Arte Sana

Press Releases
March 8, 2002
International Women’s Day serves an educational vehicle to address violence against women

AUSTIN, Texas -- International Women's Day is an occasion marked on March 8 by women's groups around the world, commemorated at the United Nations, and designated as a national holiday in many countries. When women on all continents, often divided by ethnic, linguistic, cultural, economic and political differences, come together to celebrate their day, they can look back to a tradition that represents almost a century of struggle for equality, justice, peace and development. International Women's Day celebrates ordinary women as makers of history and is rooted in the centuries-old struggle of women to participate in society and social change.

This occasion also offers victim service advocates an opportunity to promote awareness of violence against women on a global scale. Here in Austin, there will be three parallel and converging events to celebrate women's role in working towards a better world. In addition, Austin Cable Access Community Television (ACAC) will be featuring a day of women's programming, including the Women's News Hour which will air live from 3:30-5pm. Participants in these events are invited to appear on the show.

For a second year in a row Arte Sana will join a group of state and local advocacy groups to celebrate women and help promote violence prevention efforts. This year, the “Addressing Violence Against Women” panel will be offered to the Austin community and included the following presentations:

• “The Silent Witness Project” by the Texas Council on Family Violence
• “Violence Against Women Along The Border,” by Texas Rural Legal Aid
• “The Rights of Immigrant Survivors of Abuse” presented by the Political Asylum Project of Women & Saheli
• “Violence Against Muslim Women” was presented by the Islam Education Bureau
• Chinwe Odeluga recited poetry and discussed the “Poetic Healings” project.
• Toni Bravo performed an interpretive dance titled, "El Olvido Quema," dedicated to women who manage to get out of domestic violence.

About Arte Sana

Arte Sana (art heals) is a nationwide organization dedicated to helping underserved survivors of racial and gender-based violence. As a 501(c)3 non-profit group based in Austin, TX, Arte Sana promotes healing and empowerment through the arts and community education. Founded in 2001, Arte Sana believes that violence risk reduction programs and services must be culturally competent and linguistically appropriate and are committed to the value of indigenous leadership and collaboration sin fronteras (without borders).

###

< Press Releases