Kathmandu, March 25

The second World Women’s Conference has called on all militant women and women’s organisations working in all parts of the world to fight against patriarchal structures for the emancipation of women.

The conference that began on March 13 with the motto ‘Women are climbing the highest mountains’ concluded on March 18 with Kathmandu Resolution stating that women were suffering all over the world due to the rise of fascist and fundamentalist forces.

It said, “In America, Europe and Asia, we are witnessing the rise of right-wing reaction which primarily targets women among other oppressed sections of society. On the other hand, many women have become politically active and are challenged to take on the struggle against sexism, racism and religious intolerance, to set a signal of international solidarity.” It also highlighted the need to raise awareness among men and women against patriarchal structures and modes of thinking in order to develop women’s independence.

“Let us develop our own identity and culture,” it said, adding, “We need to raise the consciousness of men and women against patriarchal structures and modes of thinking.”

It further urged all women to resolutely develop their own structures for worldwide, continental and regional coordination and bring it to a higher level and improve organisational work.

The conference called on all women to promote examples of women’s self-defence as an effective and legitimate answer against any kind of violence against women as well as cooperate with other social movements such as the movement of workers, peasants, environmentalists, peace activists, activists fighting against oppression based on sexual orientation, caste, colour, race and religion with revolutionaries who are struggling for liberation.

The Kathmandu Resolution said the worldwide women’s movement was facing challenges for want of an authority. According to the resolution, women have always been the first victims of wage cut and lay-offs caused by growing unemployment and worsening poverty. “Women all over the world are still paid far lower wage than men for the same jobs,” it said.

As many as 1,300 participants from 48 countries, including more than 200 Nepali and international volunteers, had participated in the six-day conference.

Women from 61 countries were directly involved in the event though not all of them could make it to Kathmandu.