AMP: Artists' Meeting Place and Resource Collective

Today is International Women's Day.

Check out the website here: http://www.internationalwomensday.com/

And here are some relevant articles from Art4Development:

MIDEAST: No Day Is a Woman's Day in Gaza
By Mohammed Omer
GAZA CITY - Mahasen Darduna suffers in ways the world recognises; her
suffering comes at the hands of the Israelis. But there are many
Palestinian women whose suffering the world does not see, because
their hell is inflicted on them by Palestinians.
http://www.ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=41498

KENYA: Equal Pay in Theory, Not Always in Fact
By Kwamboka Oyaro
NAIROBI - On Mar. 8, a century ago, thousands took to the streets of
New York in demonstrations aimed at improving life for women. Burning
issues of the day included the need for better working conditions --
higher pay, a shorter work day -- and winning the right to vote.
http://www.ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=41499

PAKISTAN: Women Push For Political Space In Patriarchy
By Ashfaq Yusufzai
PESHAWAR - Saeeda Anwar is a 38-year-old Pakistani schoolteacher. She
works in a school here in the capital of the North West Frontier
Province (NWFP), but she is not allowed to exercise her franchise.
http://www.ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=41496

ITALY: Right to Abortion Being Sought Again
By Sabina Zaccaro
ROME - Women scientists, intellectuals and professionals are asking
women to oppose a new "clerical assault on women." They are fighting
attempts by centre-right politicians and Catholic doctors
associations to limit the current abortion law.
http://www.ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=41495

IRAQ: Surviving Somehow Behind a Concrete Purdah
Analysis by Dahr Jamail
WASHINGTON - Iraq, where women once had more rights and freedom than
most others in the Arab world, has turned deadly for women who dream
of education and a professional career.
http://www.ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=41479

Fund to Fight Gender Violence Puts Donors to the Test
By Thalif Deen
UNITED NATIONS - The U.N. "Trust Fund to End Violence against Women"
has risen significantly over the last year: from 3.5 million dollars
in 2006 to over 15 million dollars in 2007.
http://www.ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=41488

U.N.'s Main Women's Body Remains Leaderless
Thalif Deen
UNITED NATIONS - When women activists lash out against gender
discrimination, one of their longstanding complaints is also directed
at the U.N. Secretariat, where senior level posts are still largely a
virtual monopoly of men.
http://www.ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=41455

Women Out in the Cold at Peace Talks
Thalif Deen
UNITED NATIONS - As the United Nations continues its two-week long
discussions on the status of women worldwide, there is one nagging
fact hovering around the conference rooms in the Secretariat:
peacemaking is still largely in the hands of "men in suits, puffing
on cigars".
http://www.ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=41437

The eight MDGs are:

1. Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger
2. Achieve universal primary education
3. Promote gender equality and empower women
4. Reduce child mortality
5. Improve maternal health
6. Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria, and other diseases
7. Ensure environmental sustainability
8. Develop a global partnership for development

(http://www.un.org/millenniumgoals/)

IPS Women's Day - Special Coverage
Read more at: http://www.ipsnews.net/new_focus/womensday/index.asp