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Mizzima: The World March of Women r



The World March of Women reached United Nations

New York, October 19, 2000
Mizzima News Group (www.mizzima.com)

Nearly 3000 women from more than 90 countries participated in the World
March of Women which culminated on October 17, the International Day for
the Eradication of Poverty, in front of United Nations Headquarters in
New York. The World March of Women initiated by Canada-based Quebec
Federation of Women on March 8, 2000 (International Women?s Day) is a
global initiative involving approximately 6,000 NGOs from 159 countries
and territories from all regions of the world.

Throughout the March, the women of the world signed the petitions to
draw the attention to the need to take concrete measures to eliminate
poverty, to ensure an equitable distribution of the world?s wealth, to
eradicate violence against women, and to ensure equality between women
and men.

Since its launch, over five millions signed petition cards were
collected, which were brought by the women delegates to the United
Nations on October 17. Due to the Middle East Crisis, the United Nations
Secretary General Kofi Annan could not personally meet the women leaders
on that day as he had promised. In the absence of him, UN Deputy
Secretary General Angala E.V. King met the political delegation of the
World March of Women, which comprised of one woman representative each
from 90 countries around the world.

Spokespersons of the delegation made presentation to the UN
representatives on poverty and violence against women in different
regions, especially in the countries of armed conflict such as
Palestine, Afghanistan, Yugoslavia and Columbia.

The United Nations Deputy Secretary-General reached to it by
congratulating women?s unity and successful march. While emphasizing the
world body?s efforts to end poverty and violence against women, she also
pointed out the importance of member states in the fight.

After the meeting, the international political delegation went to join
the rally in which nearly ten thousands women from different parts of
the world participated. A video message from Burmese democratic leader
and Nobel Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi was screened at the rally. This was
the same message which Burmese opposition leader sent for the launch of
the World March of Women on the International Women?s Day, 2000 in
Canada. Exiled Burmese women representatives from Women League of Burma
(WLB) who participated in the March highlighted the lack of democracy
and freedom in Burma and house arrest of Aung San Suu Kyi placed by the
ruling military regime in the country for the second time since
September 22 this year.