Merging of third and first world perspectives of a feminist artist

Dear sisters.

Since I returned from the World Student Christian Federation conference in Sri Lanka, my work has taken on a new direction. The themes in my work have always been directed from the perspective of women's liberation, but up till now this has been limited to my personal reactions and understanding of feminism within a first world context.

This has not only been derived from ignorance of Issues, but also from lack of personal involvement with like-minded people working in the third world. Discussing feminist issues with women from the people's movement in Asia gave me a great sense of solidarity and encouragement to address women's issues on a global scale.

The series of photographs I am presently working on, alms to point out the connections in the struggle of first and third world women's movements. The concept of patriarchy as a global structure which oppresses all women at some level Is the background against which to view these works.

I am also trying to emphasise the need for first world feminists to maintain our commitment to feminism, beyond the fight for legislative equal opportunity in our own countries. I am constantly seeing connections between issues that were of major importance in feminist thought in the west twenty years ago (and are now considered to be out of date), and the same situations occurring in the present day conditions of women in developing countries. The two issues I am addressing are women's sexuality and the starvation of women.

Thank you so much for your support and interest in my work.

Kia Kaha. Taku Tuahine! (Be strong, my sisterl)

With best wishes,

Aotearoa/ New Zealand

Thank you for the update on your work. We are glad that you have taken on a broader perspective of feminism. We have included samples of your vjork in this issue. We are sending you an exchange subscription of Women in Action. Editors.

Subscription call from Pakistan news and features service

Dear editors,

Greetings from Pakistan!

This is a word about INDUS News and Features from Pakistan, which focuses on human rights and development issues.

Pakistan is a country of growing interest to the outside world. Its special appeal lies in such factors as Its proximity to the changing world segment comprising the nations of Afghanistan and Central Asia, Its character as a major modernising Islamic state and its bordering giant states like India and China.

With a population of 122 million, growing at the rate of 3.1 percent per year, and a literacy rate of less than 20 per cent. Pakistan faces an obvious challenge.

As a response to Pakistan's socioeconomic and political conditions, groups of people have come together on common platforms to work for upliftment, especially in the areas of human rights, women's rights, the environments, education, socioeconomic development and consciousness-raising through the arts and theater.

The Independent section of Pakistan's press has played a supportive role in projecting such issues and building public awareness and pressure. This role has been particularly crucial in view of the fact that the electronic media in Pakistan is state-owned.

INDUS will be an Independent service dealing primarily with these and related issues in the Pakistani region. The stories will be accurately, objectively and clearly written in English (6001000 words). Subscribers will receive four stories a month, including photo-stories, with the added option of commissioning exclusive stories or spot information.

We would like you and your readers to write and let us know If you would be interested in subscribing to INDUS.

Truly yours.

Lahore 51000, Pakistan

We know that many women's groups will be interested in getting information on women and development and other issues concerning women from Pakistan. More power to you! - Editors.

Research Initiatives by Uganda indigenous women

Dearest Isis.

Action for Development (ACFODE) is an indigenous nongovernmental women's organization In Uganda which works closely with other women's organizations in striving to improve and enrich the lives of women by helping them realize their full potential and enhancing their contribution to national development.

One of ACFODE's main objectives is to carry out research on women in order to have a clearer understanding of factors affecting women's emancipation and to try and influence national policies In favour of women. It has as one of its standing committees the Research Committee. The objectives of this committee include:

• to equip members of the research team with skills In research work;

•to create self-awareness of women by sharing with them ACFODE's research findings:

• to promote efficiency and effectiveness of ACFODE through periodic evaluation of its programs; and

• to build a documentation center well equipped with information about different social groups especially women in Uganda and other countries.

The committee is seeking to establish links with Institutions involved in conducting research on women. The nature of these links may be in the form of exchange of publications, training of ACFODE members, joint research activities and general sharing of experiences in the areas of women in development.

The committee Is currently chaired by Ms. Anne Katahoire, Senior Lecturer at the Centre For Continuing Education (CCE), Makerere University. It Is made up of members interested In conducting research on women. Some are trained researchers who help to train new members who have not conducted research before. The committee feels that there is a lot to learn through sharing of experiences with other organizations Interested in, and involved in the same field.

We look forward to hearing from you.

Yours faithfully.

Kampala, Uganda

We want to strengthen our links with women's groups in Uganda and would like to exchange publications with your group and collaborate on other activities. - Editors.

Sexual assault by a police officer

Dear sisters,

I would like to address the subject of sexual assault. I was sexually assaulted in March 1992 by a police officer. My case was very mishandled from the beginning. There was no arrest made, yet this case was submitted to the grand jury. The accused was no-billed, due to lack of education of the grand Jury. There was never an investigation. The assistant District Attorney agreed my case should be resubmitted to another grand jury only if I would take a polygraph test and pass it. The polygraph operator refused to polygraph me. He believed there was coercion and duress against me to take the test. Since there was no polygraph the case was dropped.

Why do the authorities urge victims to report this crime when the laws aren't being enforced and victims are denied their rights? After experiencing the unprofessional manner in which 1 was treated (and still being treated) 1 would think twice before reporting a sexual assault!

I believe when it comes to convicting a police officer, they are above the law! This is exactly what got the accused off. His CAREER! No one believed me, although I had evidence to prove the assault and to prove intent. The accused was fired but he was not fired for sexual assault. He was fired for breaking police policies before, during and after the sexual assault. There is nothing in his personnel file about this felony. He has regained employment elsewhere. Be cautious women! He was in uniform when this happened to me.

No woman deserves to have her body invaded and no victim deserves to be treated such as myself, my husband, and most of all my children. We are all victims.

Let's work on educating the legal system and courts.

From a determined survivor.

USA

We commend your determination in bringing your case to court despite the lack of justice in the system. We hope that the publication of your letter will make other women take courage. It is difficult enough to deal with daily violence in our lives and continue to fight against it. It requires a lot of courage to share an experience of sexual assault when the law does not support the victim. We need to stand together in the struggle for justice for women and a fair system for all. - Editors.

Australian women's research on health

Dear sisters.

We are delighted to be part of your network. The Australian Women's Research Centre is very concerned with the issues of women's health, and both Dr. Renate Klein and I have done considerable work in the area of the new reproductive technologies. We are also currently working with a group called the Centre For Philippine Concerns in Australia. We are concerned about their long term welfare.

Since we are a new Centre we are still in the process of producing brochures. As soon as they are available we will post them on to you.

With best wishes to you, in sisterhood and solidarity,

Yours sincerely,

Australia

Welcome to our network! We are sending you a copy of our quarterly magazine. Women in Action. We hope that you will continue sending us information about your Centre. - Editors.

Middle East monitor of human rights

Dearest friends.

Middle East Watch, a private, non-governmental human rights monitoring organization and the Women's Project of Human Rights Watch are conducting a joint project that we hope you might be able to help us with. We are looking at women's organizations in the Middle East and North Africa and examining what sorts of restrictions they operate under. We want to document situations in which an individual or group has been silenced, punished, or in any other way had the rights to free expression and association curtailed because of their work on women's rights. We want to look at what types of legal restrictions prevent many women from coming together and forming an association. We hope to contact by phone a number of these organizations to see if they are experiencing these troubles.

I am writing to you in hopes that you and your publication's resources may help me. I need assistance in obtaining the names, addresses, and telephone numbers of any women's associations. I understand that you have an extensive database and a copy of this would be most helpful. In addition, if you know of any recent incidents where women's organizations were in jeopardy of being banned or silenced due to their opinions, I would appreciate the information. Lastly, if you could please send me a copy of your journal and bill me accordingly, I would be most grateful.

In advance. I want to thank you for your help on this matter. If you have any questions, or would like to talk to me at length about this project, please call me at (212) 972-8400 or fax me at (212) 972-0905.

With kind regards.

USA

We are sending you a copy of Women in Action with the subscription. We would be happy to assist you in obtaining addresses of women's organizations. Our Resource Center will get in touch with you on the database. - Editors.