"Violence against women in Afghanistan and poverty in Zimbabwe are no less important than trade relations with China and one high-profile immigration case," Ireland said. "As feminists and voters we plan to turn up the heat on domestic and international politics as usual to ensure that issues affecting women's lives are on the agenda for the 2000 elections."
A NOW/PAC Political Institute at the conference will provide activists with the skills necessary to elect feminists to office. The Institute consists of twelve hours of workshops with intensive hands-on training. NOW/PAC expects to place dozens of activists who have completed the training in targeted campaigns.
"As we focus on bringing more feminists into the political pipeline, NOW/PAC will kick off the conference with a reception on Thursday, June 29 to honor a mother and son, U.S. Rep. Carrie Meek (D- Fla.) and state Sen. Kendrick Meek (District 36), who made national news challenging unjust immigration policies and standing up for affirmative action," Ireland said. State Sen. Meek held a sit-in in Jeb Bush's office to protest the governor's repeal of affirmative action in the state.What: 2000 National NOW ConferenceWhen: Friday, June 30 to Sunday, July 2
Where: Fountainebleau Hotel on Miami Beach, FL
While the Elian Gonzalez case made headlines, U.S. Rep. Meek flew to Haiti to find two children separated from their mother and rushed back to their home country by the INS. Their mother lay in a Miami hospital as a result of their ill-fated boat trip seeking refuge in the U.S. from the political violence and desperate poverty in Haiti. Marleine Bastien, President of Haitian-American Women will continue the discussion of immigration and the global impact of U.S. foreign policies at the conference.
Other featured speakers at the conference will focus on women in power worldwide. Minna Schrag, who served as a justice on the war crimes tribunal for Bosnia, will address rape as war crime and violence against women as a worldwide epidemic. Laura Liswood, Director of the Council of Women World Leaders, will describe her success in bringing together women heads of government. Filmmaker Lily Mariya will present her film "Shangri-La Café," which chronicles the courage of a Japanese-American woman who ultimately refuses, even in the face of threats of violence, to ban African-Americans from her restaurant.
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For media credentials for the National NOW Conference, please contact NOW's Media Relations Office at 202-628-8669, ext. 114.