March, 8th 2005 Message
International Women’s Day

WOMEN WALK, WAY OF HOPE!

The General Assembly of WMCW held in May 2004, reaffirmed the commitment of the movements to actively continue their involvement in the Women world Walk. The WMCW fully supports the theme of Walk: "Against poverty and for the sharing of the wealth, against violence to women and for the respect of their physical and mental integrity".

As many men and women all over the world, WMCW members deny a society which despises women, which marginalizes them and does not grant them the same rights as to men. For this reason, WMCW denounces the current wild system of globalization, which constrained 2/3 of the world population (notably 70% women and children) to live in poverty.

We can’t accept that the majority of our global village population continuously pays unjust foreign debts, debts settled on many occasions on the basis of interests! We don’t neither accept that rich countries devastate the environment of poor countries by the overexploitation of natural resources. We are against a globalization of the economy that gives more and more power to multinationals, facilitate free circulation of goods and capital products, and at the same time, it stops impoverished populations to enjoy freedom to circulate.

Faced to all these injustices, women are often first to launch out in the search of alternatives. Through initiatives as the Women world Walk, they make their voice heard by energetic critic of the patriarchal system and capitalist that creates inequalities between women and men, amongst people and population. They denounce this system that worsens poverty and generates all kinds of violence.

The dynamics of the Women world Walk is also expressed through many social movements carrying political alternatives, such as social Forums. This remarkable gesture will surely help to
achieve the Millennium Goals for the Development, knowing that the third one is to promote gender equality and women emancipation from now to 2015, to then work for a total eradication of poverty, as well as all forms of violence.

The WMCW is delighted to see that the two last Nobel Prize of Peace were awarded to women: Shirin Ebadi from Iran in 2003, and Wangari Maathai from Kenya in 2004. The first for its engagement in favor of democracy and respect of human rights, especially those of the women and the children, in Iran and in the Muslim world. The second for her militant ecologist work, specialized in the reforestation of desert regions of Africa.

In this March 8, 2005, WMCW pays homage to all the women and salutes their commitment near family and society. WMCW encourages interdependent women and men to continue their engagement for the development of fair society. The future of the world is in their hands!

The Executive Council of WMCW

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