Some members of the IANSA Women's Network celebrated international women's day in the following ways

Brazil

On 6 March, Sou da Paz launched the People’s Consultation in Brazil with a focus on women, the first of series of consultations to be held with different sectors of society. They also held a debate on women and armed violence which heard women’s perspectives and experiences of armed violence, its impact upon their lives and possible solutions to control the circulation of firearms. Twenty women participated in the event, with backgrounds in domestic violence, violence prevention and peace building.

Viva Rio held a seminar in early March on “Children, Weapons and Urban Violence” which included national and international organizations, government agencies, NGOs and the United Nations. The objective was to create a working group and world-wide agenda on the question of children’s involvement in armed violence, and a focus on the prevention, treatment and rehabilitation of children and young people involved in armed violence.

Burundi

The Youth for Security Club took inspiration from the IANSA women’s network Action Bulletin for International Women’s Day and made their own version, and the theme of their activities for the day was ‘We can make a difference’ including circulation of a press release and media interviews.

Costa Rica

IANSA women’s network members marked the day with a leaflet on violence against women, and a call for an end to the proliferation of small arms and war.

International

IANSA and women's network members signed onto an open letter to UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and Ambassador Dumisani Kumalo of South Africa, President of the UN Security Council. The letter urged them to take action and actively and continuously call for the full implementation of Resolution 1325. The letter also called for the adoption of recommendations for the strengthened UN gender equality architecture.

The Peacewomen Project of the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF) sent a sign-on letter to the UN calling for a long-overdue upgrade of women's equality work in the UN system.

The United Nations International Research and Training Institute for the Advancement of Women (UN-INSTRAW) issued a statement, ‘Eliminating violence against women is everyone’s business’ which was carried in various newspapers and media around the world.

Senegal

On 6 March, The Movement Against Small Arms in West Africa (MALAO) with the support of Fondation Konrad Adenauer, organised a meeting on ‘The role of women in building human security: issues related to small arms and light weapons’ and made a presentation of their work with women in the Casamance region of the country. MALAO also launched the national  People’s Consultation on the Arms Trade Treaty.

Sri Lanka

AMRIDU Women’s group, Sri Lankan women from the Colombo Red Light City, in Wanathamulla, held a public meeting on ‘Community safety and the importance of controlling violence’ on International Women’s Day to support an illicit arms control programme in their hometown. Speaking to SasaNet Sri Lanka, Nalani Rajasinghe told, “If any illicit arms control programme is to be successful, it must accommodate the poor and school dropouts from the city, who are involved with illicit arms, drugs, crime, and prostitution to make a living.”

Samasevaya held a workshop for 100 community leaders, including religious, political and women representatives on women's participation in peacebuilding. They also conducted a survey on women's participation in peacebuilding and distributed this amongst the workshop participants.

UK

Peace Direct which helps local peacebuilders around the world, many of them women. To mark International Women’s Day their monthly Practical Peace e-newsletter features women from all over the world doing inspiring and extraordinary things. www.peacedirect.org/latest-news/Practical_Peace.html

The IANSA Women's Network marked International Women's Day with an Action Bulletin in English and French