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Who are Women in Black?
Women in Black is a world-wide network of women committed to peace with justice
and actively opposed to injustice, war, militarism and other forms of violence.
As women experiencing these things in different ways in different regions of
the world, we support each other's movements. An important focus is challenging
the militarist policies of our own governments. We are not an organisation, but
a means of communicating and a formula for action.
WiB vigils
Any group of women anywhere in the world at any time may organize a Women in
Black vigil against any manifestation of violence, militarism or war. Women in
Black (WiB) actions are generally women only. Our actions often take the form
of women wearing black, standing in a public place in silent, non-violent
vigils at regular times and intervals, carrying placards and handing out
leaflets.
Other non-violent actions
We use non-violent and non-aggressive forms of action. In addition to vigils
Women in Black groups use many other forms of non-violent direct action such as
sitting down to block a road, entering military bases and other forbidden
zones, refusing to comply with orders, and "bearing witness". Wearing
black in some cultures signifies mourning, and feminist actions dressed in
black convert women's traditional passive mourning for the dead in war into a
powerful refusal of the logic of war.
A worldwide movement
It is impossible to know exactly how many Women in Black groups exist, how many
women they include and how many actions have been held. When Women in Black in
Israel/Palestine, as part of a coalition of Women for a Just Peace, called for
vigils in June 2001 against the Occupation of Palestinian lands, at least 150
WiB groups across the world responded. Countries reporting vigils included:
Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, England, France, Germany,
India, Israel, Italy, Japan, Maldive Islands, Mexico, Netherlands, Northern
Ireland, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, and the USA. The organisers
estimate that altogether 10,000 women may have been involved.
International women's solidarity
International Women in Black conferences and encounters have been held in
Jerusalem, Beijing, Serbia, and Brussels. In 2001 Women in Black was awarded
the Millennium Peace Prize for Women by the United Nations Development Fund for
Women (UNIFEM) and International Alert. Women in Black in Israel/Palestine and
former Yugoslavia were also nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize and the Right
Livelihood Award.
A feminist perspective
Women in Black groups do not have a constitution or a manifesto, but our
perspective is clear from our actions and words. It is evident for instance
that we have a feminist understanding: that male violence against women in
domestic life and in the community, in times of peace and in times of war, are
interrelated. Violence is used as a means of controlling women. In some
regions, men who share this analysis support and help WiB, and WiB are
supporting men who refuse to fight.
Women's different experience of war
Women-only peace activism does not suggest that women, any more than men, are
"natural born peace-makers". But women often inhabit different
cultures from men, and are disproportionately involved in caring work. We know
what justice and oppression mean, because we experience them as women. Most
women have a different experience of war from that of most men. All women in
war fear rape. Women are the majority of refugees. A feminist view sees
masculine cultures as specially prone to violence, and so feminist women tend
to have a particular perspective on security and something unique to say about
war.
Women's different and varied voices
WiB includes women of many ethnic and national backgrounds, co-operating across
these (and other) differences in the interests of justice and peace. We work
for a world where difference does not mean inequality, oppression or exclusion.
Women's voices are often drowned out in mixed actions of men and women. When we
act alone what women say is really heard.
Choosing our own forms of action
Sometimes even peace demonstrations get violent, and as women alone we can
choose forms of action we feel comfortable with, non-violent and expressive.
Demonstrating together can give us a sense of the richness and scope of our
varied experiences, and solidarity and purpose as women. Women in regions
differently situated in relation to armed conflicts, including those that
perpetrate violence and those that are victims of it, can lend support to each
other. Together we can educate, inform and influence public opinion, and so try
to make war an unthinkable option.
WOMEN IN BLACK AROUND THE WORLD: http://www.womeninblack.org/en/vigil
WOMEN IN BLACK - BELGRADE - VIDEOS: http://www.zeneucrnom.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=600&Itemid=124