SEE NOTICEBOARD for CURRENT CAMPAIGNS AND APPEALS
NEW! SUPPORT THE FAWCETT ! FIGHT THE CUTS !
SUPPORT FAWCETT’S BID FOR A JUDICIAL REVIEW OF THE BUDGET
**JOIN THE PROTEST OUTSIDE THE HIGH COURT**
12.30 pm - 2pm, Monday 6th December,
Royal Courts of Justice,
The Strand, London WC2A 2LL
Fawcett Society statement:
In August, the Fawcett Society lodged papers challenging the legality of the government’s emergency Budget.
Of the £8 billion pounds worth of cuts made through changes to tax and welfare in the Budget, 70 per cent are set to come from women’s pockets.
The Fawcett Society believes such a skewed budget could not have been drawn up in accordance with the law. We believe the Treasury did not, as is required by law, consider whether their plans would have a disproportionate impact on women and affect women’s equality.
On Monday, lawyers on both sides will present their arguments to a judge, who will decide whether or not to grant us a judicial review of the budget.
Come and show your support for Fawcett’s case, be seen and be heard.
Making women bear the brunt of cuts is wrong; drawing up a budget without thinking who it will affect is unlawful.
FUNDAMENTALISM OR WOMEN'S RIGHTS?
Fundamentalism is a modern political movement that uses religion to gain or consolidate power. It is found in all major religions throughout the world, sometimes holding state power, sometimes in opposition to it — and sometimes working within the confines of a secular state to control minority communities. Fundamentalism is not the same as religious observance, which we see as a matter of individual choice.
Fundamentalists set out to perpetuate women's role as upholders of the supposedly unchanging morals and traditions of the whole community.
Women who refuse this role may risk being demonised, outcast from their community, subjected to physical violence or even killed.
The control of women’s minds and bodies is at the heart of the fundamentalist agenda.
DEFENDING WOMEN'S RIGHTS IS AT THE HEART OF WAF'S AGENDA
JOIN US IN BUILDING A SECULAR MOVEMENT
In Britain in recent years fundamentalism has increased its influence in all religions. This has been encouraged by government moves to define complex and diverse communities solely according to 'faith', with public funds increasingly being handed out to religious bodies to provide services to 'their' communities on behalf of local and central government.
WAF believes that this increases the power of religious leaders to discriminate against women and other groups and to exclude or silence dissidents within their own communities.
We believe that public funds should be administered by accountable, democratically elected representatives and not by religious leaders. Only secular institutions with no religious agenda can begin to bring about equality for people of all religions or none.
Join us in building a secular movement to challenge the rise of fundamentalism in all religions.
If you would like more information, please send an email to: info@womenagainstfundamentalism.org.uk
WAF NOTICES
PROTEST THE POPE!
THE POPE opposes universal equality and human rights. Join us in letting him know he is not welcome here — especially not on our taxes and with the state's official support!
Thousands of people marched in support of Protest the Pope! campaign on September 18th. Speakers at the rally included Clara Connolly on behalf of WAF and Pragna Patel from Southall Black Sisters.
PAKISTAN FLOOD RELIEF APPEAL
Wondering how to contribute to the flood relief in Pakistan? Global Fund for Women has set up an APPEAL FUND to raise money for emergency grants to key women's groups.
From the Global Fund for Women website:
"Pakistan has been devastated by floods. 20 million have been impacted, over 3,000 are dead or injured. Our grantees in Pakistan have mobilized to help the hundreds of thousands now homeless and without food.
"Your generosity will provide emergency support for women's organizations to rebuild communities and continue their work long after this disaster is past.
"With the generous support of our donors, we have sent emergency grants to key women’s groups in Pakistan. But the need is so great.
"Please put women and girls first with a generous donation now."
DEATH BY STONING
The International Committee Against Stoning is organizing an international day of action on September 18 against stoning, execution and flogging, focusing on the case of Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani in Iran. This will take place a few days before Ahmadinejad's visit to the United Nations General Assembly in New York on 23-24 September 2010.