The Feminist Task Force and the Global Call to Action against Poverty, in partnership with Greenpeace International and Inter Press Service announce the “Strengthening Voices:  Search for Solutions” 2011 Women’s Tribunals, a series of 15 tribunals and hearings in Africa, Asia and Latin America organized by the Feminist Task Force and GCAP national coalitions. The Tribunals will involve collection of authentic, specific and exemplary testimonies of grassroots and rural women who have experienced climate change related problems (poverty, food insecurity, lack of water and sanitation, among others) and their search for innovative and successful solutions to them.

The Tribunals will take place in October and November 2011, with the first one kicking off the Tribunals today in Nigeria and organized by our FTF partners at the Niger Delta Women’s Movement for Peace and Development.

	The Tribunals will be dedicated to the memory of Wangari Maathai, a true champion for rural women, environmental justice, peace and development.  A moment of silence will honored at the tribunals in commemoration of Wangari, who now watches over our Mother Earth.

The Tribunals will coincide with the launch of The World We Want report and a wide range of national actions to mark the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty (Oct. 17^th), as well as Rural Women’s Day (Oct. 15^th) and World Food Day (Oct. 16^th).  This year on October 17th, we will join together with GCAP in planning diverse actions, from letter writing to tree planting commemorating Wangari Maathai, to targeted advocacy stemming from the Tribunal policy outcomes and recommendations, and enlighten leaders on how to create the world we want.

The Inter Press Service (IPS) will work with us to develop write-ups around the testimonies of the women featured in the Tribunals. IPS will ensure that the voices of disenfranchised women will be raised in multimedia. Greenpeace will develop a science based study on climate impacts in Africa. The outcomes of the Tribunals/Hearings, journalistic products and scientific study together will ensure that women’s voices on the effects of climate change and their search for solutions will be heard by audiences all over the world. The Tribunals are part of an integrated agenda and the FTF Road to Rio Roadmap, which includes the COP17, G20, G193-UN and its CSW, Rio+20 and post-2015 processes. Watch for more updates.

FTF partners and tribunal organizers:

African Women’s Economic and Political Network (AWEPON)

Centro de Mujeres Peruana Flora Tristan

Cidadao Global, O Instituto Baobab, Bordadeiras da Coroa,FEMNegrasRJ, Criola, Avaaz

Coalición Nacional Mexicana del Llamado Mundial a la Acción Contra la Pobreza – Mexicanos Contra la Desigualdad

Comunidad en Movimiento

G50 (Grupo Sin Cuenta)

Jagaran Nepal

Siglo XVIII  Paz Sustentable