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Isis International launches the
Activist School for Feminist Development Communications |
13 April 2010 |
by Sheryl Ho Based on its 36 years experience, Isis
International, a feminist development communication organization, launched
its The development of
new media and information, communication and technologies (ICTs) has
drastically changed the way of social mobilization and organizing, as well as
movement building and advocacy. This Isis International Excutive Director, Ms
Cai Yiping said at the launching, “Since it was founded in 1974, for 36 years
Isis International has been working through media and information and
communications towards achieving women’s human rights and facilitating
networking and information sharing of women’s movement and social movement at
large.” Two years ago, Isis finished a three years
five countries research project “People’s Communication for Development”, in
Asia Pacific region India, Thailand, Phiippines, Fiji and Papua New Gunea to
find out how intermediary groups use new ICTs and traditional communication
tools in interacting with grass roots women and to determine the most
effective communication tools for grass roots women’s empowerment. The
research findings show that most effective communication tools to reach grass
roots women are radio followed by theatre, film and oral face to face
communication. The same research also surface the demands from the women’s
groups on the convergence of traditional and new media and communication
technologies. “The The launch of the Activist Schoool followed
by an open forum on “Developing Communications for Migrant Rights: The China
and Philippines Experience” attended by the the School's first group of
participants from mainland Speakers included from Mr Xu Guojian and Ms
Wang Baoli, migrant rights advocates from He said the goal
of the study was to “record and analyze the multifarious ways through which
Chinese migrants and their organisations can empower themselves by acquiring
the communication skills and applying them while dealing with government
agencies at various levels and engaging in public discussions of public
affairs.” Reactors from the Philippines included Ms
Malou Alcid, Board Trustee – Kanlungan Centre Foundation and ARMMNet Member;
Ms Nere Guerrero, General Secretary of SAMAKANA – a NGO working with urban
poor community, and Ms Bianca Miglioretto, Isis International Community Radio
Officer. Ms Alcid shared the activities which
individuals and organisations have organised since the 1980s to promote the
rights and fight of overseas Filipinos for better and just living conditions.
She added that for the Ms Guerrero, an internal migrant herself
from a farming community, presented two solutions to the migration problem
within the Ms Miglioretto said that often in advocacy,
much effort is centred on reporting to the outside world that people forget
to report within the community itself. For a country like Isis International's Board of Trustee
Chairperson, Ms Luz Martinez, pointed out that more research is needed,
especially with gender perspectives, given that globally women as the fastest
growing migrants. This year, |
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