Guam to Host Women's Conference

Guam to host women's conference Sept. 14-19
Pacific Daily News • September 8, 2009

Guam will host the seventh meeting of the International Network of Women Against Militarism on Sept. 14 to 19.

The five-day conference will bring together women from Japan, South Korea, Hawaii, Philippines, Australia, Republic of Palau, Marshall Islands, Guam, United States, Puerto Rico and the Northern Marianas.

The conference's title is "Resistance, Resilience and Respect for Human Rights."

The conference will take place at the University of Guam as the island prepares to host an expanded military presence, including the proposed base that will house 8,000Marines and 9,000 of their dependents, who are being relocated from Okinawa. Part of the conference will take place at the Hill Retreat Center in Malojloj.

The network has been meeting since 1997.

The conference participants will focus on how military institutions, values, policies and operations negatively affect host communities, especially women, according to the network.

"The conference comes at a critical time in Guam's history, and aims to bring international attention to the concerns being raised about the proposed buildup," the network announced in a press release.