The next international Women in Black Gathering - the XV Encuentro -
will be held in Bogota, Colombia, August 15-20, 2011.

For further information, contact: mujeresdenegro@rutapacifica.org.co
Deadline for XV Encuentro Registration: June 15, 2011.

The WiB XV Encuentro will include plenaries, workshops, and solidarity
actions relating to six basic themes:

i) Opposing the militarisation of national and international "security"
Feminist analysis of current militarised security policies, including
how armed conflicts in the South are fuelled by arms industries and
economic interests of the North; learning from practical feminist
actions to empower and protect women.

ii) Feminist perspectives on current conflicts and wars
Looking at today's conflicts through a feminist lens: nationalism,
religious intolerance, xenophobia, terrorism and armed militias,
sexism, trans-border trafficking in arms, drugs, women and vulnerable
peoples.

iii) Transformative practices of Women in Response to the Challenges
Feminist alternatives in human security analysis and practical action
to empower and engage women in building our own resources and
practices for shared, collective security.

iv) Violence and Sexual Oppression
Experience and resistance to oppression and violence against women,
including: rape as a war crime and in the domestic arena; sexual
slavery and trafficking in women; prostitution; hatred and violence
against lesbians.

v) Bringing the perpetrators of war crimes and crimes against women to justice.
Discussion of ad hoc tribunals and bringing cases to the
International Criminal Court.

vi) Challenges for Women in Black: How do we see ourselves and how do we respond?
Our past, our present and our future; as Women in Black
groups develop round the world, how can we strengthen our
international links and communication as locally relevant activists
in an international movement? Discussing how to learn from our
mistakes and weaknesses and develop more effectively without losing
our essential feminist, decentralised and anti-militarist strengths.

If you are in Women in Black or involved in related
feminist-antimilitarist campaigns and need financial assistance to be
able to participate in the XV Encuentro please let us know and we
will try to match you up with WiB groups that are raising funds to
support outreach and participation in the XV Encuentro.

If you have ideas for speakers, workshops or workshop coordinators,
please let us know as soon as possible (by April at the latest), so that
materials can be finalised by mid May.

Deadline for XV Encuentro Registration: June 15, 2011.

For registration, information and offers of funding or other
assistance, contact Shima Pardo at:
mujeresdenegro@rutapacifica.org.co