<div><strong>Dear Ana & Friends,</strong></div>
<div><strong></strong> </div>
<div><strong>Sorry for being out of the loop for a while. Please find enclosed the Concept Note for the Women's Tribunal Against Poverty that will be held in Delhi on Oct 17th, 2007. As discussed with you earlier, we are visualizing this as a focused advocacy effort to integrate women's agenda and priorities in the key policies an program of the national government. Several networks and partners have already shown their interest in collaborating with this initiative, and we hope that this will take off well.
</strong></div>
<div><strong></strong> </div>
<div><strong>If you have any inputs, please send them so that we can incororpate them at this stage. It wold also be great if the FTF could do a submission / letter based on the outcomes of the various Tribunals targeting the WB-IMF meetings which are to be held in Washington starting Oct 17th. Chona has already been involved with the IPT a/g WB-IMF and my have some thoughts on this? Also Rosa, wrt her location.
</strong></div>
<div><strong></strong> </div>
<div> </div>
<div><strong>Best regards,</strong></div>
<div><strong>Lysa John, WNTA<br clear="all"></strong></div>
<div> </div>
<div>
<p class="LysaFont" style="MARGIN: 3pt 0in 6pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center" align="center"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 16pt">WOMEN'S TRIBUNAL AGAINST POVERTY</span></b></p>
<p class="LysaFont" style="MARGIN: 3pt 0in 6pt; TEXT-ALIGN: center" align="center"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 16pt">17 October 2007</span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 16pt">
- </span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 16pt">Delhi</span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 16pt"></span></b></p>
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<a name="why"><b><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial"><font size="2">WHY OCTOBER 17?</font></span></b></a></p></div><span style="mso-bookmark: why"></span>
<p class="LysaFont" style="MARGIN: 3pt 0in 6pt"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial"><font size="2">17 October, World Day to Overcome Extreme Poverty, was created twenty years ago by the initiative of people living in poverty across the world, North and South, with ordinary citizens acting together to defend human rights violated by extreme poverty. In 1992, the UN recognized the date as the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty. Since its creation, October 17 has been a day for those living in extreme poverty to speak out and for all citizens to consider how they can contribute to the eradication of extreme poverty.
</font></span></p>
<p class="LysaFont" style="MARGIN: 3pt 0in 6pt"> </p>
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<b><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial"><font size="2">OBJECTIVES OF THE WOMEN'S TRIBUNAL AGAINST POVERTY</font></span></b></p></div>
<p class="LysaFont" style="MARGIN: 3pt 0in 6pt"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial"><font size="2">The 'Women's Tribunal against Poverty' is being proposed as an opportunity for grassroots women leaders across the country to come together and make a strong statement on the ways in which the policies and programs of the government are being experienced by women who face acute social and economic discrimination – including Dalits, Denotified & Nomadic Tribes, Adivasis, Forest Dwellers, Muslim Minorities, Women with Disabilities & Single Women.
</font></span></p>
<p class="LysaFont" style="MARGIN: 3pt 0in 6pt"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial"><font size="2">The Women's Tribunal is founded on the premise that the struggle to end poverty is powerless without the participation and leadership of women, and that the government's promise to end Poverty & Social Exclusion cannot be achieved unless women's agenda are made central to its policies, programs and budgets, and efforts are made to ensure that women.
</font></span></p>
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<b><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial"><font size="2">STRUCTURE OF THE WOMEN'S TRIBUNAL AGAINST POVERTY</font></span></b></p></div>
<p class="LysaFont" style="MARGIN: 3pt 0in 6pt"><font size="2">The Women's Tribunal will evaluate the outcomes that have resulted from the initiatives of national government in the context of Poverty & Social Exclusion. These outcomes will be reviewed under the themes of:
</font></p>
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<font size="2">a)</font><span style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'"> </span></span></span><font size="2">Right to Work & Livelihoods</font></p>
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<font size="2">b)</font><span style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'"> </span></span></span><font size="2">Food Security, Public Services & Infrastructure</font></p>
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<font size="2">c)</font><span style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'"> </span></span></span><font size="2">Land & Housing</font></p>
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<font size="2">d)</font><span style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'"> </span></span></span><font size="2">Inclusion & Participation</font></p>
<p class="LysaFont" style="MARGIN: 3pt 0in 6pt"><font size="2">Within the above themes, the Tribunal will aim to draw lessons from what has worked well and benefited women living at the margins, and what has been flawed or overlooked in the interventions and approaches of policies and programs that were implemented in the context of the National Common Minimum Program & the National Development Goals.
</font></p>
<p class="LysaFont" style="MARGIN: 3pt 0in 6pt"><font size="2">Approximately 200 women from across 20 states of India would be part of the presentations, depositions and discussion that will be held as part of the Women's Tribunal against Poverty on
17<sup>th</sup> October 2007. The proceedings of the Tribunal would be organized around key themes and questions that are relevant to the issues of Women and their experiences of Poverty & Social Exclusion. These include:
</font></p>
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<span style="mso-list: Ignore"><font size="2">1.</font><span style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'"> </span></span></span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><font size="2">Right to Work & Livelihoods
</font></b></p>
<p class="LysaFont" style="MARGIN: 3pt 0in 6pt 0.5in; TEXT-INDENT: -0.25in; tab-stops: list .5in; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo3"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings">
<span style="mso-list: Ignore"><font size="2">§</font><span style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'"> </span></span></span><font size="2">What other policy measures need to be taken to ensure fair wages and safe working conditions for women working in the informal sector?
</font></p>
<p class="LysaFont" style="MARGIN: 3pt 0in 6pt 0.5in; TEXT-INDENT: -0.25in; tab-stops: list .5in; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo3"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings">
<span style="mso-list: Ignore"><font size="2">§</font><span style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'"> </span></span></span><font size="2">What are the issues facing the increasing number of women in the agricultural sector?
</font></p>
<p class="LysaFont" style="MARGIN: 3pt 0in 6pt 0.5in; TEXT-INDENT: -0.25in; tab-stops: list .5in; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo3"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings">
<span style="mso-list: Ignore"><font size="2">§</font><span style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'"> </span></span></span><font size="2">Have initiatives like the NREGA & Micro Credit enabled the guarantee of work and the creation of assets for women?
</font></p>
<p class="LysaFont" style="MARGIN: 3pt 0in 6pt 0.5in; TEXT-INDENT: -0.25in; tab-stops: list .5in; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo3"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings">
<span style="mso-list: Ignore"><font size="2">§</font><span style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'"> </span></span></span><font size="2">What needs to be done to emphasize and adequately recognize the unpaid productive & reproductive work of women?
</font></p>
<p class="LysaFont" style="MARGIN: 3pt 0in 6pt 0.25in"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><font size="2">2.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Food Security, Public Services & Infrastructure</font></b></p>
<p class="LysaFont" style="MARGIN: 3pt 0in 6pt 0.5in; TEXT-INDENT: -0.25in; tab-stops: list .5in; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo3"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings">
<span style="mso-list: Ignore"><font size="2">§</font><span style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'"> </span></span></span><font size="2">Has women's access to food security (across life cycles) been enhanced through programs such as the PDS and ICDS?
</font></p>
<p class="LysaFont" style="MARGIN: 3pt 0in 6pt 0.5in; TEXT-INDENT: -0.25in; tab-stops: list .5in; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo3"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings">
<span style="mso-list: Ignore"><font size="2">§</font><span style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'"> </span></span></span><font size="2">How are women integrated in programs for health & education such as the NRHM & Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan?
</font></p>
<p class="LysaFont" style="MARGIN: 3pt 0in 6pt 0.5in; TEXT-INDENT: -0.25in; tab-stops: list .5in; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo3"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings">
<span style="mso-list: Ignore"><font size="2">§</font><span style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'"> </span></span></span><font size="2">Are women's needs and priorities integrated in the planning and development of public infrastructure through programs such as the Bharat Nirman and JNNURM?
</font></p>
<p class="LysaFont" style="MARGIN: 3pt 0in 6pt 0.5in; TEXT-INDENT: -0.25in; tab-stops: list .5in; mso-list: l5 level1 lfo4"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial">
<span style="mso-list: Ignore"><font size="2">3.</font><span style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'"> </span></span></span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><font size="2">Land & Housing</font></b>
</p>
<p class="LysaFont" style="MARGIN: 3pt 0in 6pt 0.5in; TEXT-INDENT: -0.25in; tab-stops: list .5in; mso-list: l3 level1 lfo5"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings">
<span style="mso-list: Ignore"><font size="2">§</font><span style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'"> </span></span></span><font size="2">Has women's access to land increased as a result of initiatives such as the Forest Rights Act, 2006 and the amendments to the Hindu Succession Act?
</font></p>
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<span style="mso-list: Ignore"><font size="2">§</font><span style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'"> </span></span></span><font size="2">What policy measures need to be emphasized to ensure their right to housing and ability to own land?
</font></p>
<p class="LysaFont" style="MARGIN: 3pt 0in 6pt 0.5in; TEXT-INDENT: -0.25in; tab-stops: list .5in; mso-list: l3 level1 lfo5"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings">
<span style="mso-list: Ignore"><font size="2">§</font><span style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'"> </span></span></span><font size="2">What challenges are being faced by women in relation to new developments under the SEZ Act & Mining Policy / Permit amendments?
</font></p>
<p class="LysaFont" style="MARGIN: 3pt 0in 6pt 0.5in; TEXT-INDENT: -0.25in; tab-stops: list .5in; mso-list: l5 level1 lfo4"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial">
<span style="mso-list: Ignore"><font size="2">4.</font><span style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'"> </span></span></span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><font size="2">Inclusion & Participation
</font></b></p>
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<span style="mso-list: Ignore"><font size="2"></font></span></span><font size="2"></font></p>
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<span style="mso-list: Ignore"><font size="2">§</font><span style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'"> </span></span></span><font size="2">What opportunities have been created for women's self-determination, leadership and direct participation in governance? How is poverty mitigated or emphasized due to the lack of access to decision making and governance?
</font></p>
<p class="LysaFont" style="MARGIN: 3pt 0in 6pt 0.5in; TEXT-INDENT: -0.25in; tab-stops: list .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1"><span style="FONT-FAMILY: Wingdings; mso-fareast-font-family: Wingdings; mso-bidi-font-family: Wingdings">
<span style="mso-list: Ignore"><font size="2">§</font><span style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'"> </span></span></span><font size="2">How have women's opportunities for participation and political empowerment helped to deal with conflict, violence & discrimination and influence the priorities of the community?
</font></p>
<p class="LysaFont" style="MARGIN: 3pt 0in 6pt 0.25in"><font size="2"> </font></p>
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<b><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial"><font size="2">OUTCOMES OF THE WOMEN'S TRIBUNAL AGAINST POVERTY</font></span></b></p></div>
<p class="LysaFont" style="MARGIN: 3pt 0in 6pt"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><font size="2">Women's Charter against Poverty & Social Exlcusion</font></b></p>
<p class="LysaFont" style="MARGIN: 3pt 0in 6pt"><font size="2">The Women's Tribunal against Poverty aims to consolidate the experiences across at least 10 states of India in relation to the advantages & disadvantages experienced by women in relation to existing policies & programs, and strengthen the policy agenda required to enable their access to and control over their entitlements. These outcomes would be compiled to form a 'Women's Charter against Poverty' which would include:
</font></p>
<p class="LysaFont" style="MARGIN: 3pt 0in 6pt"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><font size="2">a)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> Policy </span>Agenda Setting Papers</font></i></p>
<p class="LysaFont" style="MARGIN: 3pt 0in 6pt"><font size="2">Relevant groups would be involved to define the sub-themes of the Women's Tribunal against Poverty through Policy Agenda Setting Papers, based on the experiences and demands of their work and struggles. These Papers would define the key policy demands that need to be taken forward in order to address the gender dimensions of poverty, and enable women to lead efforts for social change and empowerment.
</font></p>
<p class="LysaFont" style="MARGIN: 3pt 0in 6pt"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><font size="2">b)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Testimonies of Women across Marginalized Groups</font></i></p>
<p class="LysaFont" style="MARGIN: 3pt 0in 6pt"><font size="2">Key movements and networks would be involved to identify women whose testimonies would serve to highlight the experiences of the most vulnerable social groups in the country. These depositions would be recorded and form an important basis for the Verdict of the Women's Tribunal against Poverty.
</font></p>
<p class="LysaFont" style="MARGIN: 3pt 0in 6pt"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><font size="2">c)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>"Imperatives to End Poverty & Social Exclusion"</font></i></p>
<p class="LysaFont" style="MARGIN: 3pt 0in 6pt"><font size="2">A Jury comprising of women leaders from different fields representing Social Development, Arts & Culture, Academics, Students & Youth, Mass Media and Politics – will be identified to receive and represent the testimonies that are presented in the Women's Tribunal against Poverty. The key findings and conclusions of the Jury would be form of the Verdict of the Women's Tribunal against Poverty.
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>The Verdict would also identify the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">"Imperatives to End Poverty & Social Exclusion"</i> that the government must emphasize and implement based on the demands and experiences that have emerged from the Tribunal.
</font></p>
<p class="LysaFont" style="MARGIN: 3pt 0in 6pt"><font size="2">The <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">'Women's Charter Against Poverty & Social Exclusion'</b> would be released to public and the media at the end of the Tribunal, and disseminated to the policy makers / policy making groups as an outcome of the event. We will aim for a delegation to a key public representative to present the outcomes of the Women's Tribunal against Poverty, ideally with the President of India – as this is also the first time in the history of the nation that a woman holds this position. We would also explore other alternatives such as meeting a relevant Minister of State or a Parliamentary Committee. A solidarity / public action – such as in collaboration with the ongoing Janadesh 2007 – too would be explored as part of the culmination of the Tribunal.
</font></p><br>-- <br>++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++<br>Wada-Na-Todo-Abhiyan National Secretariat<br>C-1/E, Second Floor, Green Park Extension<br>Behind Yusuf Sarai Gurudwara, New Delhi 110 016 INDIA<br>Tel: 91-11-46082371 to 74 / Fax: 91-11-46082372
<br>Email: <a href="mailto:info@wadanatodo.net">info@wadanatodo.net</a> / Web: <a href="http://www.wadanatodo.net">www.wadanatodo.net</a> </div>