The Netherlands Association for Women's Interests started in 1894 as the Association for Women's Suffrage. It is not linked to any political party. Its members form a crosssection of political and non-political women from different social sectors, all involved in placing women's issues on the political agenda. It is affiliated with the International Alliance of Women (lAW). The lAWs aim is ' Equal Rights - Equal Responsibilities. Equal political participation is one of its most important prerequisites. LAW has an NGOconsultative status with various UN and other official international bodies.

The Action.Men/Women 50/50 of the Netherlands Association for Women's Interests started in 1985 and aims at achieving equal representation of women and men - 50/50 - in political functions - by the year 2000! The Action M/W 50/50 wants to realize the democratic principle that representative bodies should reflect the composition of the population.

The Association for Women's Interests uses four strategies:

• to broaden public support through consultation and cooperation with women's organizations and national machineries;
• to emphasize the tremendous disadvantage women have in politics compared to men and seek ways to improve the situation;
• to influence the attitudes and behavior by stimulating discussion on positive action and by propagating measures why and how the number of women in politics can and should be increased; and
• to issue press releases and letters to both print and broadcast media.

For more information contact:

Fax: Joke Huisman-Vaal (+31-35) 891305