ISIS was a participant at an international conference held April 1 6 -1 9, 1982 in Washington DC (USA) where discussions, begun in July 1980 in Copenhagen, on"  the development of a system of worldwide information exchange among women" were continued.

The first of the four days was a ' getting acquainted' meeting of the international (non US) group. Days two and three, the international group met with the US women and discussed the philosophy and goals of a women's news network, and first steps in building such a network. The last day the international group met again to further delineate these "first steps".

It was, however, the consensus of Monday's group (day four) that such steps could only be limited ones since, as In Copenhagen, the group felt that the vital and immediate need was to establish and strengthen national networks as a precondition for an international network. The group did feel, nonetheless, that an international network is an important structure — and one worth pursuing. It was there fore decided:

— The participants as individuals would commit themselves to initiating dialogue and developing networks nationally or regionally

— Mailing lists will be kept by each regional/national contact. They will be available at cost upon request.

]— These regional/national contacts constitute the interim working body of the international network.

— The network — named the Women's International Media Network

— is at this time a loose association of contacts with the International Women's Tribune Centre and ISIS available for technical services such as assistance in fund
raising.

Women's Media Directory

Another important development coming out of this conference — on the recommendation of the Saturday/Sunday group — is the compilation of a media directory including the names and addresses of participant groups, and their information needs and capabilities.This directory would facilitate an international exchange of information among women by alerting women and women's groups of each other's existence and activities. The directory, along with a full report of the conference, is available from International Women's Tribune Centre (305 East 46th Street, 6th Floor, New York NY 10017 USA).