Women from across Cambridge will be drawing attention to the hardship women endure throughout the world through conflict, sexual violence, discrimination and intimidation, by meeting to mark International Women’s Day 2010 on Monday, 8 March.

Women are invited to meet on Victoria Bridge and walk to Magdalene Bridge, in central Cambridge to hear prominent figures speak, and to reflect on the work that has been done to eradicate poverty and provide civil societies.

‘Join me on the Bridge’ is a global campaign being run by Women for Women International. The event aims to unite people all over the world in a global women’s movement showing that they can build the bridges of peace and development for the future.

On Monday, thousands will stand together in Congo and neighbouring Rwanda to demand peace and development. Supporting them in their call for the wars’ end will be thousands of women from across the world, including those in the UK.

Dr Eleanor O’ Gorman, Strategist and Researcher of International Conflict and Development, and Anne Lonsdale, Chair of CAMFED, will speak at the event.

Dr Eleanor O' Gorman has over fifteen years experience in the fields of international conflict, human rights and development within multilateral, bilateral, academic, and NGO settings. She is associated with the Centre for Gender Studies and the Centre of International Studies at Cambridge.

Anne Lonsdale is a passionate advocate for women’s education. She is Deputy Vice Chancellor of the University of Cambridge and the former President of Murray Edwards, one of just three all-women colleges in Cambridge.

Women across the region should meet on Victoria Bridge at 12pm or Magdalene Bridge at 1pm, all welcome.

International Women's Day is a global day celebrating the economic, political and social achievements of women past, present and future. It has been observed since in the early 1900's.

Women for Women International provides women survivors of war, civil strife and other conflicts with the tools and resources to move from crisis and poverty to stability and self-sufficiency, thereby promoting viable civil societies.

The University of Cambridge Equality & Diversity team has worked closely with other women’s groups and organisations across Cambridge to develop a full programme of events to celebrate this year’s International Women’s Day.

For further information and for a full list of events taking place please follow the links top right of the page.

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