International Women’s Day 2009

RECLAIM THE NIGHT ~ march to end violence against women!
Tues 17 March 2009 … Assemble @ 7pm (see route below) … Cardiff city centre

I’m writing to invite you to a safe, empowering event to draw attention to women’s right to walk the streets at night without the fear or reality of violence.

A survey by a young women’s magazine in 2005 found that 95% of women don’t feel safe on the streets at night, and 65% don’t even feel safe during the day. 73% worry about being raped and almost half say they sometimes don’t want to go out because they fear for their own safety. Women cannot claim equal citizenship while the threat of violence restricts our lives as it does.

We demand the right to use public space without fear.
We demand this right as a civil liberty; we demand this as a human right.

Reclaim the Night is about taking back the right to walk our streets whenever we want to, without the fear or reality of violence.

Why march?

The march has 3 main focuses:

1. Challenge people’s attitudes towards women who fall victim to sexual violence. A 2008 study by our members NUS Wales Women’s Campaign and Amnesty International Wales found that 38% of students in Wales think a woman is totally / partially responsible for being raped if she has acted ‘in a flirtatious manner’, 28% if she is wearing ‘sexy or revealing clothes’, 34% if she is drunk and 23% if she is ‘alone and walking in a dangerous or deserted area’.

2. Demand improved conviction rates for rapists. All four Welsh police areas are below even the appalling UK average (6.1% of reported rapes lead to convictions). In 2006, South Wales Police convicted 5.9% of reported rapes (down from 12.18% in 2004).

3. Continue our campaign to get the Welsh Assembly Government to develop an integrated strategy to end violence against women, complying with UN recommendations, addressing ALL forms of violence against women and recognizing such violence as both a cause and consequence of women’s inequality.

Gender

The front part of the march will be self-defined women only, and will be followed by a mixed march so that anyone, regardless of gender or gender identity, can show solidarity for the cause.

Route

We will assemble at 7pm at the start point indicated on the attached map (from town, walk along Castle Street, over the bridge towards Canton, and we will be meeting on a triangularish patch of grass between the bridge and the turn-off to Cathedral Road!). We will march up Castle Street, under the underpass by the Hilton to the civic centre, past the Crown Court, ending up at the Welsh Assembly Government building in Cathays Park at approx 8pm, where we will have speakers including:
* Paula Hardy (Chief Executive, Welsh Women’s Aid)
* Naomi Brightmore (Director, Wales Women’s National Coalition)
* Katie Dalton (Women’s Officer, NUS Wales)
+ more tbc.

For further information there is a Facebook event page at http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/event.php?eid=54203726942#wall_posts.

Workshops based on the theme of new beginnings include Willow weaving, belly dance, massage, crafts, talks, story telling, felting & more.

Opening Hours: All day event Saturday & Sunday.
Event Dates: 7th March 2009 – 8th March 2009

This weekend sees the launch of ‘IRIS’ a series of four, Women only themed weekends planned for 2009-10 hosted at Over the Rainbow. IRIS: (Inspiration/Relaxation/Intuition/Spirituality)

Tickets for Seeds of Change are either:
* Full Residential weekend tickets (shared Accommodation)
* Non residential weekend tickets or
* One Day tickets.

Admission:
* Full Residential weekend tickets: £225pp based on two sharing a double room.
* Non residential weekend ticket: £120
* One Day ticket: £80

Email info@overtherainbowwales.co.uk
Visit Website http://www.overtherainbowwales.co.uk/
Telephone: 01239 811 155
Address: Over the Rainbow, Plas Tyllwyd, Tanygroes, Ceredigion SA43 2JD
Transportation / Directions: http://www.overtherainbowwales.co.uk/findus.html
Door Policy: Women Only

http://www.gingerbeer.co.uk/event.php?ListingID=2005&CategoryID=19

Women Shaping the Future of Wales takes place at the Village Hotel in Swansea on Thursday 5 March, and is organised by ITWales.

Since its inception in the early 1900s, International Women’s Day has grown to become a global day of recognition and celebration of the achievements and potential of women. Women Shaping the Future of Wales will build upon the success of previous ITWales events by not only providing an insight into the diverse range of career opportunities for women in the 21st century, but also offering a platform for sharing experiences, knowledge and best practice for women working with science and technology.

Jonathan Hill, news anchor of ITV Wales Wales Tonight will act as master of ceremonies, and a panel of high profile female speakers, each leaders in their respective fields will share their personal and professional experiences with the attendees.

This year’s event boasts a line-up of inspiring speakers including:

Emma Westecott, Research Fellow, Computer Games Design, Newport School of Art, Media & Design at University of Wales Newport, who has worked in the game industry for over ten years producing and programming games, as well as lecturing in game design internationally.

Laura Tenison MBE, founder and Managing Director of JoJo Maman Bébé Limited, the UK’s foremost niche market specialist in the pregnancy and baby market, who has grown the company organically from start-up to its current £19m gross turnover without the need for VC or private equity.

Baroness Professor Ilora Finlay of Llandaff, professor of palliative medicine at Cardiff University School of Medicine and a consultant at the Velindre cancer centre in Cardiff. She is also a cross-bench member of the House of Lords and president of the Royal Society of Medicine.

Chris Williams, Operations Manager of ITWales said, “This is the eighth year that ITWales has held a celebration of International Women’s Day, and we’re delighted to bring together such a high calibre of speakers to inspire and encourage our audience this year. Women have always had an important role to play as part of the Welsh workforce, and in these difficult economic times it’s extremely important that we learn from the very best to underscore that, and show just what is possible. Wales is a small and clever country, and our speakers will reinforce that as they share their experiences.”

She continued, “This annual event celebrates the success and achievements of women who are currently helping put Wales firmly on the map as a great place for innovation and ambition. Our speakers this year are at the very top of their profession and have used technologies to support their ambitions. As in previous years, Women Shaping the Future in Wales 2009 will highlight the role of technology in 21st century Wales and demonstrate its relevance in business, academia and society in general.”

Women Shaping the Future of Wales is organised by ITWales and supported by Swansea Bay Partnership, Speakers Unlimited and The Village Hotel.

Places for the event can be booked at £25 per head or £250 for a table of ten by contacting ITWales on 01792 602702 or online at http://www.itwales.com/events

http://www.itwales.com/997276.htm

INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY 2009 – FREE CONFERENCE
Open to Public & Voluntary Sector Service Providers & Community Activists
Tuesday 17th March 2009 at City Hall, Cardiff, Wales.

Invited speakers include:
* Nazir Afzal O.B.E. – Director, Crown Prosecution Service
* Chief Constable Brian Moore – Wiltshire Police
* Anne Marie Hutchinson O.B.E. – Dawson Cornwall Solicitors
* Ratna Dutt O.B.E. – Chief Executive, Race Equality Foundation (TBC)
* Commander Steve Allen- Association of Chief Police Officers
* Neelam Bhardwaja – Corporate Director, Cardiff Council
* Councillor J udith Woodman – Deputy Leader of Cardiff Council
* Sarah Russell – Head of Forced Marriage Unit, Foreign & Commonwealth Office

International Women’s Day conference 2009 is themed around prevention and protection of Forced Marriage & ‘Honour’ based violence. Henna Foundation will launch the National on-line Forced Marriage & ‘Honour’ Based Violence Directory & Toolkit, a project funded by the Equality & Human Rights Commission (EHRC).

In November 2008, Ministry of Justice launched the Forced Marriage (Civil Protection) Act 2007 and the Forced Marriage Statutory Guidance – with this came legal obligations upon public services and those commissioned to deliver services on their behalf, to ensure that all the necessary checks and balances are in place to ensure that victims and potential victims from Forced Marriage are protected from harm. The conference programme will focus on delivering an interactive knowledge gaining experience where attending delegates will gain practical awareness and knowledge from professionals who have made use of the Forced Marriage (Civil Protection) Act 2007 to safeguard victims.

Families of ethnic minority backgrounds are not a homogenous group and vary in degree of how they socially operate and integrate with the wider British society. Familial functions of some ethnic minority communities are led by indefensible notions of honour (izzat) and shame (sharam) and controlled by patriarchal traditions where gender specific roles and expectations regulate how families should live their lives. While families are committed and dedicated to working hard to care and provide for their families, there are equally a minority steadfast in ensuring their family status remains ‘honourably’ upheld and respected. When traditional conventions of family ‘honour’ codes’ are at risk of being compromised, this can lead to tension within families, and in extreme cases spill over into honour based violence, forced marriages, abandoned wives, child abduction to forced imprisonment isolation, depression, loneliness and withdrawal. In worst-case scenarios, matters can further escalate causing significant risk, harm and even loss of life.

Victims of honour-based violence are like the families they come from, emotionally bound (socially conditioned to accept it as a social norm) to the practice of ‘honour’. Their minds work around perception and what ‘others’ will think of them and often so overwhelmed with the guilt factors of ‘honour’ and shame, they internalise, even downplay the risks they face. Self-priority to safeguard their lives becomes secondary. Victims and families tormented at the hands of this practice need to believe that gender rights are God given human rights and be made aware that suffering the wrath of ‘honour’ abuse and violence in the familial home is unlawful, a crime and “not their shame”.

CONFERENCE OBJ ECTIVES & BENEFITS OF ATTENDING
* Forced Marriage (Civil Protection) Act 2007: The protection in practice
* Launch of the on-line Forced Marriage & HBV directory & toolkit
* Increasing trust & confidence of victims at risk of Forced Marriage & HBV
* Boost knowledge capacity & confidence of practitioners & support workers in the case handling of forced marriages and ‘Honour’ abuse
* Present best practice methods to improve current work practices and services to adequately protect victims from Forced Marriage and Honour’ related abuse and violence.
* Solutions focus; early intervention & prevention; Bridging the communication & generational gap between parents & young people
* Networking, information sharing, widening access & directory of services; delegates will have the opportunity to exchange discussions with internationally recognised professionals and champions in this field.

WHO SHOULD ATTEND?
* Front line Practitioners and Policy Officers;
* Cardiff Council staff, managers and elected members;
* Government and Local Authority departments;
* Police, CPS, Community Safety Officers, Domestic Violence Officers, Youth Offending Services, Probation Officers;
* Health & Social Care staff: social workers, health visitors, midwives, family liaisons, counselling services and other health workers. Education; Primary & secondary school Head teachers, University & Higher Education staff, Youth workers, Welfare education officers;
* Voluntary and Community Sector; Women’s Aid, Refuge services, Children & family services (inc faith groups & institutes);
* Law agencies (Inc Magistrates, Judges, Court workers, Solicitors, Barristers and Registrars).

CONDITIONS
* Delegate Fees: This event is FREE.
* All delegates are required to complete registration form.
* Places are limited; allocations will be made on a first come first served basis
* Please note this event is FREE; but registered non-attendees will be charged £60.

CONTACT INFORMATION
Equalities Team
Cardiff Council
Room 356
County Hall
Atlantic Wharf
Cardiff
CF10 4UW
Email: hbvconference@cardiff.gov.uk
Tel: Henna Foundation (029) 2049 8600 / (029) 2049 6920

Let’s Celebrate International Women’s Day

Manor Park Hotel, Clydach
6th March 2009 from 7pm – 1am

~ Drinks on arrival ~
~ Introduction ~
~ 3 course meal ~
~ REACT Entertainment drama performance ~
Presents Backwards and in High Heels
“Ginger Rogers did everything Fred Astaire did, but backwards and in high heels”
~ Disco ~

Tickets cost £25
Everyone Welcome

Hosted by Lliw Valley, Neath and Port Talbot Women’s Aid

If you would like further information or to purchase tickets please contact:
- Lliw Valley Women’s Aid 01792 869480
- Neath Women’s Aid 01639 633580
- Port Talbot Women’s Aid 01639 894864

Please download a poster here and advertise http://www.welshwomensaid.co.uk/23550.file.dld

http://www.welshwomensaid.co.uk/news/23547.html

Please join us to celebrate International Women’s Day
Friday March 6th, 10 a.m. to 2.00 p.m. at SWA, 138 Walter Road, Swansea.

Drop in any time between 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. for a choice of the following & it’s all FREE

…. indulge in an Indian head massage …. aromatherapy …. dabble in jewellery making …. a chat with friends …. have a coffee …. something to eat …. relax and take time out in safe space.

FREE crèche facilities available

PLUS

a £10 Tesco gift voucher for telling us what you think of our service: what’s right, what’s not so right and what we could do better.

http://www.welshwomensaid.co.uk/news/23881.html

Sunday 8 March 2009 at 7pm
Llanfair Clydogau Village Hall on B4343, near Lampeter, Ceredigion, Wales

Music, poetry and prose, drumming, and open mic spots – bring your voice, bring your poems and songs, bring your drums and musical instruments and join us for a jam!

All women welcome.

Tickets: £3/£5/£8 on the door.
Food and hot drinks on sale.
Raffle prizes.

Wheelchair-accessible venue, parking outside, adapted toilet

Contact us for more information, to offer to help (or perform!) on the day or help publicise this event: Carol 01570 422260, carollovekin1@hotmail.com or Wyldearth [removed - contact Support] after 2pm, wyldearth@googlemail.com.

——————————————————————————
The 2009 Women in Tune Festival will take place on 28th August – 1st September.

Look out for updates on http://www.womenintune.co.uk. For enquiries about the festival, contact:
WIT, Swn Y Ddol, Llanfair Clydogau, Lampeter, Ceredigion SA48 8LD.
Tel: 01570 493288.
Mobile: 07818 405674 or 07778 142643
Email: info@womenintune.co.uk

See Women in Tune 2008 – ‘In Spite of the Olympics’ Festival – 22nd – 25th August

Sunday 8th March is International Women’s Day 2009 and to celebrate the occasion, at 1.30, contributors from Seren’s recent anthology Women’s Work will read at the Senedd, National Assembly Building, Cardiff Bay.

Confirmed poets include Eva Salzman, Pascale Petit, Gillian Clarke, Carol Rumens, Zoe Skoulding and Tiffany Atkinson among others.

Cardiff MP Julie Morgan will be introducing the event.

Women’s Work editors Amy Wack and Eva Salzman will then talk briefly about the place of this women only anthology in these post feminist times.

http://www.seren-books.com/news/i/2298

films exhibitions live music craft debate workshops
chapter clwb ifor bach, the old library, cardiff city hall
butetown history & arts

Friday 6 March – Sunday 8 March

Mini film-festival – check out Chapter Programme
Including BME Women’s Film Club ‘Sisters in Law’ on Sun 11.00 am
CHAPTER, MARKET ROAD, CANTON

Friday 6 March

(IWA) Level Up – Who Runs Wales?
9.00am – 5.00pm £75
Features top women in leadership roles in Welsh life and explores
recent Norwegian initiatives to achieve gender parity in business.
St PETER’S CHURCH HALL, ST PETER’S STREET, CARDIFF

Saturday 7 March

Women’s Arts Association presents ‘Making Time’
11:00am – 3:00pm FREE
Art & Craft workshops, traditional skills with a contemporary twist.
THE OLD LIBRARY, THE HAYES

Wales Assembly of Women ‘Intergeneration Crunch’
10.30am – 12.30pm FREE
Lively discussion – ‘credit crunch’ impacts on women in Wales.
THE OLD LIBRARY, THE HAYES

Theoretical Girl + The Duloks + King Alexander
8.00pm ‘til late £5/6
CLWB IFOR BACH

Sunday 8 March

Multifaith/No faith Service of Women’s Activism
across the World
11.00am FREE

Monday 9 March

Women through the Ages: A Celebration!
10.30am – 3.30pm FREE (inc crèche)
WWNC & partners present Judith Hall, Welsh Woman of the Year 08.
Workshops: Women & Climate, International Solidarity,
Feminism past & present, Making a Difference.
Question time chaired by Rosemary Butler
CITY HALL, CARDIFF CIVIC CENTRE

Tuesday 10 March

Bridging the Generational Gap
10.30am – 4pm FREE
Entertainment and pampering presented by Women Connect First.
CITY HALL, CARDIFF CIVIC CENTRE

Wednesday 11 March

Wicked Words and Witty Women
7.00pm FREE
Stories, readings, performances, publishers & writing workshops
with a difference! Guests include Susan Richardson,
Emily Hinshelwood, Cath Little and Ivy Alvarez.
MILGI LOUNGE, 213 CITY ROAD, ROATH, CARDIFF

Thursday 12 March 2009

Women’s Workshop launch ‘New Life’ Project
10.45am – 1.00pm FREE
With Jane Hutt AM and St Mary’s School Gospel Choir.
WOMEN’S WORKSHOP, CARDIFF BAY

Friday 13 March 2009

Violence against Women in a Global and Local Context
10.00am – 3.30pm FREE (inc crèche)
Cardiff Women’s Aid, BAWSO and MEWN Cymru present panel
discussion led by Kirsty Williams AM, followed by lunch & workshops.
Includes international video link-ups with women activists.
CITY HALL, CARDIFF CIVIC CENTRE

Tuesday 17 March

Honour-based Violence Practitioner Toolkit
9.00am – 4.30pm FREE
Henna Foundation with Cardiff Council and other partners launch.
CITY HALL, CARDIFF CIVIC CENTRE

Reclaim the Night March
NUS Wales Women’s Campaign will lead a ‘Reclaim the Night’ march.

All Week
Mothers & Daughters: Portraits from Multi-Ethnic Wales
Tues – Fri 10.00am – 5.00pm Weekends 11.00am – 4.30pm FREE
Glenn Jordan (Director of BHAC)’s photographic exhibition.
BUTETOWN HISTORY & ARTS CENTRE

Please keep checking our website for updates and event information: http://www.cymruwomen.org.uk