Rio de Janeiro (16 June 2012): Women from around the world joined Asia Pacific women for Rio+20, the UN Conference on Sustainable Development, to express their aspirations for sustainable development, writing powerful messages on colourful shirts and hanging them on clothes lines tied around the event tent. Dubbed “Women’s clothes line of aspirations and demands for sustainable development,” the inspiring event was organised by Asia Pacific Forum on Women, Law and Development (APWLD), Asian Rural Women’s Coalition (ARWC), and Asian Women’s Network on Gender and Development (AWNGAD) as part of the People’s Summit organised in parallel with the UN Conference on Sustainable Development.
Messages included: “Women are agents of change, not agents of corporate profit!”, “Women want decent work and a living wage!”, and “Women make peace!”
“In this way, we can encourage more people to expand solidarity and strengthen our movement for sustainable development for women”, said Anchalee Phonklien from Indigenous Women’s Network Thailand, who participated event.
The participants also shared their “inside” and “outside” advocacy strategies and initiatives for Rio+20.
“Yes, I think women can change the world”, echoed a woman, of one of the messages on display.
Aliza from Solidaritas Perempuan, a feminist organisation from Indonesia, wrote a strong warning saying: “ Don’t Hang Your Dirty Deals on Us Women,” stating further that women from her country will keep watch of what their government will be negotiating that would be harmful to the interests of women.
The strong messages from women around the world will be brought to the Women’s March
on Monday, 18th June from 10am at Flamengo Park and World Action Day on the 20th to gather more voices for women’s rights to sustainable development.
For more information, please visit: http://www.apwld.org/
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Contact: Sarah Matsushita / sarah@apwld.org
