Title: The Undeclared War on Women: Women Workers’ Rights in Conflict and Suppression
Location: Students Christian Center, Bangkok

Description: Asia’s war on freedom and its armed ethnic conflicts wound women’s bodies and lives even when they are not recognized as casualties. A particular vulnerability is their inability to provide remedies for themselves and their families and the lack of political power to pursue peace. The complete collapse of economic activity render women workers bereft of the right to decent work and freedom of association. A sharp escalation in migration and trafficking in women and children have been noted from areas of conflict and suppression. As of 2009, an estimated 35 million people worldwide have been displaced by conflict, and most of them are women. During their time away from their homes and communities, these women are subjected to a horrifying array of misfortune, including privations of every kind, sexual assaults and severe psychological trauma. Moreover, since the “war on terror” women have been rendered more vulnerable, in terms of economic and political discrimination, as well as increased violence. The current global economic crisis has reinforced the tools of suppression and inflamed conflict, thus deepening the gender, race, class and ethnic divides.

Committee for Asian Women is organizing a one day conference on “The Undeclared War on Women: Women Workers’ Rights in Conflict and Suppression” on 20th September, 2009. In this conference we aim to explore these issues as they affect women workers in their struggle amidst the global financial crisis, providing a platform to develop joint strategies at the regional level.

Start Date: 2009-09-20

End Date: 2009-09-20

Download the programme and concept note.