May 15, 2007--Under the theme “Women of the World: a
vital force against neoliberal globalization, terrorism and imperialist wars;
for equality, social and economic justice and for peace,” more than 1,000
women representing organizations from five continents met in Caracas,
Venezuela, from April 9 through 14. They were joined by thousands of Venezuelan
women who hosted the 14th Congress of the Women’s International
Democratic Federation.
This congress, the WIDF’s first in Latin America, was
of crucial importance in coalescing the political line and actions of
anti-imperialist and revolutionary women who comprise the membership of the
federation.
The congress was preceded by a two-day Encounter of Young
Women—an attempt to involve younger women more actively in the
federation.
Plenaries and workshops alternated with cultural
presentations. Each day ended with an Anti-Imperialist Tribune in an outside
tent. Some topics of the working sessions provide an idea of the discussions
held: the impact of neoliberal globalization on women; women’s struggle
and the impact of state terrorism, occupation and imperialist wars, and the
struggle for national liberation; exploitation of women and children, with a
special emphasis on immigrant and displaced women; building international
solidarity against political repression and all forms of violence against
women; defense of Indigenous and African-descendant women and their culture and
for equality.
A detailed listing and information about the congress and the WIDF can be
found at www.fdim-widf.com.br.
A special session for women holding government office was
held in the National Assembly, hosted by Venezuelan socialist parliamentarians
under the theme “International Meeting of Parliamentarians against
Imperialism and for Solidarity and Peace in the World.”
History of the WIDF
It is not accidental that very little is known in the U.S. about this
federation, which was born to fight against the same imperialism that the U.S.
leads. On Dec. 1, 1945, right after World War II, women from 41 countries met
in France to create the WIDF (FDIM in Spanish). Many of these women had
suffered directly from the bloody effects of the war and many had struggled
against fascism.
Yolanda Ferrer Gómez, general secretary of the Cuban Women’s
Federation, gave a moving statement on the organization’s history:
“They were widows, mothers who had lost their children, former prisoners
from Nazi concentration camps, combatants who fought alongside men in the
battlefields, members of the resistance and clandestine movements, guerrillas,
workers who secured the rearguard and supplied the front, fighters all of them
in uniform or civilian clothes.”
She continued: “With them, women who had fought in other latitudes
against fascism also united, Spanish exiles, members from national
organizations from the Americas and Asia, African women, from Arab countries,
from Indigenous communities, all in solidarity.”
They pledged “To defend the economic, political, legal and social
rights of women; to fight so that the indispensable conditions for the harmonic
and happy development of our children and future generation are built; struggle
tirelessly so that all forms of fascism are forever annihilated and establish
worldwide a true democracy; fight without rest to assure a lasting peace in the
world.”
The WIDF was also enriched by the membership of socialist women from the
revolutions that later developed in Cuba and Vietnam. The federation has played
a key role in support of national liberation, such as in Angola, and against
apartheid in South Africa. It has worked in international forums trying to give
a more militant direction and has given voice to those under the yoke of
imperialism, from Palestinians to Iraqis.
The WIDF was especially hard-hit during the 1990s, when the disintegration
of the USSR and the Eastern and Central European socialist countries meant that
material support and great theoretical and practical contributions so
instrumental for the functioning of the federation suddenly stopped.
Crucial role of Cuba
Vilma Espín—one of four WIDF vice presidents, a combatant in the
Cuban Revolution, a member of the Central Committee and the Political Bureau of
the Cuban Communist Party and president of the Cuban Women’s
Federation—played a decisive role in the enormous task of assuring the
survival and development of the WIDF. Thanks to Cuban action, the federation
not only survived but thrived as a space of struggle and promotion of
women.
During the WDIF’s 13th Congress held in Beirut, Lebanon, in 2002,
Marcia Campos from Brazil was elected president. This was the first time a
woman from Latin America held that post. She had founded the Confederation of
Brazilian Women and is a member of the Central Committee and the National
Secretariat of the October 8th Revolutionary Movement in Brazil.
The 14th Congress was held in Venezuela to show solidarity with the
Bolivarian Revolution. But a new phenomenon occurred. The fighting
revolutionary masses who are transforming this region also came to the
congress. Many of the organizations present were not yet affiliates of the
WDIF, but infused the congress with their combative energy. Wanting to
affiliate and move forward the federation, many representatives spoke at the
regional work session of the Americas.
There were Indigenous women from the Bolivian Bartolina Sisa Peasant Union,
Peruvian Indigenous parliamentarians, young women from Puerto Rico and
Colombian women urging a humanitarian exchange of prisoners. Prominent was the
participation of Venezuelan women who, as the hosts, worked tirelessly to
assure the smooth development of the congress and in their presentations
highlighted the important role and advances of women under the Bolivarian
Revolution.
The overall experience was tremendous: meeting and sharing with
revolutionary women from all over the world, listening to their
countries’ struggles, and most important, experiencing the overwhelming
solidarity among all the attendees and their great respect, admiration and
gratitude for Cuban President Fidel Castro and Venezuelan President Hugo
Chávez.
Where else could you hear women from the Sahara thanking Chávez for his
support of their cause in international forums? The congress gave the
opportunity to interview many women from different struggles who offered their
progressive views on crucial current events: women’s role in
Angola’s MPLA, South Africa after apartheid, Zimbabwe’s land
distribution, the political view of the Democratic People’s Republic of
Korea, the struggle against Plan Colombia and so much more.
Delegation from the U.S.
Many women went from the U.S. The largest delegation was
organized by African-American artist Vinie Burrows, who is also the WDIF
representative to the U.N., and the National Women’s Fightback Network
(NWFN) of the International Action Center. The NWFN is now an affiliate of the
WIDF.
The Burrows delegation included representatives of the Granny
Peace Brigade and the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom.
The NWFN delegation included Susan Abulhawa, Palestinian writer and director of
Playgrounds for Palestine; Brenda Stokely and Anna Wilson from the labor
sector; Patricia Dahl, who works in solidarity with Colombia; Nellie Hester
Bailey, co-founder and director of the Harlem Tenants Council; Sara Ann
Mokuria, LeiLani Dowell, Liza Green, Jill Hill, Kris Hamel, Minnie Bruce Pratt
and this writer, all from the NWFN.
The WIDF congress is not simply a “women’s
issue.” As one participant said, “Everything and every struggle is
of concern to women; we are half the world and give birth to the other
half.” It was a Congress of Women in Struggle.
-- Women's FightBack Network
Boston: 617-522-6626
wfn@iacboston.org
http://www.iacboston.org
National Office: 212-633-6646
http://www.iacenter.org
