The symbolic World Court of Women and the informal International Women’s Tribunal of the World Social Forum (WSF) recently denounced the destruction caused by globalisation.

African women in particular articulated the “hard price” they have paid for globalisation. “(It’s) a paradigm whose theme is destruction masked as competition,” Kenyan civil rights activist Wahu Kaara said, referring to unfair international trade rules which favor industrialised nations.

But the biggest tragedy in Africa is the spread of HIV/AIDS, infecting one out of five Zambians. Zambian activist Mercy Siame said women and girls in her country engage in sex work out of poverty. “They risk contracting HIV/AIDS. They have lost control of their bodies,” she said.

The World Court of Women was set up in 1992 and holds a symbolic public hearing of crimes against women. This year's hearing was held at the WSF in Bamako, Mali and chose the theme “Resistance to Wars—Wars of Globalisation, Wars against Women.”

Meanwhile, at the International Women’s Tribunal held in WSF Caracas, Venezuela, Irma Gonzalez and Ramia Masi gave moving testimonies. Gonzalez is the daughter of one of five Cubans imprisoned in the US for espionage charges, while Masi is an activist with the Organisation of Women’s Freedom in Iraq. Both condemned human rights violations by the US and the atrocities committed in the occupation of Iraq.

Sources:
Inter Press Service News Agency. January 22, 2006. “World Court of Women Convenes in Bamako.” Downloaded from Inter Press Service News Agency website, <http://www.ipsterraviva.net/tv/wsf2006/viewstory.asp?idnews=485>.

Marquez, Humberto. January 29, 2006. “Participants Declare Bush ‘Guilty.’” Downloaded from Inter Press Service News Agency website, <http://www.ipsterraviva.net/tv/wsf2006/viewstory.asp?idnews=558>.