Report back from Nairobi Forum '85

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SOCIALIST ACTION SEPTEMBER 1985 5 your assessment of the NGO '85?

Zakiya Somburu: I think overall the objectives of the conference and my expectations were undeniably met, in terms of the tremendous amount of education, and political and cultural exchange which occured on a global scale.

There were nearly 75 forums scheduled daily, if not more, and 400 impromptu, non-scheduled forums occurred throughout the conference.

I consider some of the highlights to be the workshops that focused on women and peace, the Palestinian issue, apartheid and Southern African women's issues, hunger and famine relief, and a whole range of workshops which dealt specifically with maternal and child healthcare and female circumcision.

My major expectation-and I think that of many of the conferees—was to establish those crucial linkages with women in the international arena that are critical to our continued growth and development on a global scale.

I established personal linkages with women in varying national liberation struggles throughout the world. There are mechanisms now for continued support and dialogue.

My organization, the National Black Women's Health Project, was able to meet with about 50 Kenyan women to establish a National Black Women's Health Project in Kenya. I also recruited several members to the U.S. organization.

Many African women have never met African-American women and for the first time that dialogue occurred. There are a lot of stereotypes we've had of each other as African-American women versus African women. Many stereotypes were broken down and there was a greater appreciation and sensitivity of each other's concerns.

Many participants, including myself, made grave personal and financial sacrifices to get there, which attests to the extremely heightened political development and overall awareness of women worldwide.

The seriousness and intensity of preparatory work which preceded Nairobi was also illustrative of international women's overall progressive development.

I participated in one of the major preparatory conferences. It took place at Morgan State University in July of 1984 and was sponsored by the AfricanAmerican Women's Political Caucus. That was a conference to formulate the African-American woman's perspective at the NGO Forum '85.

So the tone of the conference was very serious. You could see that, worldwide, women are playing a vital, viable role and have been in the forefront of national and international development. sands of women worldwide who were left on the homefront unable to participate, but who still had a definite interest in the conference and saw the importance of trying to mobilize to get to it.

A substantial number of African women were participants in the conference, including rural women. Rural women comprise over three-fourths of the women in developing countries.

The plight of rural women really came to bear in this conference. I myself had a chance to live in a rural community with no electricity, no running water, no communications systems.

Many rural women spend most of their day for survival, fetching water three to five miles daily. It is a toiling of day and night for them and their families. Many women are beasts of burden.

In spite of all of that, women are organizing against it. The Maendeleo ya Wanawake Organization is the largest women's organization in Kenya with a membership of over 300,000.

They are trying to overcome such severe problems as infant mortality, at a rate of 216 per thousand, and maternal deaths, at 40 percent. With comprehensive prenatal care, education, and better nutrition for the pregnant women, these obstacles could be overcome.

This is similar to the United States, Arabic countries-are seeking the support of other women. They have mapped out an excellent program in terms of education and organizing women against the practice.

S.A.: Was there discussion of South African apartheid and did it promote greater international support for the Black majority?

Somburu: There were several forums which dealt with the issue of apartheid in South Africa with representatives from the ANC and SWAPO. A lot of grim stories were shared. Women are forced to leave their own children for weeks, months at a time, to work. Often they come back to their families and discover that their children have died of starvation.

One thing that came through was the strong oppression of South African women. They are considered superfluous, appendages-especially if they are pregnant. There is a lot of forced sterilization.

In addition to carrying passbooks, every three months they must have a shot of Depo Provera.

This contraceptive is banned in the Western countries, including the United is to continue our anti-apartheid work and intensify it. Divestiture is key to the struggle. The "constructive engagement" policy was strongly denounced and it was stated that our struggles are the same, we are fighting the same insane, oppressive system.

There was a strong condemnation of Israel's support to South Africa and a strong support of the Palestinian struggle. Some of the Palestinian women in the forefront of their struggle were not allowed out of Israel to come to the conference.

S.A.: Was there discussion of the United States as an obstacle to women's progress globally?

Somburu: There was a clear condemnation of U.S. foreign and domestic policy. In fact, some women were offended by such strong condemnations. I myself was very pleased to hear them. Women are clearly understanding the role of imperialism.

U.S. policy toward Nicaragua was denounced. The plundering that has gone on for hundreds of years in the Caribbean was denounced. It was suggested that the foreign debts of the Third World countries be stricken from the record.

I had a chance to go to Southern, Western and Eastern Kenya to see what imperialism has done. Being in the belly of the beast we understand that there is an underdeveloped nation within the nation here. A lot of the problems I saw in Kenya are reminiscent of the rural U.S. South.

The peace seminar 1 participated in represented a broad range of countries, from the Soviet Union to Sudan, Japan, Barbados. The sense of the meeting was that militarization connects with every single issue of human concern. Our primary duty, it was stated, was to be involved in the peace issue.

S.A.: Are any follow-up conferences scheduled?

Somburu: The proposal is to have the next conference in New Delhi, India, in five years. A Beyond-Nairobi follow up gathering is also scheduled in Kansas City, Mo., for Nov. 22-24. For information call: Carmen Welgudovotau in Bethesda, Md., at (301) 365-0339.

PALESTINE HUMAN RIGHTS CAMPAIGN NATIONAL CONFERENCE SEPTEMBER 20-21. 1985 CHICAGO.

'JUST DON'T SAY YOU DIDN'T KNOW!"

Panels:

Celebration Honoring Former Palestin Prisoners Israel: The Global Context Israeli Right-Wing Violence & Palestinian Rights 'Just Don't Say You Didn't Know! —The Campaign for Palestinian Rights sakers: (partial list):

Prof Israel Shahak, Chairperson Israell League for Human & Civil Rights Special Invited Guest: Bassam Shaka'a, Mayor of Nablus, Occupied West Bank Prof. Benjamin Beit-Hallahmi, University of Haif Muhammad Hallaj, Editor Palestine Perspective:

Adrien Wing, Nat'l Conference of Black Lawyer:

Grace Halsell, Author Journey to Jerusalem Jane Hunter, Editor Israeli Foreign Affairs SPECIAL ENTERTAINMENT: Mustafa al-Kurd, Palestinian Folk Singer from Jerusalem *Conference title taken: from a 1982 poster available from PHRC) which was printed by Israeli Committee in Solidarity with Birzelt University Fur more information write PHRC Conference. 220 S State St #1308. Chicago IL 60604: Or call 312-987-1830

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"Many rural women spend most of their day for survival."

women must also carry a "family plan- ning" certificate, which means that