Synopsis
After Mexico City 1975 and Copenhagen 1980, the United Nations chose Kenya for the 3rd World Conference on Women. Parallel to the official Conference of States is held in July 1985 the Forum of Non-Governmental Organizations (NGO), in which 12,000 women participate. For ten days, on the University campus, they meet to discuss general and feminist political issues: peace, development, apartheid, Islam, lesbianism, violence and sexual mutilation, Israel/Palestine, etc.
A word from Tënk
A small team, made up of the director, Perinne Rouillon on sound and Anne Faisandier on the photography, went to Kenya on the invitation of the Simone de Beauvoir Center to report the excitement and the strength of the proposals of this unprecedented gathering.
The NGO Forum is a political response to the official UN conference and has its routine by creating a space for debate around experiences, projects and political mouvements to lead. It is also an expression of transnational feminism. The choice of Kenya also allows women from countries in the region to participate. They denounce the failure to take into account the economic role of women and underline the weakness or non-existence of government measures since the UN conference in 1975, as well as the absence of women in decision-making roles. The question of the specific oppression of non-Western women will be highlighted by Angela Davis. The workshops of the lesbian women's movements will also be one of the highlights of this meeting.
Nicole Fernández Ferrer
General Delagate of Centre Audiovisuel Simone de Beauvoir
