Accent of Women

According to Human Rights Watch, 14 million girls are married, worldwide, each year - with some as young as eight or nine. While early and forced marriage appears most prevalent in countries of Africa, Asia and the Middle East, several recent cases have shown Australia is not immune to the practise.On March 8 th 2013, yup, that's international women's day, Federal legislation passed to specifically outlaw the practice. The amendment created new offences relating to slavery and slave-like practices including forced marriage. Under the Act, a marriage is a forced marriage if – because of the use of coercion, threat or deception – one party to the marriage entered into the marriage without freely and fully consenting.But it's not as feminist as it sounds. These laws have come at a time when Australia's anti-immigration policies are actively preventing Australian refugees from war-torn countries to sponsor and assist other family members from getting here. Forcing people in communities to marry their relativ

We celebrate ethnic programming and many different languages and communities having access to the airwaves. But do women and young people within those ethnic communities have the same access to their voices being heard in the airwaves?We discussed with a great panel that includes Areej Nur, a young broadcaster currently producing at 3CR and Namila Benson, who began as a young producer in community radio two decades ago.This discussion was originally broadcasted on April 8 from Gertrude Contemporary as part of a panel celebrating the history of Ethic Programming in community Radio. This show was part of the 40th birthday celebration of 3CR community Radio.Listen to the section dedicated to Women in Community Language programming.

For two years and eight months, indigenous community leader Nestora Salgado was unjustly kept in prison. For over a year she had no access to speak with her attorney and was in solitary confinment. After over two years without a trial and bogus charges, and thanks to great international solidarity accions, Nestora is now free. She was released in March this years.Nestora is an activists and activist of Olinala’s Community police, a community elected and sanctioned organisation in charge of safety and peace-keeping. Once released, Nestora has embarked in a campaign for the liberation of the remaining political prisoners in Mexican prisons, and in supporting social movements opposing the brutal neoliberal measures that are being implemented in Mexico by blood and fire.I spoke via Skype with Miriam Padilla, a Mexican-American activist based in Seattle. She is a member of the Freedom Socialist Party in Washington and she has been and active member of the Free Nestora Campaign, an international campaign that

Prestigious Chilean journalist, writer and commentator Martha Harnecker talks about social change in Latin America and the recent challenges that social movements and progressive governments are facing today. Discussing corporate and independent media, social organisation, revolutionary strategies, the role of the workers and more.Marta was a student of Louis Althusser in Paris and returned to Chile in 1968. After the bloody coup against the Allende government in Chile in 1973, she moved to Cuba where she became Director of the research centre “Memoria Popular Lationoamericana” (MEPLA) in Havana. Between 2004 and 2011, Marta lived in Venezuela, based at the Centro International Miranda research institute, and served as an advisor to President Chávez and to various Venezuelan institutions. She now lives in Vancouver.She is the author of over 80 books and monographs, some of which have been translated into English. Her book A World to Build won the “Literatador Prize for Critical Thinking” in 2013 and was publi

In the context of 3CR's 40th birthday special broadcast, Jiselle Hanna and Lourdes Garcia-Larque were joined by a panell of Community languages broadcasters Vicky Ferrada (Spanish language programming) and Melba Marginson (Tagalog programming) to discuss the history of the participation of CALD women in community radio over the last four decades. We talked about the challengesfemale programmers faced within their communities broadcasting in their languages, and the importance of raising issues such as family violence and feminism in Ethnic Radio.The audio for this show was recorded from the live broacasting "Community Language Programmingh" on April 8, for the 3CRs 40th birthday, broadcasted from Gertrude Studios in Fitzroy.

On March 17, 2015, thousands of jornaleras and jornaleros (agricultural workers) from the town of San Quintin, in Baja California (Mexico) marched to the US border, to demand fair wages, sanitation, housing, an end to the 21st century slatery conditions they have endured for decade and that the NAFTA has just made worst.Gloria Gracida Martnez is a teacher and activist, a former jornalera and a spokes-person for the movement. On Accent of Women she talked to us about the story of the march and two month long occupation and strike, the formation of their union, and educating the youth abouth fighting for their rights.Boycott Driscoll campaign.

International Women's Day ‪#‎IWD2016‬ we have put together a special show showcasing two of our favourite recent interviews. Lourdes Garcia-Larque spoke with teacher and activist Gloria Gracida, about the struggle of strawberry pickers in the Mexican border, their fight for justice, their newly formed union & the boycott against multinational company Driscoll. You can find more information about the campaign following this link.Jiselle Hanna spoke with Filipino activist Liza Maza. They spoke about resisting American imperialism in the Asia Pacific region, and about the impacts of military bases in the Philippines. 

Colombian artists Katherine Gailer & Maria Esther Pena talk about their upcoming EXHIBITION ▷ INHABITED: A Magical Realism that opens on Tuesday, 2 February 2016, 5 -7pm, 45 Downstairs (45 Flinders Lane) in Melbourne. We talked about Magical Realism, telling different stories and being an Immigrant. We discussed about what is a "LAtin american" artist in Australia.Dates: 2 – 13 February 2016Opening Night: Tuesday, 2 February 2016, 5 -7pmINHABITED: A Magical Realism’ is a group exhibition by Colombian-Australian artists Katherine Gailer and Maria Peña comprising a collection of visual metaphors representing identities in transition, disintegration and reconstruction. It presents a body of works– which incorporates oil paintings and drawings– aiming to uncover the magical realism, which inhabits Australia’s multicultural landscape. The artists reveal a mythical dimension, which embraces visions of fragmented memories and dreamlike sates arising out of the journeys of people mi

January 26.  Australia Day.  It marks the anniversary of the 1788 arrival of the First Fleet of British Ships at Port Jackson, in New South Wales, the raising of the Flag of Great Britain at that site by Governor Arthur Phillip, the invasion of Australia and the start of genocide against the original owners of this land.  We should not celebrate Australia Day, and to tell us why, Aboriginal woman, Daniela Rochford joins us on Accent of Women. 

Canadian-Australian mining company OceanaGold continues a US$315 million US dollar lawsuit against El Salvador, a small country in Central America. This is possible under the Free Trade Agreement laws. a snapshot of what could come with the secretive TPP. Vidalina Morales speaks about environmental impact in an already fragile country, and about the violence used by mining companies to eliminate activists.

In November 2014, Filipina transgender woman, Jennifer Laude was murdered by US marine Lance Corporal Joseph Scott Pemberton. He has not been brought to justice. On this week and next, Accent of Women looks at this case and the campaign for justice.

In November 2014, Filipina transgender woman, Jennifer Laude was murdered by US marine Lance Corporal Joseph Scott Pemberton.  He has not been brought to justice.  On this week and next, Accent of Women looks at this case in some detail.

We discuss the situation of political prisoners in Peru over the last 20 years, particularly in the context of  the fierce anti-communism of the Fujimori regime, and the recent changes to the incarceration system.We talk about how political prisoners have used art as a therapeutic tool and a way to share their stories.Viviana Salas is a Peruvian photographer living in Melbourne and the curator of Art Inside, an exhibition presented at the Victorian Trades Hall suering May this year.The exhibition presented artwork produced by political prisoners around the world, including West Papua, Chile and Peru. The interview was recorded ruing the time of the exhibition.

In the context of recent Reclaim Australia demonstrations against immigrants, muslims and generally people of colour, we bring some updates on the Middle East. We will hear about the everyday life of people in Syria that forces people to cross their borders from Hanan Maarouf ‪#‎SyriansForFreedom‬ in a speech she gave at the‪#‎StopReclaimAustralia‬ rally in Melbourne in November 22. We will also hear Palestinian socialist Reem with updates on Palestine, the most recent Intifada and upcoming solidarity events from ‪#‎CAIA‬ Coalition Against Israeli Apartheid.

African feminism is as old as society. From Kenyan women asserting their right to dress as they choose and Nigerians standing up to the misogynist Boko Haram to feminists organising across the continent for LGBTIQ rights. The Socialist Feminist organisation, Radical Women, recently organised a public meeting on Feminism in Africa. Nita Okoko, Kenyan feminist and international student at Melbourne University was the keynote speaker, and 3CR's Areej Nur recorded the speech.Nita started off by explaining that in many respects, it's difficult to discuss feminism in Africa – an entire continent, and that the expression of women's struggle is very different depending on where in Africa you are. Nonetheless, Nita embarked on this mammoth task.

Daniela Alvarado is an Ecuadorian feminist and a Public Health specialist. She is passionate about women’s reproductive rights. Daniela discusses the history of women’s struggles and campaigns in Latin America, and particularly in Ecuador, for social and economic rights, safe legal abortions and self determination.This program was first played on November 2014, and it is an interview recorded at a public meeting organised by Radical Women in Melbourne.

Israel has once again escalated its attacks against the Palestinians, provoked by the right-wing Zionist settler movement that wants the government to take control of Jerusalem’s al-Aqsa Mosque compound and allow Jewish prayers on the entire site.  It is hard to believe that a future is possible in Palestine.  In fact, many are predicting a third intifada.  And yet, as Jerusalem burns, it seems there is the zygote of a progressive Jewish movement emerging in Isreal.  While a Jewish perspective on the occupation of Israel on Palestine is not a common view broadcast on Accent of Women, this week, we've decided to give this issue some air time.  I spoke with Jewish activist Sahar Vardi.  She's based in Israel and is an organiser in a campaign to end Israeli occupation of Palestine.

Under Pinochet era Anti-Terror laws, 15 Mapuche community leaders are currently in prison because they are opposing a forestry hydrolic company taking over their lands - all with the permission of the State.Marisol Salinas is a Mapuche in exile here in Australia, and a member of the Latin American Solidarity Network, where she co-ordinates the solidarity campaign for the release of the Mapuche political prisoners. She's our special guest on Accent of Women.

Effie Meehan is a woman from Greek background living with cerebral palsy. For over 30 years, she has been a tireless advocate for the rights of people with disabilities, particularly from migrant backgrounds.She is a co-founder of ADEC (Action on Disability within Ethnic Communities) and she is currently a Facilitator and a Disabily Ambassador.

Today’s show is dedicated to the case of the 43 students from Ayotzinapa marking the one-year anniversary since the event in which 43 students were forcibly disapeared.On the night of September 26, 2014, six people were killed by police forces, including three students. One of them, Julio Mondragón, appeared hours later with the skin removed from his face. On that night, 43 student teachers were kidnapped by state forces.One year on, the case of the 43 students has become an emblematic case of state repression and impunity, and an example of the close links between criminal organizations and state forces. It is also an example of the resistance, the solidarity and the resilience of the Mexican people standing up for justice.On today’s show we will discuss about the most recent report “informe Ayotzinapa”, produced by an Independent Experts Interdisciplinary group, GIEI for its Spanish Acronym. We are going to hear some reflections on the report and the journey of struggle and resistance led by the relatives o