wfn.org | Seminar on Women and Communication set for RCC 2000

[George Conklin <gconklin@wfn.org>]

Contact:  Kelly C. Martini
RCC 2000 Promotions Co-Chairperson
kmartini@gbgm-umc.org
(212) 870-2985

MANY VOICES, ONE STORY

Seminar on Women and Communication will precede Religious Communication 
Congress 2000
by Jim Solheim

In the spring of a new century and a new millennium, hundreds of 
communicators from around the world, representing many different faiths and 
a wide variety of concerns, will gather in Chicago for the Religious 
Communications Congress (RCC) 2000 to share their faith stories.

The theme of RCC 2000 is "Faith Stories in a Changing World," focusing on 
sharing the faith through a variety of media and offering more than 70 
workshops. "It will be a time for learning and networking, and participants 
will find incredible diversity at every turn," said RCC 2000 chair, Shirley 
Whipple Struchen of United Methodist Communications.

Those who arrive a day early, before the official opening on March 29, can 
participate in any of five special seminars, including one on Women and 
Communication. Just as a 1993 meeting in Bangkok entitled "Women Empowering 
Communication" demonstrated how women, joining hands around the globe can 
make an impact on the roles, stereotypes and treatment of women in 
communication, so will this one.

"The World Association for Christian Communication (WACC) has brought women 
together across national, ethnic and language boundaries," said Rena Yocom, 
a communication and mission executive from the Louisiana Conference of The 
United Methodist Church and president of the North American Region of WACC 
and vice-president of the international WACC. "We realized that most 
participants in RCC 2000 would be from the US and that, in a time of 
growing globalization, it was imperative to include an international 
component for women."

Terry Hermano, a Filipina who is director of the woman's program for WACC, 
will moderate the session on the theme 'Many Voices, One Story," said 
Yocom.  It will be a combination of interactive dialogue, lecture, the arts 
and story-telling on a personal level.

International presenters will highlight the morning session. They will 
include a variety of speakers.

Zera Yacoub will discuss her film Dilemrne au féminin, a collection of 
powerful testimonies from women who have suffered the effects of female 
genital mutilation.  The film led to a death sentence (fatwa) imposed upon 
her by the Chadian mullahs. International solidarity networking by women's 
groups (including an e-mail network formed after the Bangkok event) helped 
launch a massive lobbying campaign to put pressure on Chad authorities, 
leading to the lifting of the fatwa.  Zara Yacoub is now planning to set up 
a community radio station.

Munira Sen will talk about her organization 's (Madhyam) work in India, 
including campaigns against dowry, domestic abuse and gender 
discrimination. She will also discuss her contribution to the "5-Minute 
Project," which was entitled "My Son," and is a co-production of 5-minute 
films by women producers around the world  This film is about a young woman 
seeking a better life for her daughter by disguising her as a son so that 
she might go to school. She will also talk about Madhyam's new film Ek 
Chingari Khoj Mein (In Search of a Spark), which explores one of the main 
causes of domestic violence in India: the dowry.

  Constellation des Artists: "Isangano", a group of Rwandese artists, 
comprises 9 troupes and over 200 dancers, composers, musicians, poets, 
actors and performers. The artists combine their talents through theater, 
song, dance, poetry, music, folklore and other traditional means of 
communication to promote national reconciliation following the 1994 
genocide. Their performances carry the messages of peace, love, justice and 
forgiveness and their objectives include conflict prevention, 
reconciliation, social justice, human rights and the recognition of women's 
role in society. For the RCC workshop, three representatives of this group 
will demonstrate and involve the participants in this experiential learning.

  Women's Media Watch of Jamaica will lead the session on monitoring and 
advocacy for portrayal of gender roles, critique of policies, and equal 
opportunities for women in media with a goal of gender-sensitive public media.

Small groups will form around common interests and backgrounds such as the 
written word, radio, television/video, monitoring and advocacy. The day 
will end with a section on "Finding our many voices" as the women explore 
how to make an impact in the 21st century.

"It is a jam-packed day but it will be very exciting," says Yocom. She 
stressed the importance of the international presence throughout the day. 
The day will also include presentations from North America, but the 
emphasis will be on global solidarity.

RCC 2000 is the once-a-decade event for religion communicators that will 
take place in Chicago, Ill., on March 29-April 1.  Registration is 
limited.  Special rates are available before January 1, 2000.  For 
information more or to register, go to www.RCC2000.org or call 212-870-2985.

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--Jim Solheim is the director of news and information for the Episcopal Church