UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA - AFRICAN STUDIES CENTER |
From:
*/
/* ---------- "Arab Women Solidarity Assc." ---------- */
From:
ARAB WOMEN SOLIDARITY ASSOCIATION
AWSA NORTH AMERICA
P.O. BOX 95760
SEATTLE, WA 98145
We are eager to announce the establishment of the AWSA North America
Branch and invite you to join us.
What is the Arab Women's Solidarity Association?
During the seventies, a variety of conferences and discussions among
Arab Women brought attention to the need to address the oppression and
problems experienced by women in Arab countries. These discussions led
to the realization that struggle for women's liberation is directly
linked to the development of Arab societies and the liberation of all
Arabs from national and international oppression and domination.
By 1982, 120 Arab women joined forces and established The Arab Women's
Solidarity Association. Dr. Nawal El Saadawi (the internationally
renowned Egyptian feminist and author) was elected as president. The
group established AWSA headquarters in Cairo, Egypt. In 1985 AWSA
obtained consultative status as an international non-profit non-
governmental organization with the Economic and Social Council of the
United Nations in New York. Since then, the Association has grown to
include 3000 women and men worldwide.
Objectives and Activities of AWSA
AWSA was established as a nucleus for Arab women to organize and
increase their awareness of the link between women's liberation and the
liberation of other oppressed groups in society. AWSA promotes women's
rights and encourages Arab women to work together for women's liberation
in their respective countries as well as internationally.
AWSA's network of members and branches allows Arab women to reflect on
their common experiences, to exchange ideas and strategies, and to
profit from the contributions of both Arab and non-Arab women. The main
activities of the Association have been informational and educational;
such as several international conferences, weekly seminars, training
activities, the publication of books and a quarterly magazine "Noon",
lectures, public debates on women's issues and various projects which
focus on linking understanding with practical experience. AWSA has
undertaken economic, self-help, cultural, and audio-visual projects
including the production of booklets and musical songs, reading manuals
for rural women, and two short fiction films.
Principles Guiding these activities:
(1) Women's active participation in the political, social, economic,
and cultural life of Arab countries is necessary for the exercise of
real democracy.
(2) The abolition of discrimination based on race, sex, class, or
religion, in the family, the workplace, and the national and
international political arena, is a necessary condition for social
justice.
(3) A critical understanding of the needs of Arab women, the
experiences of women from all walks of life, and the system, ideas, and
values under which they live is necessary in order to pave the way
toward independent development.
AWSA therefore encourages activities which promote active participation.
After taking a stand against the Gulf War, AWSA faced its most severe
attack. We had spoken out against a war which resulted in increasing
economic crisis and resurgence of fanatic political and religious
groups, neo-colonial domination in the Arab region, and a backlash
against the rights of women and the poor. In response, the Egyptian
government issued a decree banning the Egyptian Branch of AWSA and
closing down AWSA literary magazine "Noon".
Why a Branch in North America?
AWSA North America is currently being established for the following
reasons:
1. To sustain the momentum of AWSA.
2. To respond to the desire of thousands of Arab-American
women who like to create solidarity with their sisters in
the US, the Arab region, and internationally.
3. To encourage Arab-Americans to oppose the policies of the
US government, the World Bank, IMF, GATT, and other
international institutions which aggravate the oppression
of Arab women. With a branch in North America, AWSA can
address these policies more effectively.
4. To call attention to the problems affecting Arab-American
women.
5. To cooperate with African, Latina, Native, and Asian
American sisters who are involved in the struggle to gain
their rights.
AWSA North America considers these issues to be most important. But
reality is always richer than we know. Other issues and tasks will
evolve out of our current efforts. Life is always reflected in change
and growth. We are inviting you to join us . We are inviting all
women, men, and friends to give this new branch of AWSA as much support
as possible.
Immediate Activities:
Preliminary discussions have led to a number of proposals concerning the
immediate activities of AWSA:
1. To establish contacts and a network with other Arab-
American and Women's Groups in the US.
2. To re-issue the magazine of AWSA "Noon", in Arabic and
English.
3. To publish and translate books and research written by
Arab women from Arabic to English and vice-versa.
4. To organize the AWSA workshop for the United Nations
Fourth International Conference of Women which will be
held in Beijing, China, in September 1995, under the
title "Arab Women Resist the New World Order".
5. To produce a feature film related to the problems of Arab
women living in both Arab and non-Arab countries.
6. To organize AWSA's Fourth International Conference.
7. To organize regular meetings with Arab, Arab-American,
and other groups and organizations of women facing
similar problems.
==================================================================
MEMBERSHIP FORM
Name:
Address:
City:
State: Zip:
Phone:
Fax:
---------------------------
...... Active member ...... Mailing list only
Please check activities which interest you:
........... AWSA workshop in Beijing, China
........... AWSA International Conference
........... AWSA literary magazine "Noon"
........... Others_____________________________
AWSA annual membership fee: $20 per individual, $50 per organization.
Please send this form and your membership fee and/or donation payable to
AWSA to:
AWSA
P.O. Box 95760
Seattle, WA 98145
Previous Menu Home Page What's New Search Country Specific