BEWC Activities 2008-2009

Since September 2009 BEWC Members receive twice per months a news letter containing news from BEWC members, relevant information and calls for proposals etc from EU related institutions, other international and civil society organisations.

Publications; the “Report of the Vienna Congress”, Vienna 2007 and “Voices of Black European Women I”, Vienna 2009 published by AFRA – International Center of Blackwomen’s Perspectives have greatly contributed and the visibility of the BEWC and Black Women in general Women at European and international level. The first book outlines processes and outcome of the First Black European Women’s Congress, Vienna 2007 while the second features and addresses different topics of daily life and political form the perspective of 22 Black European Women.

Building strategic alliances and international networking has since its creation been an integral part of the work of the BEWC. In her multiple functions as the Executive Director of AFRA, WDLS Strategic Partner for Europe, WDLS-EU Organiser and Conference Manager BEWC president Beatrice Achaleke has seized every possibility to promote, present and create visibility for BEWC both at European and International Level.

• The President presented BEWC and its challenges at the World Diversity Leadership Summit in New York in 2008 and during the ceremony of the Diversity Innovation Award in Washington DC in 2009
• BEWC has also been represented at six different international and conferences and meetings of EU parliament and its related institutions in Strasburg, Brussels and in Lissabon
• Furthermore the BEWC has been officially registered as member of the European Integration Forum in Brussels (this included the three meetings of the forum) and has also participated as official member at the stakeholder meetings of the Fundamental Rights Agency of the European Union in Vienna 2009
• The BEWC has also been linked to the UN Minority Forum for political participation based in Geneva.
• During her role as speaker at Equinet Seminar in Ireland in 2009 the president of BEWC seized the opportunity to introduce BEWC and its challenges to over 130 members of the European Equality Bodies (Equinet) in Ireland. While in Ireland she used the chance to visit Akidwa (Board Member of BEWC). The intention of this meeting and exchange with Akidwa’s management and staff was to know more about their everyday work, challenges and successes.
• The second meeting in Ireland was to support Benedicta Attoh, a candidate for the Dundalk local elections for whom BEWC as addressed a letter of support. This visit enabled the BEWC president to give Attoh the full support of BEWC by accompanying her to different campaign meetings at the parliament and in her local district.
• The BEWC participated in the “Black European Summit” at the European Parliament in 2009
• In support of building strategic alliances a written request for cooperation has been sent to Congressman Hastings and the MEP Claude Moraes, the initiators of the Black European Summit and its follow up the Transatlantic Minority Political Leadership Conference, to welcome the endeavour of the European Parliament and Congressman Hastings to address the issues concerning Black People in Europe and to ask for cooperation.
• Two letters of support of Black European Women running for political office have been drafted and sent to, Benedicta Attoh, City Council candidate (Ireland) in 2009 and to Diane Abbott saluting her decision to run for election to become the first, black female to head the labour party in the UK in 2010
• The BEWC has been extremely present in the both national and international media including Internet blogs. The BEWC has featured in so many national and international quality dailies and newspapers, including the International Herald Tribune and several Austrian dailies, 12 news features on Austrian national TV stations and 8 radio programs since 2008-2009.
• BEWC Greece has supported and run The F.A.R.E Action Week activities in Greece from 2006 until the present. F.A.R.E is an initiative to combat Racism in Football in Europe. BEWC Greece has been recognised by UEFA and the Super League of Greece for its efforts in creating awareness with their youth football solidarity games. The BBC television network covered the activity in 2009 with the participation of star footballer Djibril Cisse.
• The BEWC boasts strong Internet presence. A Google check of “Black European Women’s Council” already shows more than 569.000 postings.