The common denominator… of Women in Black actions is opposition to militarism, war and other forms of violence, and support for peace with justice. The focus of vigils and campaigns varies from group to group and time to time, according to what is happening locally and in the international sphere.
When Women in Black vigils were started by Israeli and Palestinian women in 1988 to protest against the Israeli occupation of Palestinian land,
they had one simple aim, designed to hold together women with a range of political opinions. It was: "End the Occupation". In Yugoslavia in the 1990s, WiB had three goals:
· protesting against the ethnic aggression of their own government (the Milosevic government in Serbia)
· protesting against militarism, war and male violence against women
· working in solidarity with other women across borders, particularly with those defined by their government as "the enemy".
A range of issues… In Italy, Women in Black (Donne en Nero) protest against a range of issues, from the Israeli occupation to the violence of the mafia and other organised crime. In Germany, Women in Black have protested against neo-nazism, racism against migrant workers and nuclear arms. In India, Women in Black protested against the destruction of the Ayodhya mosque and personal violence against women. Australian women have organised as Women in Black to protest against domestic violence.
Women in Black New York have stood in solidarity with the women of Belgrade since 1993, and called for the US government to desist from revenge after the attack on the World Trade Centre on September 11 2001. They have also held vigils with Women in Mourning and Outrage to bear witness to police brutality.
Supporting women in areas of armed conflict… Women in Black from the UK have travelled to other countries supporting women's alliances for peace, including the former Yugoslavia, Sri Lanka, Northern Ireland and Cyprus. Several women have made visits to Palestine and Israel, to support Palestinian and Israeli women who are co-operating for an end to the Israeli Occupation, justice for Palestinians and peace in the region. During our visits there we have taken part in vigils and in dismantling the military checkpoints that lock Palestinians into small reservations that they cannot leave without a pass. Some stay in Palestinian houses that are frequently attacked, to act as human shields.
A group of women, supported by some Women in Black, have set up an International Women's Peace Service house in Hares, near Nablus, in Palestine. Contact IWPS-pal-reports if you are interested in volunteering, or for periodic reports on activities in and around Hares, Salfit, Palestine. You can also visit this website http://lists.riseup.net/www/info/iwps-pal-reports
Principal campaigns by Women in Black UK…
1993-5 against ethnic aggression in the former Yugoslavia
1998 against NATO bombing of Serbia
1998 against US/UK bombing of Iraq
1998 against US bombing of Sudan and Afghanistan
1999 for an end to sanctions and continued bombing of Iraq
2000-3 for an end to the Occupation and a just peace in Palestine and Israel
2001 for "justice not vengeance" in response to Sept 11 attacks in US
2001-2 in opposition to the US/UK bombing of Afghanistan
2002-3
opposing US/UK threatened attack on Iraq
