International Bulletin - December 1998
President's Report
 Naomi Backes Kamimura, Japan; Moon Sook Kim, Korea, Eleitino Paddy Walker, Cook Islands, Dr. Elizabeth-Louise Girardi, International President, USA; Florence Kelley, President, PPSEAWA Hawaii; and Satoko Iwasaki, Japan at the reception before the welcome dinner, Honolulu. |
Your International Council met in Hawaii in August, and I thought you would like to know what we talked about and decided.
On the morning of August 19, we had a wonderful presentation from the Cook Islands concerning their plans for our 21st International Conference. They met with the Council in the afternoon to discuss the details.
The Conference will be held on the island of Rarotonga early in November in the year 2000. The exact dates cannot be set until the airlines publish their schedules. There will be a Pre-Conference Workshop lasting two days.
In response to concerns voiced in Kuala Lampur, the Conference itself will last 7 days so persons attending both the Workshop and the Conference need only 9 days.
The theme of the Pre-Conference Workshop will be: Empowering Through Education, Good Governance and Understanding By Sharing Values, Knowledge and Friendship.
The theme of the Conference itself will be: Ignite the Power of Peace.
The sub-themes of the Conference will be: Changed roles of men and women for the new millennium Children - our vision for the future Global environment in the 21st Century Interdependence - unity and global harmony
Since 2000 is UN International Year of Peace, the theme of UN Day will be: Generating Peace through cultural understanding and creativity
There will be papers by invited speakers on major themes and sub-themes, followed by the group discussions that are so important at every Conference.
There will be exhibitions and cultural presentations by delegations, as - well as opening and closing ceremonies and dinners.
The Council was very impressed with the work done by the Cook Islands group, and heartily approved all of the above arrangements. Announcements and invitations will be sent out later, probably in February, 1999. You also will receive, later, information on accommodations, fees, and transportation. Nearer the time, there will be instructions for the preparation of country reports and the submission of nominations of candidates for election.
As to business on other matters than the forthcoming Conference:
Our First Vice President. Datuk Ann Abdul Majeed, was taken ill at the last minute, and not able to attend the meeting in Hawaii. In her absence, Council heard an excellent presentation, given by our Secretary, Y.M. Raja Fuziah Raja Tan Uda. The document was entitled: Seven Main Strategies and Plan of Action. 1998-2003 for Pan Pacific and South East Asia Women's Association (PPSEAWA) International
The document was prepared by the PPSEAWA Malaysia Task Force in Kuala Lumpur. and incorporates the suggestions made by both the Pre-Conference Workshop and the Conference itself in Kuala Lumpur in 1997. The strategies proposed are:
1. Fostering local. regional. and international linkages & friendship
2. Improving information technology literacy among women & girls
3. Creating awareness on environmental and quality of life issues
4. Promoting women's economic advancement
5. Helping women. children. & families in extremely difficult circumstances
6. Promoting cultural tourism through networking with PPSEAWA countries
7. Institutional building through strengthening capacities of PPSEAWA member countries.
An Action Program is proposed for each of the seven main strategies, with considerable detail as to target groups, actions. and specific outcomes.
The document was received by the Council almost with awe. not only for the sheer amount of work it represented. but also for the very high quality of the result. Council endorsed the document unanimously, and referred it to a small committee which was to see to its distribution not only within PPSEAWA but also on the Internet to other NGOs. We felt we have here something really great. and should not keep it just for ourselves. You should be receiving the entire document soon. and I commend it to your attention and action.
Our eagle-eyed By-Laws Chairperson. Miss Kaylin Simpson-Lee of Australia. noticed that there was a clerical error in the new By-Laws. Two sentences from Article IV of the old Constitution somehow were omitted from the new By-Laws. Please turn to your copy of the new By-Laws. and INSERT in Article VII. Conference; Section 1. Objective: as a new beginning paragraph. the following:
"As a means of accomplishing its purpose. the Association shall hold international conferences. These conferences shall be held in the different countries represented in the Association."
Then continue with everything that is in that Article at present. No matter how many times a thing is read. by no matter how many people, mistakes still creep in. Sorry about that.
As well as the meetings mentioned above. Council members were able to attend the first of two PPSEAWA workshops on "Children. the Family. and Health". The workshop lasted a day and a half' and it was a great success. A letter came today from one of the speakers who thanked me for inviting her and said she is joining PPSEAWA. and our three workshop guests from Russia are actually starting a National Member Association in VIadivostok! An NMA is also starting in Papua New Guinea. and we have had an inquiry from Kiribati.
I cannot close without thanking PPSEAWA Hawaii for their wonderful hospitality. They gave us an outdoor barbecue on the lawn of the Aquarium on our first night. and climaxed their efforts with a really lovely closing luncheon in honor of the Anniversary of the founding of PPSEAWA in Honolulu in August of 1928 - 70 years ago. almost to the day. We thank them most sincerely.
PPSEAWA is growing. We are doing good things. Keep up the good work!
PPSEAWA International Plan of Action 1998-2003
Chart indicating the seven main strategies for programme formulation
Last Modified: November 29, 2002