March/April 2007

Dear Friends,

Around the world, millions upon millions of women and men come together every March 8th in celebration of International Women’s Day.  The first official celebration of this holiday in the early 20th century commemorated women who demanded their rights to more just working conditions in the US.  Since then, this day has grown into a day of celebration and activism worldwide, following in the long tradition of women standing up for their rights and speaking out against injustice.

As International Women’s Day approaches this year, a frightening incident reminds us of the dangers that women face when we refuse to be silent in the face of human rights abuses.  On February 26, 2007, Houzan Mahmoud, a representative of MADRE’s sister organization in Iraq (the Organization of Women's Freedom in Iraq), received a death threat via e-mail from Ansar-al Islam, the notoriously brutal jihadist group based in Kurdistan/Iraq.  Even in the face of this condemnation, Ms. Mahmoud is adamant that she will continue her work cultivating support for women in Iraq and Kurdistan.  MADRE salutes her courage, and we remain committed to her—to OWFI and to women and their families worldwide in our fight for justice and equality.

But this Women’s Day is a time for celebration as well.  It's an occasion to celebrate the successes of the past year, and perhaps mostly to celebrate the solidarity we share with our sisters.  With MADRE’s support, the women of the Indigenous Information Network (IIN), our partner in Kenya, are planning a three-day celebration and training for women from across East Africa.  Their event last year attracted more than 1,000 women from groups in Tanzania, Uganda, and Sudan, and we look forward to hearing about this year’s response to IIN’s workshops on HIV/AIDS, violence, and political participation.

Thank you for standing with MADRE and our sisters on this International Women’s Day.  We hope you will celebrate it in a way that is meaningful to you and your community.

Sincerely,

Vivian Stromberg
Executive Director

PROGRAM UPDATES
MADRE Partner Condemned to Death by Jihadist Group
Houzan Mahmoud, the international representative of MADRE's sister organization, the Organization of Women's Freedom in Iraq, received an e-mail signed by Ansar-al Islam, the notoriously brutal jihadist group based in Kurdistan/Iraq.

Iraqi Police Commit Rape–Armed, Trained, and Funded by the US
MADRE responds to the recent media barrage surrounding the first Iraqi rape victim to appear on television, and highlights the fact that rapes committed by official forces are nothing new in Iraq.

Promising Democracy, Imposing Theocracy: Gender-Based Violence and the US War on Iraq
This MADRE report documents the use of gender-based violence by Iraqi Islamists, brought to power by the US overthrow of Iraq's secular Ba'ath regime, and highlights the role of the United States in fomenting the human rights crisis confronting Iraqi women today.  Read the Executive Summary.  Full report will be available tomorrow.

MADRE’S LATEST
Confronting Gender-Based Violence in Iraq
Please join us for the release of the report and a panel discussion on March 6th, during the Commission on the Status of Women at the United Nations. Copies of the report will be available at the event, and thereafter on MADRE's website.

DELEGATION ANNOUNCEMENTS
Visit Nicaragua, Kenya, and Guatemala with MADRE
MADRE has several exciting human rights delegations to Kenya, Guatemala, and Nicaragua planned for this spring.  Delegates will have the opportunity to meet with women and youth activists and gain a firsthand understanding of their human rights struggles.

MADRE IN THE NEWS
Yifat Susskind and Houzan Mahmoud to be interviewed on Democracy NOW!
MADRE Communications Director and our Iraqi partner will be on Democracy NOW! on Tuesday, March 6th.  Check your local listings for the time and station.