International Women's Day 2006 coincided with the launch of the why women? campaign. To mark the occasion, we received many kind messages of support to women’s organisations, honouring their hard work, strength and commitment. Here is a selection that we hope will brighten your day!
Dear Women's Organizations,
The greatest obstacles in our struggles for freedom and equality are being met on a daily basis because of the work you do. Many think that there is no need to continue to work for women's rights but the statistics prove otherwise. Your work provides a daily inspiration to those who suffer from discrimination and racism. Your endurance and perseverance has and will continue to move mountains. We stand with you and we thank you.
Guerrilla Girls On Tour, USA
Dear Women’s NGOs,
The often thankless, and always enduring work in do in challenging men’s sexual violence towards women is crucial. Not only do you provide analysis of the context in which such crimes against women and children occur, you are there for the women with nowhere else to go. The fact that so few of you receive government funding is disgraceful, bearing in mind you are doing the work it should be doing. More power to you, and keep on fighting the good fight. One day we might, because of the efforts of those on the front line, see a world free of sexual violence.
Warmly,
Julie Bindel
"Through my journalism and also the campaigning work I have been involved in, I have seen at first hand how women's organisations are struggling to survive in the UK. It seems extraordinary to me that vital organisations dedicated to helping women who experience domestic violence or women who are seeking asylum, for instance, should be so poorly funded and often unable to carry out much needed work because of their lack of resources. The Why Women campaign is doing sterling work in drawing attention to the need for more resources for those organisations that are trying to create a more equal society."
Natasha Walter, journalist and author of The New Feminism
“We don’t live in a post-feminist paradise – there is still an enormous need for services and advocacy run by women for women, and so I will continue to give my full support for a well-funded women’s sector.”
Emily Thornberry, Labour MP for Islington South and Finsbury
"I work with many different women’s organisations and I am still amazed at the dedication, passion and courage displayed by the women’s movement in fighting for equality and justice in the face of adversity. Women empowering women is so inspiring and it reminds me that women have, and continue to be, the real brave hearts in the local and global struggle for human rights."
Heather Vaccianna (formerly of the Lilith Project)
"Working for a women’s organisation, I am proud to meet such inspiring women on a daily basis. Women are often the change makers and leaders of local communities and wider society. Women only services and organisations are a vital source of support, learning and encouragement for all of these strong powerful women. Well done and long may they continue!"
Vicki Hook, Women Acting in Today’s Society, Birmingham
"Sadly, even in the new Millennium women are still one of the most vulnerable groups of people: vulnerable to poverty, vulnerable to abuse and vulnerable to discrimination. The fact is that without women’s groups in the voluntary and community sector there would be greater suffering than there already is and, to put it crudely, the cost to the taxpayer would be astronomical. Women’s voluntary and community organisations achieve unimaginable results on tuppence ha’penny. How much more they could do with additional support."
Debra Allcock Tyler, Chief Executive, Directory of Social Change
“Women’s voluntary and community organisations provide free, and often life saving, services to women from all walks of life and lobby for better laws to end discrimination against women. In particular many of the organisations facing cuts provide vital advice for women and young people dealing with domestic violence. Running refuges and providing emergency accommodation for women and their children. Whether in the home, in schools, or in offices, as company directors or as cleaners, it is obvious that without the contribution of women in every aspect of life, in London - and indeed the country - would come to a grinding halt. Women's voices must be heard, their concerns addressed and opportunities for women within all parts of London's social, political and economic development secured. We need to do more to protect these Women’s organisations like the Women's resource centre working to keep women's voices heard.”
Anni Majoram, former Mayor of London's Adviser on Women's Issues
“I believe that if women's organisations did not exist many women would not have the space to develop their self esteem, skills and confidence to tackle issues of importance to everyone in society. Women's groups need to be funded to ensure better outcomes for individual women and a more cohesive society for us all.”
Dinah Cox (formerly of Race On The Agenda)
“White Ribbon Campaign has inevitably relied on many women's organisations both local and national during the last two years. We would like to thank women's organisations for your tolerance and patience and support for us as we continue to grow and urge adequate and equal funding for women’s organisations in order to achieve a just society.”
White Ribbon Campaign
“The lack of equality for women in the voluntary sector workplace is still very evident. Whenever I go to an ACEVO or NCVO Conference I look around the room and still see mostly white suited men of whom I am one. Even at NAVCA's own conferences there are too few women and too few black people. Most of the biggest local infrastructure organisations are run by white men.
Women's organisations have been hard hit by the decline in local grant aid, the loss of the Community Fund and the huge reduction in money from the European Union. That's why NAVCA is working with Women's Resource Centre to equip local groups with the arguments they need to defend local grant aid.
There is still so much discrimination to overcome. We can only win if we all work together and I pledge NAVCA to be part of that collective effort.”
Kevin Curley, Chief Executive, NAVCA (National Association for Voluntary and Community Action)
“The NCVO is delighted to offer its support to the vital contribution that women’s organisations make across the voluntary and community sector. The work of these organisations remains critical in a world where it is too often assumed that inequality and discrimination no longer exist. Women’s organisations provide the voice that is needed to counterbalance that but not only that, they also provide the advice, information, advocacy and practical support that is needed on a daily basis to transform opportunities for women and girls. That work should never be taken for granted.”
Stuart Etherington, Chief Executive, NCVO
"Great organisation - great campaign. At the heart of a vibrant sector are the many individuals and organisations prepared to campaign on issues that affect us all. Continuing good luck and congratulations on your first anniversary!"
Stephen Bubb, Chief Executive, ACEVO (Association of Chief Executives of Voluntary Organisations)
“Within their own communities women’s centres and organisations are at the heart of community development, working in close relation with other local groups to improve, regenerate, renew and empower their community.
Local area based Women’s Centres are at the heart of the ‘bonding’ synergy of local communities and as such they have also become bridge builders between communities. The history of women’s groups in Belfast is one of coming together ‘despite differences’ in mutual support on the extensive range of issues that they could work on together. These issues include childcare provision, educational opportunities, advice & support and joint lobbying on themes such as funding and gender equality.
All of this happens against a backdrop of piecemeal funding and under-resourcing. Ultimately it is the work of the community based women’s sector and its women-centred approach that has been and continues to be vital to the development of women whose needs have hitherto been silenced, marginalised or ignored. Through working in partnership with each other and through WSN we can ensure that these needs can continue to be met and that these issues are placed firmly on the public and political agenda."
Women's Support Network, Belfast
"Women's organisations provide crucial services to help support disadvantaged women. Thank you for all your work which is having a real impact in helping to make women's lives better. We are taking forward a range of measures to improve opportunities for women in the workplace and wider society, and the role you play is vital in this. I wish you every success."
Meg Munn MP, former Minister for Women
“When 50 per cent of the population is only represented by 20 per cent of Parliament, when the gender pay gap remains at 17 per cent, and when two women are killed every week by abusive partners, it is clear that we still need well funded and well organised women’s organisations to promote all aspects of equality.”
Helen Goodman MP, Labour
“As I approach my 60th birthday I can look back and reflect on the great strides towards gender equality but there is so much more to do and new issues arising day by day. So many vulnerable women are in great need of protection and in some jobs, particularly part time, I still feel women are treated like 'a reserve army'. The work of women's organisations must be supported.”
Annette Brooke MP, Liberal Democrat