A Call to all Women for the 7th National Conference of
Women's Movements
Towards a Politics of Justice: Affirming Diversities,
Resisting Divisiveness
9-12 September 2006
Venue: Salt Lake Stadium, Kolkata
Invitation to Participate
We would like to invite all of you to participate in
the Seventh National Conference, a large gathering of
about 2000 women from different parts of India,
belonging to different castes, classes, sexual
orientation, ethnic, cultural and linguistic
backgrounds.
Since 1980, every two to five years, the National
Conferences have provided a platform for women to come
together to share, dialogue, debate and sharpen their
politics while deepening their understanding of and
responses to issues and strategies. They have also
provided the space to forge friendships and extend
solidarity to each other.
Each National Conference has been a collective stock
taking of the ever-changing political contexts within
which issues get continuously redefined. There is an
incredible energy, spirit and dynamism when so many
women who are struggling, individually and
collectively, meet in one space.
Share this experience with us !
About us:
We are autonomous women's groups, formed in the late
1970s and early 1980s, which began their political
journey with the anti rape, dowry murders and
amniocentesis campaigns. We define autonomy in terms of
maintaining institutional and ideological independence
from political parties, governments and funding
agencies.
The National Conference is organised by a working group
that is called the National Coordination Committee
(NCC). It is not a registered or a permanent body but
is re-convened prior to each conference and
collectively inducts new members.
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History of National Conferences
A quarter century has been completed since the First
National Conference, "On Perspectives for a Women's
Liberation Movement in India", was held in the city of
Mumbai in 1980. It had about 200 women coming from all
over the country to discuss violence against women and
establish themselves as a stream within the Indian
Women's Movement. The second one [1985] was also hosted
by the women's groups in Mumbai. In 1988 it was held in
Patna with a large mobilisation of rural women. Women's
groups in the South offered to host the next one in
Calicut [1990]. The conference was documented for the
first time on video. The numbers of participating women
were steadily increasing. Over 3000 women came to the
Tirupathi [1994 ] and Ranchi [1997].
The issues taken up by the Conferences have varied from
violence and discrimination against women within the
home and outside, as in dowry tortures, murders and
other forms of marital violence, female infanticide,
sexual harassment, rape, violence perpetrated on
lesbians; prostitution, trafficking and commodification
of women.
The Conferences have also dealt with issues like health
and fertility, recognition of women's work and worth,
political participation, communalism and
fundamentalism, wars and militarisation, state
repression and violence, displacement and migration,
the increasing impoverishment of the poor, the
marginalised and women. We discussed different
strategies, analyses and perspectives.
After a gap of nine years, the National Conference is
being held in Kolkata, West Bengal.
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The Seventh National Conference
Towards a Politics of Justice: Affirming Diversities,
Resisting Divisiveness
We call on all women who are struggling against
different forms of oppression to be part of the
National Conference and to collectively evolve a vision
of equality and social justice. The National
Conferences have a vision of an alternative society - a
society that is free from violence and discrimination
and upholds gender, caste and class equality, social
justice, diversity, dignity and peace. Over the years,
the Conferences have evolved as spaces to share our
ideas, concerns, politics, campaigns and give
visibility to the continuing resistances and struggles
for justice, equality and liberation.
While we believe that as women we share common
interests, struggles, and goals, we also realise that
social constructs such as caste, class, religion,
ethnicity, disability and sexuality create multiple
identities for many of us. Hence, we remain committed
to recognising multiple identities and commonalities
while resisting the marginalisation, divisions and
contradictions created by the politics of identity. The
themes of the 7th National Conference are Patriarchy,
Globalisation, Fundamentalism and Casteism.
Our website is :
www.geocities.com/nationalconferenceindia
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SCHEDULE
DAY 1, 9th September
Morning: Arrival and Registration
Afternoon: Opening Plenary
History of National Conferences, Cultural Performances.
Evening: cultural programs
DAY 2, 10th September
Morning and Afternoon: Parallel Sessions
Identity based group discussions on the main focal
themes
? Religious minorities
? Agricultural workers
? Informal sector
? Unpaid workers
? Caste groups
? Displaced people
? Women in sex work/ prostitution
? Women living under State violence
? Women with disabilities
? Survivors of Violence
? Marginalized sexualities and genders
? Migrant women
? Indigenous people
Evening: Self Organised Small Workshops and Networking
Cultural Programs
DAY 3, 11th September
Morning: Plenary: Political Ideologies and State Power:
rhetoric and reality
Afternoon: Reporting of earlier sessions according to
language based groups
Evening: Parallel Sessions: Resistances and Strategies.
DAY 4, 12th September
Morning: Closing Plenary: Reflections and Challenges
Cultural Performances
Afternoon: BUS RALLY through Kolkata
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REGISTRATION
The National Conference does not directly seek or
accept any funds from any funding agency. Funds are
raised through donation and registration fees. You
could also contribute to the process by collecting
donations. Send your contributions through Demand
Drafts/ Money Orders drawn in the name of "Sanlaap, A/c
7th National Conference of Autonomous Women's Movements
in India."
Registration is mandatory for participation.
The last date for registration is 15th August, 2006.
The registration fee is Rs. 500/- for 3 nights and 4
days with accommodation in dormitories, food, and
conference spaces.
Registration without accommodation is Rs. 300/-
Registration fee for Non Indians is Rs. 1000/- for all
4 days, inclusive of food but without accommodation.
On-the-spot registration may not be available due to
lack of space. We recommend early registration.
Forms are available online at:
www.geocities.com/nationalconferenceindia
Forms are also available at:
JAGORI
B-114 Shivalik Malviya Nagar,
New Delhi 110 017
Tel: 91 11 26691219
Telefax: 91 11 26691221
Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
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Books and Craft Stalls
Participants are invited to display their books and
products. A rent of Rs 1000 for all 4 days will be
charged for a table. Organisations can hire a table or
share one between themselves.
Please contact:
Sanhita, 89 B, Raja Basanta Roy Road, Calcutta 700 029.
Tel.: 91 33 22161471/ 22845525
Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Video and Theatre
We welcome participants to feature videos, theatre
performances and songs.
Please contact:
Point of View, 20A, Gopal Mansion Near Panthaky Agiary
Guru Nanak Road, Bandra (W), Mumbai 400 050.
Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
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PRE-REGISTRATION FORM
Name/s:
Organisation:
Address:
E-mail:
Fax/ Telephone no.:
Number of participants:
Nature of organisation:
Per person registration fee is Rs. 500/-.
The fee covers accommodation in dormitories, food and
conference spaces.
Registration fee for Non Indians is Rs. 1000/- for all
4 days, inclusive of food but without accommodation.
Number of participants:
Total Amount:
Please make a demand draft in favour of "Sanlaap, A/c
7th National Conference of Autonomous Women's Movements
in India" and mail to:
JAGORI
B-114 Shivalik Malviya Nagar, New Delhi 110 017
Tel: 91 11 26691219 Telefax: 91 11 26691221
Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Please do not send cheques or cash. JAGORI will send
you a receipt and registration number which you will
need to show when you come to the conference venue.
IMPORTANT:
o Please check at station for Info Desk for shuttle bus
to venue [at a nominal cost]
o Accommodation is available from the 9th Sept, 06
morning 7.00 am to the 12th Sept 7.00 p m
o PLEASE DO REMEMBER TO GET BED SHEETS, MOSQUITO
REPELLENT AND AN UMBRELLA
For more information, see
www.geocities.com/nationalconferenceindia
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