Action

International
National
State
Current Campaigns

International Focus

The International Federation of University Women has a triennial program of action. For the triennium 2005-2007 this program focuses on ‘Women as Agents of Change.’ The actions that are undertaken at international, national and state levels within this program concentrate on specific aspects of globalisation which are particularly relevant for women and which affect their lives: power; human rights and human security; education and information literacy; and peace. National associations (such as AFUW) are encouraged to work towards:

• Enabling women to take power and control over their life situation
• Defining ways of giving women power to utilize the globalisation process
• Working to maintain cultural and creative diversity in a globalised world
• Promoting a culture of peace in all fields and all walks of life
• Implementing an information culture to enhance learning potential and skills and to increase access at all levels
• More information is available on the IFUW website.

National Focus

At a national level, the Australian Federation of University Women develops its agenda in response to issues that are related to:

• The ‘Humanizing Globalization: Empowering Women,’ Study in Action program
• National Issues

The 2003 conference of AFUW identified a number of areas for action in the next 3 years. These include actively lobbying and demonstrating our support for:

• A treaty with Indigenous peoples of Australia
• Palestinian women and girls to gain access to education
• The signing of the Optional Protocol to the CEDAW (Convention for the elimination of Discrimination Against Women)
• Gaining further recognition in policies of the unpaid work undertaken by women
• Developing a more humanitarian response to asylum seekers, which includes;
  
  • Providing access to education and adequate health care;
  • Releasing children and their primary guardian(s) from detention
  • Revising the procedures for processing asylum seekers and removing the restrictions on the rights of TPV holders
• Meeting the UN target of overseas aid to developing countries to 0.7% of GDP
• The International Family Planning Association; and the inclusion of women’s reproductive rights in population policies
• The dissemination of Conflict Resolution Training materials

State Focus

The South Australian Branch of AFUW works towards the national goals. We have representatives who work with members from other states and within our own branch in the areas of:

• Peace and conflict resolution
• Education
• Health
• Environment
• Status of women
• Indigenous rights

If you would like to participate in any of these working groups, please contact us.

In 2005 we worked on issues such as:

• a booklet which lists financial and other support available for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students
• access to education for women in prison
• the impact of changes to Industrial Relations legislation on women and their families, and
• the implications of a Government discusion paper that argued for the establishment of private universities in Australia.

'Go Girl Centres' in Burundi
Educating Young Women – Help Needed

The session at the IFUW Conference in Perth that had the greatest impact on me was that led by the New York representative of the UNICEF based programme called UNGEI - the United Nations Girls Education Initiative. Those of us who attended were invited to make a connection with one of the nations identified by UNGEI as in need of support.

There I met Alice Rwamo, President of the Burundi Association of University Women. She is a lecturer in the University of Burundi. We heard first hand of the situation facing so many girls. In Burundi, suffering the catastrophic effects of two devastating situations - HIV/AIDS and the terrible civil war that has been raging since 1993 - young girls have very few chances to gain a secondary education. To help them the Burundi Association is working with four ŒGo Girl Centres. Each has 50 girls, 200 in all. They are so poor they have one exercise book and try to put all their subjects in that one exercise book! Secondary education, with some hope of tertiary education, offers an avenue of skill that can provide an alternative to begging in the streets for money for their families. Alice returned home to news of a massacre in which over 100 women and children and men had been burnt to death. No one could find the bodies in the ash to bury their loved ones. Burundi is out of sight and out of mind on the international televised news.

I asked Alice what she wanted. She replied - copy books, pens, pencils, rubbers, dictionaries. Not hi-tech calculators or computers! I decided to try to help find a way to assist, knowing as I do from 40 years of teaching experience just what it must be like to be trying to put all subjects in one book. I am glad to say that the executive of AFUW-SA gave immediate support, sending a bank draft for $300 (Australian) which had to be changed to US dollars. The girls are studying English, French (one of the two official languages of land-locked Burundi), Maths, Physics, Chemistry, Geography, History, Biology. Each girl needs, for basic equipment, the equivalent of $12 (US). [Twelve multiplied by 50 is $600 for one 'Go Girl Centre'.]

Paper is very heavy. Surface mail to Burundi takes from two to three months. The cost of sending materials by air is not only prohibitive, it is putting money in the wrong place. Money that could be sent directly to the Burundi Association of University Women goes, instead, to Australia Post with no guarantee that the goods will actually get to Bujumbura, the capital of Burundi. I am hoping that other members and friends of AFUW reading this article will see here an initiative in girls education worth supporting. If friends of AFUW tried to support one of the Go Girl Centres we could ease the burden on those girls and their teachers.

If you are interested in sending money, send it to Susanne Tagg, Treasurer, AFUW-SA, labelled support for the 'Go Girl Centres' Burundi. 38 Barnes Avenue, Magill SA 5072 or contact Susanne through stagg@chariot.net.au. We will set up a separate line in our accounts and when the money reaches a useful level, (a minimum of $US50 for each centre ie $US 200) send it on to Alice Rwamo to distribute to each of the Go Girl Centres.
Alice Rwamo's e-mail address is alrwamo@yahoo.frErica Jolly - Education/health liaison AFUW-SA.

SAVE OUR VOICE - Umeewarra Survival Fund
Aboriginal Community Radio

AFUW-SA has decided to move its radio-based support from 5UV to the Umeewarra Aboriginal Media Association given its greater need. Can you or friends of AFUW-SA contribute to its survival?

The Voice of Aboriginal media is to be the first casualty of the abolition of ATSIC. The Umeewarra Aboriginal Media Association, South Australia's first and most prominent Aboriginal radio station is facing closure following a cut of $100,000 to its budget.
This comes in the dying days of ATSIC and is an attempt to shut down the voice of Aboriginal people in this state. We are appealing this decision and are fighting hard for our survival but we need your help. We need 1000 people with $100 to ensure our survival.
We cannot afford to lose our voice in the media. Umeewarra Aboriginal Media.

Association is vital to the Aboriginal community and the wider community of this region. We are the true voice of Reconciliation and they are trying to shut us down.
Don't let this happen to Aboriginal media - show your support now.

We have tax deductible gift status so any donations are fully tax deductible.
We need 1000 people with $100 to ensure our survival.
Don't let this government silence the true voice of Aboriginal people and Reconciliation and help us continue this vital service - (donation form).

Please accept my Tax Deductible gift of $100 / $150 / $200 other amount
Cheque or money order made out to - Umeewarra Aboriginal Media Association to the address below:

Name:

Business/organisation:

Address:

State ________ Postcode _____________ Email

Umeewarra Aboriginal Media Association - South Australia's leading Aboriginal media voice PO Box 2192 Port Augusta 5700 PH:- (08) 86422422 Fax:- (08) 86425720

Email:- umeewarra@umeewarra.com.au Web:-www.umeewarra.com.au