sistersong po box 311020 atlanta, ga 31131 reproductive justice vs. neo-liberalism united states...
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SisterSong PO Box 311020 Atlanta, GA 31131
www.SisterSong.net
Reproductive Justice vs. Neo-
Liberalism
United States Social ForumAtlanta, GAJune 29, 2007
SisterSong PO Box 311020 Atlanta, GA 31131
www.SisterSong.net
What is SisterSong? A national network of more than 80 women of color and allied
organizations working together on Reproductive Justice
A collective movement for sustaining, organizing and mobilizing women of color and our organizations in the U.S. SisterSong includes:
African American/Black Asian/Pacific Islander
LatinaMiddle Eastern/Arab American
Native American/IndigenousEuropean American Allies
A voice for U.S. women of color in the reproductive health and sexual rights movement domestically and globally
SisterSong PO Box 311020 Atlanta, GA 31131
www.SisterSong.net
What is the Mission of SisterSong?
To amplify and strengthen the
collective voices of Indigenous
women and women of color to ensure
reproductive justice through securing
human rights.
SisterSong PO Box 311020 Atlanta, GA 31131
www.SisterSong.net
Why SisterSong?
We are SisterSong because we are women of color from many cultures and orientations who may sing different songs yet we all sing the women’s song in harmony, from the same score, on the same sheet of music
-- Juanita Williams
Doing Collectively What We Cannot Do Individually
SisterSong PO Box 311020 Atlanta, GA 31131
www.SisterSong.net
SisterSong’s CoreReproductive Justice Principles
Every woman has the human right to:
1. Decide if and when she will have a baby and the conditions under which she will give birth
2. Decide if she will not have a baby and her options for preventing or ending a pregnancy
3. Parent the children she already has with the necessary social supports in safe environments and healthy communities, and without fear of violence from individuals or the government
SisterSong PO Box 311020 Atlanta, GA 31131
www.SisterSong.net
Why do we need a new framework?
Many activists have worked on the issue of “abortion” or “privacy” as if those issues alone define the scope of women’s reproductive health issues.
To develop new ways of thinking, strategizing, organizing and to create new alliances that respect the leadership, experiences and visions of women of color
By defining our common problem as Reproductive Oppression we can develop a more inclusive and catalytic vision of how to move forward.
SisterSong PO Box 311020 Atlanta, GA 31131
www.SisterSong.net
What Reproductive Justice is NOT:
A re-phrasing of old messages About “messaging” A substitute for phrases like “pro-
choice” or “privacy” Applicable only to women of color Only about abortion rights
SisterSong PO Box 311020 Atlanta, GA 31131
www.SisterSong.net
What are Human Rights?
Civil
Political
Economic
Social
Cultural
Environmental
Developmental
Sexual
SisterSong PO Box 311020 Atlanta, GA 31131
www.SisterSong.net
8 Categories of Human RightsUniversal Declaration of Human Rights
– 1948 to Present
Civil Rights – Non-Discrimination, Equality Political Rights – Voting, Speech, Assembly Economic Rights – Living Wage, Workers’ Rights Social Rights – Health Care, Food, Shelter, Education, Welfare Cultural Rights – Religion, Language Environmental Rights – Clean Air, Water, No Toxic Neighborhoods Developmental Rights – Control Own Natural Resources Sexual Rights – Right to Have or Not Have Children, Right to Marry &
When, Same-Sex Rights, Trans-gender Rights, Right to Birth Control and Abortion, Right to Sexual Pleasure and Define Families
SisterSong PO Box 311020 Atlanta, GA 31131
www.SisterSong.net
Reproductive Justice:
Is based on a fundamentally different worldview focused on human rights
Links individuals to their communities Uses an intersectional analysis Defines the primary problem as
Reproductive Oppression
SisterSong PO Box 311020 Atlanta, GA 31131
www.SisterSong.net
Beijing Fourth World
Conference for Women
-Rejected sexual rights
Cairo International
Conference on Population and Development
-Term “Sexual Rights” created-Link between poverty and reproductive health affirmed
International Women &
Health Meeting
- Launch of Global Women’s Health Movement
African American Women’s Caucus
in Illinois-Term “Reproductive Justice” created-Social Justice + Reproductive Rights = Reproductive Justice
Evolution of the Concept of Reproductive Justice
Vienna Conference on Human Rights-Term “Women’s Rights are Human Rights popularized-Link to Global Human Rights Framework
• Amsterdam – (IWHM) Term
“Reproductive Rights” created•Mexico City –
“Gag rule” introduced by Pres. Reagan
1975 1984 1993 1994 1995
SisterSong PO Box 311020 Atlanta, GA 31131
www.SisterSong.net
Evolution of the Concept of Reproductive Justice
1997 1999 2003 2004 2005
Asian Communities for Reproductive Justice Position Paper: Reproductive Justice: A New Vision for Advancing Our Movement –
March for Women’s Lives – April 2004
SisterSong National Conference on Reproductive Health & Sexual Rights
Creation of SisterSong Women of
Color Reproductive
Health Collective
14th World Congress on Sexology Hong Kong Declaration
-Affirmed sexual rights
SisterSong PO Box 311020 Atlanta, GA 31131
www.SisterSong.net
Defining Characteristics of Neo-Liberalism
Global markets determine people’s lives instead of human rights
Distribution of wealth determined solely by market forces not social policies
Business community should control societies not people in communities
Humans exist for the markets, not other way around Each person needs to develop social capital for
competitive advantage Markets enforced by government, army and police
SisterSong PO Box 311020 Atlanta, GA 31131
www.SisterSong.net
Consequences of Neo-Liberal Policies
Wage cuts and unstable employment Decreased public services Less taxes on the rich Hostility to poor people Free flow of money while people locked
behind borders
SisterSong PO Box 311020 Atlanta, GA 31131
www.SisterSong.net
Reproductive Justice Challenges to Neo-Liberalism
Human rights should determine people’s lives, not markets
Everyone should benefit from the wealth of society
Communities should control businesses Individuals, families and communities are linked,
not isolated Governments have affirmative obligations
towards the people such as education, welfare, health care, safety