MCWH NEWS AND EVENTS

18 March: Invitation to 'Does Feminism Speak for All Women' Public Forum

Feminism is making a comeback. In Australia, feminism is increasingly becoming a part of pop culture, politics, and a dominant topic in the world of social media. Internationally, struggles by women all over the world are adding to the significance of feminism. Women are reclaiming feminism for a new era and applying it to the context of their lives.

But does feminism today speak for all women?

One of the critiques of feminism is that it does not represent the diversity of women’s experiences, by making sweeping assumptions of what feminism means. In particular, feminism can be seen to disregard the complexities of racialised/gendered identity.

With the resurgence of feminism, now more than ever, it is important to ensure that feminism gets it right.

What areas of feminism need to be challenged to ensure it truly works to further the interests of all women, regardless of background? What would this new feminism look and sound like?

Featuring a panel of 3 amazing young feminists, this not to be missed forum will raise key questions about feminism today.

For tickets and details click here or download the poster

6 February 2013: Release of the MCWH Position Paper on Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting

February 6 is the International Day of Zero Tolerance to FGM, and an important opportunity for us all to affirm our commitment to improving the rights, safety and health of women and girls around the globe.

To mark the day, we are releasing our Position Paper on FGM/C, which was produced with the help of many wonderful women already working to ensure that the practice is not continued in Australia and that migrant and refugee women who have experienced FGM/C have access to services and support which meet their needs.

We'd like to thank again the women who have contributed to this document and the organisations who have endorsed our position. We hope that it provides a solid foundation for the abandonment of FGM/C in one generation in an Australian context.

Common Threads Report and Best Practice Guide Launched by Maria Vamvakinou, Member for Calwell

The Common Threads Report is the culmination of a national and cross-cultural initiative to understand and articulate the issues, needs, values and experiences of immigrant and refugee women in relation to their sexual and reproductive health.

By focusing on the stories and experiences of women from four different cultural and linguistic groups (Chinese, Indian, Sudanese and Middle Eastern) alongside consultations with key health providers in the field, the Common Threads report is a compelling illustration of why definitions of health must incorporate the social determinants which affect wellbeing: factors such as gender, culture, language, and socio-economic situation. It is equally, a testament to the voices of immigrant and refugee women, and why these voices need to be heard and shared in a national forum.

Because of stories such as those in Common Threads, our new vision for MCWH is to be the national voice for immigrant and refugee women’s wellbeing in Australia.

The Common Threads Report and Best Practice Guide are essential reading for health practitioners working with migrants and refugees.

August 2012: Points of Departure Tasmanian Follow-up Immigrant and Refugee Women’s Advocacy Project 2011 - 2012 Final Report

This new report by Ms. Yabbo Thompson is part of a national Points of Departure project with MCWH and was funded by the Tasmanian Department of Health and Human Services.

The Tasmanian Project aimed to further increase advocacy skills through workshops with a further 105 women of immigrant or refugee backgrounds, and to support Tasmanian input to a United Nations strategy.

This report makes an important contribution to immigrant and refugee women’s research and advocacy in Australia, and MCWH sends our warmest congratulations to Yabbo Thompson, the project manager and report author.

The project could not have happened without her long connections with the community, especially immigrant and refugee women, and her skills as a facilitator. Yabbo won the Tasmanian Human Rights Week award in 2012 for her significant contributions towards CALD communities.

You can read the full report here.