LATIN AMERICA an alternative communications network for women in latin america

Unidad de Comunicacion Alternativa de la Mujer - Women's Alternative Communication Unit

The way in which the mass media treats women explains in part the recent emergence of feminist publications and networks. Women have created tools for sharing information about our lives, for identifying ourselves and our roles, for reflection and analyses of our situations and needs, for networking and organization.

In Latin America, the Women's Alternative Communication Unit has played a very important role in building up an international network through which Latin American women can share experiences and ideas for organization. It was created in 1981 as part of the Latin American Institute of Transnational Studies (ILET), a non-profit organization. Together with ILET, the Women's Unit contributes to the creation of alternative media to counteract the perpetuation and dissemination of traditional stereotypes of women. It also distributes information which helps women to answer those questions affecting our daily lives, problems and needs.

The productions of the Women's Unit include:

MUJER-ILET: a monthly publication of news clippings and features from FEMPRESS. Selected from Latin American newspapers, magazines and bulletins, the news clippings are on issues related to women. The feature articles are from FEMPRESS, an information service created in'mid-1983 with permanent correspondents in eleven countries: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Chile, Ecuado', Mexico, Peru, the Dominican Republic and Uruguay. The articles analyze the situation of women in Latin America and the Caribbean. Distributed to women's alternative media, women's organizations and study groups, MUJERILET gives regular updated information about events related to the women's movement. It is produced by Adriana Santa Cruz and Viviana Erazo. Published in Spanish, the annual subscription rate is US$ 20 (in Chile, 1,000 pesos).

MUJER-ESPECIALES: quarterly dossiers collecting articles on specific issues of interest to women. Useful for research, discussions and for giving an overview of the issues, these publications cover such topics as; maternity, abortion, work, communication, politics. Central America, rural women, legislation, machismo, sexuality and health, in relationship to women. They give a panorama of how these* issues are dealt with in the traditional and alternative mass media. Published in Spanish, they are priced at US$ 8 for four issues (in Chile, 500 pesos).

Women's Alternative Media Collection: pamphlets about women's alternative media in Latin America. Looking at why, how and through which means women's alternative media have developed, they give an overview of both the successes and the difficulties encountered by particular groups. Some of the groups described are: Mulherio (Brazil), Nueva Mujer (Ecuador), Maria Liberacion del Pueblo (Mexico), Fem (Mexico), Club Mencia de Radio. Enriquillo (Dominican Republic), La Causa de las Mujeres (Mexico), the Supplement Mujer of the newspaper El Tiempo (Argentina), La Mujer en el Mundo of the newspaper El Dia (Mexico), and Isis.

Radio Network: Recognizing the importance of radio as a means of reaching the majority of women, the Women's Unit has begun a collection of radio programs produced by Latin America women. A selection of programs or parts of programs are taped and sent to regional radio programs in order to promote their wider distribution. Activities of the Alternative Media Unit include promoting strategies for the advancement of women through the media, organizing seminars and round tables in all the countries where it has correspondents. All the activities of the Women's Alternative Communication Unit contribute to the strengthening of an alternative communication network of women in Latin America through the sharing of information and experiences in organizing around pressing issues.

For more information write to:

Unidad de Comunicacion Altemativa de la Mujer
Coordinator: Adriana Santa Cruz
Casilla 16-637
Correo 9
Santiago, Chile

ASIA

Linking researchers and activists

The Pacific and Asian Women's Forum (PAWF)

Networking is vital to women because it enables us not only to keep in touch with struggles of other women but to learn from each other's experiences. An informal network of activists and researchers, the Pacific and Asian Women's Forum (PAWF) was set up in 1977 by a group of women who had met each other during a meeting organized by the United Nations Asian and Pacific Centre for Women and Development (APCWD). Through the exchange of ideas and experiences, they discovered the similarities of the problems women face in different countries and the need of building a network to enable them to keep contact with each other, cooperate in developing future programs and support each other in searching for solutions to common problems.

PAWF functions as a network and forum for women and women's organizations in the networks region who are striving for the creation of a social order based on social justice and equality among all human beings and between the sexes. It collects and disseminates information about women's action and research groups and their activities and it also acts as a pressure group on issues related to women and their participation in development.

PAWF members communicate with each other through a newsletter Pacific and Asian Women's Network. This contains news arid information about activities, groups, conferences, resources and the main issues being discussed in the region. PAWF cooperates with other networks in the region, such as AWRAN (Asian
Women's Research and Action Network) and the Women and Development Network in Australia.

A major activity in which PAWF is involved is a research project on Women and Media in Asia and the Pacific to monitor the portrayal and participation of women in the media. PAWF is also producing an issue of the Isis International Women's Journal in 1984 on Women and Media in the Pacific and Asian Region.

For further information write to PAWF coordinator Kamla Bhasin.

The Pacific and Asian Women's Forum (PAWF) 4 Bhagwandas Road New Delhi 110 001, India

Asian Women's Research and Action Network (AWRAN)

The Asian Women's Research and Action Network (AWRAN) was created in 1982 by a group of women who felt the need to organize a network that would provide a systematic exchange of materials and contacts in the Asian Region. One of their objectives is to close the gap that exists between research and action. Their newsletter AWRAN provides abstracts of research and articles on women in Asia and also includes information and addresses of women's groups and action projects.

At a meeting of Asian Women Researchers held at the Asian and Pacific Development Centre in Kuala Lumpur in February 1984, members of AWRAN discussed networking and prospects for cooperation with the Pacific and Asian Women's Forum (PAWF) and others present. AWRAN's plans include promoting regional meetings and the publication of special country reports to support the work done by different grassroots organizations in the region.

Asian Women's Research and Action Network (AWRAN)
P.O. Box 208
Davao City, Philippines