May 9-11, 2011: Tabisa Conference - Amsterdam

by Joop Rosier — last modified May 24, 2011 06:10 PM

The conference will evaluate the work done by the young women in the Decisions For Life Project. Experiences and challenges will be shared. Young women workers still face regime challenges as HIV/AIDS and violence. Also, young women workers are faced with deceit from older people because everyone wants to make decisions for them.

International Young Women’s Conference - Decisions for Life

The Conference is dedicated to Tabisa Sigaba of the South African Decisions for Life team, a young woman who passed away suddenly because of a tragic accident. She proposed, in order to move forward the Decisions for Life campaign, to organise an international Conference with young women (Appendix I).

Amsterdam, the Netherlands
9 - 11 May 2011, De Burcht

The Report from the Conference (35kb, doc)

See: Amsterdam city maps, and information about airport pick

Don't forget:

music
camera
laptop, (if possible)

Draft PROGRAMME

Download programme in English (pdf, 535 kB)
Download programme in Portugese (pdf, 580 kB)
Download programme in Russian (pdf, 570 kB)

Download conference guide in English (pdf, 570 kB)
Download conference guide in Portugese (pdf 590 kB)

Download workshop registration form (en, pt, rus) (Word, 50 kB)

Download conference poster (pdf, 3.6 MB)

Moderators:
Nina Benjamin, campaign coordinator, LRS, South Africa
Yuliya Stankevich, campaign coordinator, BKDP, Belarus
Ira Rachmawati, campaign coordinator, KSBSI, Indonesia
Egidio Raposo, web manager Meusalario, Mozambique & Angola

Organised by:

Monday, 9 May
09.00-09.30	Registration and welcome coffee
09.30-10.00	Opening ceremony Sisanda Mbokotho, Tabisa’s friend, campaign member, SACCAWU, South Africa
09.30-10.00	What is Decisions for Life for me and what do you expect from the Conference? Moderators: Nina, Yuliya, Ira, Egidio
10.00-10.30	How to get the Decisions for Life message across trade unions Sharan Burrow, Secretary General ITUC
10.30-11.30	What young working women want! Decisions for Life topics of young women - How did you find out? Moderators: Nina, Yuliya, Ira, Egidio
11.30-12.00	Coffee/tea break
12.00-12.30	Key facts on young working women Maarten Van Klaveren, University of Amsterdam
12.30-13.00	What Decisions for Life topics and methods to move forward? Moderators: Nina, Yuliya, Ira, Egidio
12.30-13.00	Introduction to 3 afternoon workshops
13.00-14.00	Lunch
14.00-15.00	Parallel Workshops “Empowering young women: What have we learned?” Learning and sharing experiences
	Group 1: How to reach out to young women and find out what they want?
	Moderators: Liudmila Ekzarkhova, campaign member, CFTUK, Kazakhstan Sunidhi Chatterjee, campaign member, UNITES, India *Translation available in Portuguese and Russian
	Group 2: How to empower young women to make informed decisions about finding a job, combing work with family, say no to harassment etc.?
	Moderators: Hagira Faquir, campaign coordinator, SNEB, Mozambique
	Group 3: How to empower young women to be confident to take action, to become activists and leaders?
	Moderators: Aiman Zhumadilova, campaign coordinator, FPRK, Kazakhstan Irina Livkovich, Head Women's Committee, PIT.Ua, Ukraine *Translation available in Portuguese and Russian
15.00-15.30	Coffee/tea break
15.30-16.30	Plenary debate: points for action Each group will share 3 of the best methods. Moderator: Diana Holland, ITUC Chair Women’s Committee (TBD)
16.30-17.30	Plenary debate: What should be on the world agenda? Moderator: Diana Holland, ITUC Chair Women’s Committee (TBD)
17.30-17.45	A song
19.00-21.00	Dinner

Tuesday, 10 May
09.00-09.30	Welcome coffee
	Recap of first day Moderators: Nina, Yuliya, Ira, Egidio
	Introduction to 6 morning workshops
09.30-10.30	Parallel Workshops – Part A “Taking action: What have we learned?” Learning and sharing experiences
	Group 1: What steps to take to get better maternity protection?
	Moderators: Nataliya Levytska, campaign coordinator, KVPU, Ukraine Taisa Bandarenka, web manager, CIS region *Translation available in Portuguese and Russian
	Group 2: What steps to take to stop sexual harassment?
	Moderators: Adele Julene Liebenberg, campaign member, Solidarity/CONSAWU, South Africa
	Group 3: What steps to take to be better protected from HIV/AIDS?
	Moderators: Yuliya Stankevich, campaign coordinator , BKD, Belarus Thulile Motsamai, campaign member, SACCAWU, South Africa *Translation available in Portuguese and Russian
10.30-11.00	Coffee/tea break
11.00-12.00	Parallel Workshops - Part B “Taking action: What have we learned?” Learning and sharing experiences
	Group 1: What steps to take to assist in choices about family and work?
	Moderators: Patricia Nyman, campaign coordinator, SACCAWU, South Africa Geni Marques, web journalist, meusalario.org.br, Brazil
	Group 2: What steps to take to get equal pay?
	Moderators: Fiona Magaya, campaign coordinator, ZCTU, Zimbabwe Nurul Amalia, campaign coordinator, ASPEK, Indonesia *Translation available in Portuguese and Russian
	Group 3: What steps to take to share responsibilities/ combine family and work?
	Moderators: Paulo do Vale, campaign coordinator, DIEESE/Meusalario.org.br, Brazil *Translation available in Portuguese and Russian
12.00-13.00	Plenary debate: Points for action Each of the 6 groups will share 2 of the best methods/ideas. Moderators: Nina, Yuliya, Ira, Egidio
13.00-14.00	Lunch
14.00-14.15	Decisions for Life as an organizing tool and how to make the most of it Megan Eierman, AFL-CIO, USA
14.15-14.30	ITUC global campaigns Kristin Blom, Campaigns Officer, ITUC
14.30-15.30	Plenary debate: How to get the Decisions for Life message across young women, trade unions, politicians, companies? Moderators: Nina, Yuliya, Ira, Egidio
14.30-15.30	Introduction to 3 regional workgroups
15.30-16.00	Coffee/tea break
16.00-17.00	Parallel Workshops “Moving forward the DFL Campaign in your country, region and around the world” A plan of action up to 2015 and beyond
	Group 1: CIS region
	Moderator: Anna Salnikova, ITUC-Moscow
	Group 2: Africa and Brazil
	Moderators: Sisanda Mbokotho, campaign member, SACCAWU, South Africa Hagira Faquir, campaign coordinator, SNEB, Mozambique
	Group 3: Asia
	Moderators: Ira Rachmawati, campaign coordinator, KSBSI, Indonesia Sunidhi Chatterjee, campaign member, UNITES, India
17.00-17.30	Be prepared for tomorrow! We make polices, we make law! Moderators: Nina, Yuliya, Ira, Egidio
18.30-20.00	Dinner

Wednesday, 11 May
9.00-10.00	Welcome coffee
10.00-10.15	Welcome remarks
10.15-11.00	Recap of previous day Moderators: Nina, Yuliya, Ira, Egidio
11.00-11.30	Coffee/tea break
11.30-12.00	Highlights of 2 first days Moderators: Nina, Yuliya, Ira, Egidio
12.00-13.00	Finalise action plans and statements
13.00-14.00	Lunch
14.00- 14.15	How to get the Decisions for Life message across trade unions Agnes Jongerius, President, FNV, Netherlands
14.15-15.15	Action Plan “Moving forward the Decisions for Life campaign in your country, region and around the world” A plan of action up to 2015 and beyond Moderators: Nina, Yuliya, Ira, Egidio
15.15-15.30	Feedback from participants Marieke Koning, ITUC
15.30-16.00	Adoption of action plans - Staying in touch – Young Women’s Network Introduction by: Maria Tsirantonaki & Anna Salnikova, ITUC Paulien Osse, WageIndicator Ceremony for the adoption by young women
16.00-16.15	Did we make progress? Sisanda Mbokotho, Tabisa’s friend, campaign member, SACCAWU, South Africa
16.15-17.30	Reception

Appendix

I. RESOULUTIONS OF THE DECISIONS FOR LIFE YOUNG WOMEN MEETING, HELD IN MAPUTO ON 25^TH MARCH 2010 AT HOTEL TIVOLI

INTRODUCTION
In 2007, the United Nations estimated that in terms of inequality, women do 60% of the world’s work yet earn only 10% of the global income and only 1% of the global property.

Young women undoubtedly form a significant proportion of this 60% of global work and unfortunately earn a negligible percentage of the global income with little or no property ownership to mention.

The Right to Decent Work for all workers is meant for everyone, if this is indeed everyone’s Right, why must we as young women struggle to access Decent Work?

RESOLUTION
We the young women workers present at the DFL/My Wage meeting held here in Maputo from 22-26 March 2010 met and resolved the following:

That a global young women workers conference be organized targeting the DFL adolescent target group 15 – 29 years.

The conference will among others evaluate the work that has been done by the young women in the DFL Project thus far in addition to the following:-

To share experiences and challenges faced by young women workers
To spread the word on the importance of young women workers both in the workplace, communities and the trade unions.
To show the world that we as young women workers still face regime challenges similar to that of our mothers- issues such as HIV/AIDS, Violence etc.
In addition, we are faced with a lot of deceit from older people either at the workplace or at home because everyone wants to make decisions for us.

OUR FOCUS
Our main objective is to reach and connect with young women workers in service sectors within the DFL campaign around the world.

SUPPORT
To make this possible, we seek the support of experienced/ mature women to mentor the young women workers and also support from Youth Committees and trade union leaders. It is important that to note that we as young women do not want to be mothered, but allowed to speak with our own voices.

VISIBILITY

Trade union websites, DFL website, My Wage (or any other WageIndicator) website.
Media both print and electronic

MATERIALS
We will require the following materials:

DFL books which we ourselves will write about our own stories, giving tips and ideas to other young women both employed and job seekers and also our younger sisters behind us.

CONNECTION
We want to connect with:

Decent Work, Decent Life for women campaign and other trade union campaigns working with young women workers like us.

OUR COMMITMENT
We as young women meeting here commit to fulfilling the aspirations for this young women workers conference as our contribution to giving not only ourselves but the many other young women workers around the world a voice to finally be heard. With the DFL campaign, we as young women workers pledge to carry out the Campaign to its successful completion and shall endeavor to continue to sustain the spirit of the campaign by ensuring that a safe space for young women workers is not only created but fiercely protected in all workplaces and in family life.

Amsterdam city maps, and information about airport pick

CONFERENCE LOCATION, HOTELS, RESTAURANTS

CENTRAL STATION AREA

AIRPORT PICK

There is an airport shuttle taking you to your Hotel. You will be met by Gérard and Martin, who will be carrying a sign with "Decisions for Life Conference".
They have all arrival times and flight numbers.
The official meeting point at Schiphol Airport is a red/white kubus in the Arrival Hall, just by the entrances for the trains.
click to see Schiphol Airport Arrivals map

THE WEATHER IN AMSTERDAM

Amsterdam weather forecast

Wage Indicator Conference - May 12, 2011, Amsterdam

See the conference program

The global Wage Indicator conference, May 12, 2011 in Amsterdam. Delegates from national Wage Indicator teams will decide on the outlines of the strategy for the next decade. The Wage Indicator focuses on minimum wages, trade union research and innovative research in poorer countries.