International Women’s Day 2009: Dedicated to the Women of Gaza March 8, International Women’s Day, is a time when people around the globe focus on the needs and contributions of women. This year, on Sunday, March 8, 2009, women and men worldwide will commemorate the day by highlighting the plight of the women of Gaza and sending an international delegation to Gaza to deliver humanitarian aid. View the trip Itinerary here What more powerful way to celebrate International Women’s Day than working collectively to ease the suffering of the women of Gaza! Please show your support by becoming a sponsor (to help with outreach), making a donation and/or joining the March 5-11 International Women’s Delegation to Gaza. Contact for more information: gaza.codepink[at]gmail.com or call Medea Benjamin at 415-235-6517 Sponsors include (organizations for identification only)
Nahla Abdo Professor, Carlton University, Ontario, Canada Nadje Al-Ali Act Together: Women's Action on Iraq, UK Jean Andrew Women Opposing War, UK Fatiha Azzabi African Women In Development SPI Dana Balicki CODEPINK Claire Bangasser Catholic Women's Place Medea Benjamin Global Exchange Phyllis Bennis Institute for Policy Studies H. Rosalie Bertell Grey Nuns of Sacred Heart Chana Bloch poet Laura Bonham Progressive Democrats of America Gayle Brandeis author Beverlee Bruce Planning Alternatives for Change Leslie Cagan United for Peace and Justice Tim Carpenter Progressive Democrats of America Paolo Canarutto Ebrei contro l'Occupaton, Italy Stuart Chase Rocky Mountain Peace & Justice Center Kevin Clark International Solidarity Movement-Chicago Tura Campanella Cook Women's International League for Peace & Freedom Susan D'Aloia Women In Black New Orleans Morgen D'Arc Green Party of the United States Marie Dennis Pax Christi International David Dixon Action Center For Justice Fiona Dover Transnational Institute Nancy Du Plessis artist, Germany Malia Everette Global Exchange Kim Elliott publisher, rabble.ca Marvin Ellison Bangor Theological Seminary Jodie Evans CODEPINK Samina Faheem American Muslim Voice Ahmed Farha Women Helping Women Susan Fassig Director of Operations, Operation USA Laura Flanders talk show host Marilyn Fowler Women's Intercultural Network Susan Griffin author Marilyn Hacker writer
Farrah Hassen Institute for Policy Studies Dolores Huerta Dolores Huerta Foundation Atamao B.T. Kane South Pan African International Tima Khalil Positive Change Production, UK Mimi Kennedy Progressive Democrats of America Nora Lafi Zentrum Moderner Orient Georgette loup ADC New Orleans Chapter Lucinda Marshall Feminist Peace Network D.H. Melhem poet Yanar Mohammed Organization of Women's Freedom in Iraq Haideh Moghissi York University, Ontario, Canada Shahrzad Mojab University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada Kirsten Moller Executive Director, Global Exchange Gael Murphy CODEPINK Efia Nwangaza Malcolm X Center for Self-Determination Marilyn Nelson Soul Mountain Retreat Margo Okazawa-Rey PeaceWomen Across the Globe Janet Powers Harrisburg Middle East Justice and Peace Eva Quistorp Women for Peace, Germany Christianna Reinstein American University, Cairo, Egypt Shari Rezia Levantine Cultural Center Ninotchka Rosca Mariposa Alliance CODEPINK Toronto Bill Scheurer PeaceMajority Report Naomi Shihab Nye writer Ann Smith Circle Connections Starhawk author Reede Stockton Global Exchange Vivian Stromberg MADRE Yifat Susskind MADRE Salena Tramel Grassroots International Bruce Taub Progressive Democrats of America Luisa Trujillo Embassy of Colombia, Cairo, Egypt (intern) Alice Walker author Faye Williams National Congress of Black Women Ann Wright Veterans for Peace
Background: Palestinian women in Gaza have been devastated. We have seen the agonizing pictures of wailing women digging through the rubble of their destroyed homes to look for their buried children. We heard the stories of the dead mothers whose emaciated children were found hanging onto their bodies for days until reached by aid workers. The Israeli attack that began on December 27 left over 1,000 dead, including 412 children and 110 women, and over 5,000 injured (1855 children and 795 women), according to the United Nations Children's Fund. But that but that attack came after 18 months of a crippling blockade that had left the Palestinian population hungry, sick, weak, and already suffering from what UN officials called a catastrophic situation. Women now have to care for the physical and emotional wounds in their families and communities, while dealing with their own broken hearts. They have to attend to the physical needs of their families in the face of shortages of water, electricity, food, medicine, heat, fuel, and shelter. Some neighborhoods have been almost totally destroyed, with over 100,000 people displaced from their homes. According to the United Nations, "Children are hungry, cold, without electricity and running water, and above all, they're terrified. Women are at greater risk of maternal death and or injury as maternity wards are being used as surgical facilities to treat the wounded.” There are huge medical needs. Twenty-one medical facilities were damaged during the fighting, and there are severe shortages of emergency supplies, including sterilization equipment, needles, anesthetics, catheters, oxygen and essential medications. The UN says that hundreds of millions of dollars in humanitarian aid are needed to help Gaza's 1.4 million people and billions of dollars will be required to rebuild its shattered buildings and infrastructure. Groups in Gaza that we will be supporting include: Palestinian Medical Relief Society Gaza Community Mental Health Program Union of Palestinian Women’s Committees Palestinian Agricultural Relief Committees Palestinian Center for Human Rights
