women's Day event organised by the Women's Group, attracted 50 trade union women from across the region and visitors from other regions to the Assembly Rooms in Newcastle to hear speakers from Burma, Palestine and Colombia tell of their experiences and ongoing fight for human rights, even in 2009.
Clare Williams, Chair of the Women's Group opened the conference by saying, 'With the horrors faced in many parts of the world, and the economic meltdown of globalisation, International Women's Day is as relevant now as it ever has been. Women at home and abroad continue to bear the brunt of this burden. That's why it's important that we build women's solidarity and celebrate women's achievements.'
BURMA
There are 600,000 internally displaced Burmese with 116,000 refugees living in UN refugee camps on the border with Thailand. Most of these are women and children facing exploitation and abuse by the Military Junta and forced to flee for their own safety.
Health care provision in Burma is so poor it is hard for us to imagine. Less than $1 is spent on education and health per person per year, and one in 10 children die before the age of 5. For those who make it to the refugee camps on the Thai border there is at least some medical provision, but this too is very basic.
Rapes by the military are commonplace. Both men and women are raped as a form of oppression; there is ethnic cleansing, genocide and slave labour.
Despite being refused travel documents and at great personal risk, there are
powerful women at the forefront of 
community development and fighting human
rights abuses. Lisa Houston, spoke passionately about her work in one of the clinics on the Thai Border and the Umpium refugee camp clinic.
The support of the trade unions through contacts such as the Federation of Trade Unions Burma and Federation of Trade Unions Karen are vital for supporting community development, health care and education for Burmese women and their children.
COLOMBIA
Since the government of Alvaro Uribe Velez came to power in 2002, more than 1,250 indigenous civilians have been murdered without a single criminal conviction.
The indigenous communities in Cauca are the most well-organised in the pursuit of their rights, and have been the victims of violence and threats from all armed groups including the Colombian Army. Aida Quilce, spoke movingly on DVD about the murder of her husband, while travelling in a car together - when she had been the intended victim.
The condemnation by the international community is imperative to give a wider voice to what is happening and the support of trade unions such as UNISON has been invaluable for those facing these struggles to feel that they are not alone.
For the indigenous communities in Colombia there are three critical areas that in particular women's organisations are fighting for: education, health and food security. The introduction of single crops to communities as part of the globalisation agenda is increasing poverty and starvation. There is constant harassment and violence against women working in their communities. In the words of Aida 'we are fighting for resistance, dignity and hope.'
PALESTINE
Maysa Badwan, Coordinator regional health services for the district of Qalqilya, West Bank, and Saeda Jamal, student, spoke about the realities of living in Palestine today and the impact of The Wall on local communities and families, the Israeli occupation and the illegal settlements of the West Bank.
Palestinians in the West Bank continue to lose their lands, homes and crops. Because of the restrictions in work permits and travel problems faced by men in the Occupied Territories, women are becoming the bread winners for their families and often earn very low wages.
There are 11 Palestinian women travelling the UK seeking twinning arrangements and contact with trade unions to support the Palestinians living in the West Bank. This is important because the international community overlooks small communities in 
the Peace Process. The day to day activities of living for these communities is becoming more and more difficult, for example they only have access to water for 4 days a week. Healthcare is badly affected, especially for pregnant women and children injured in the conflict. Mothers and babies are dying because they cannot get to hospitals because of road blocks.
As Maysa said, 'It is hard to put into words what it is like to live under occupation, but families are being destroyed by it; we need international support.' It was aptly put by Saeda, 'We need you to be our voices and take up our cases.'
NEXT STEPS
There were three workshops on the day looking at the three presentations which came up with an action plan for each to be taken forward by the regional TUC and the Women's Groups, but more importantly by our own trade unions. Clare Williamssummed it up by issuing something of a rallying cry, 'There are so many common elements to all of these issues, health, education, safety and human rights, and it is incumbent on all of us to support our sisters across the globe - with more than just words but with action.'
For information on how you can get involved please contact k.rowan@tuc.org or C.Williams4@unison.co.uk
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