About BEWC

Since its creation in September 2007 in Vienna, the BEWC has booked a good number of achievements in a relatively short time. Here are some of the highlights so far.

1st Black European Women’s Congress which took place in Vienna in September 2007 addressed the needs of Black Communities especially those of Black Women and children led also to the creation of the Black European Women’s Council – BEWC. 130 Participants from 18 EU Member States rounded up the congress with the adoption of the Vienna-Declaration with concrete demands on the five congress themes to EU-institutions and its Member-States and the creation of the BEWC. The Vienna Declaration can be found at: http://www.bewnet.eu/activities/vienna-declaration/.

The follow-up strategic meeting, took place in Vienna in March 13-14 2008, and elaborated the constitution of BEWC its structure and laid out the agenda for the official launch of the BEWC in the European Parliament in September 2008.

The official launch in September 2008 of the BEWC in the premises of the European Economic and Social Committee in Brussels, brought together not only 150 Black Women from 18 EU Member States, but also (and for the very first time), united black women, members of the European parliament and commission, European high commissioner Vladimir Spidla, European based Umbrella organizations like European Network against Racism (ENAR), European Equality Bodies (Equinet), European Women’s Lobby (EWL) the European Committee of the Regions (CoR) etc. to jointly address issues affecting black women and other visibly minorities in Europe.

In April 2009 the first general assembly took place in Holland and led to the election of BEWC board members consisting of 9 members from 9 EU members states.

The BEWC General Assembly furthermore passed a Resolution with regards to the ongoing European Women’s Lobby’s 50/50 campaign, urging the campaign to take into consideration the diversity of Europe, with particular reference on visible minorities.

The first GA also hosted a capacity building seminar to empower BEWC members.

The 2^nd strategic BEWC Meeting from 1-2 July 2010 took off in Vienna. It aimed at develop the organisational structure and governance, as well as the BEWC working agenda 2010-2015. This working agenda will be presented for adoption at the next BEWC General Assembly 2011.

Online Board Meetings have been convened, so far, unfortunately turnout was not very positive.

BEWC Activities 2010

BEWC 2nd Strategic Meeting Vienna July 2010
He main activity of BEWC 2010 was the organisation of the 2^nd Strategic meeting in Vienna, from 1-2 July 2010. This BEWC strategic meeting was hosted by AFRA, co-organized by the Renner Institute Vienna with the financial support of filia-diefrauenstiftung.

The aimed of this meeting was to develop the organisational structure and governance, as well as the BEWC working 2010-2015 agenda. This working agenda will be presented for adoption at the next BEWC General Assembly 2011.

The participants includes Beatrice Achaleke (BEWC president, Austria), Yvette Jarvis (BEWC vice-president, Greece), Rita Naloop (representing Hellen Felter, BEWC Treasurer, Tiye International, the Netherlands), Salome Mbugua (BEWC Board Member, Akidwa, Ireland), Suzanne Diku (BEWC Board member, Rome Black Women Association, Italy) and Omotola Kaebe (BEWC member, Tola’s Teaching Institute, Germany).

The first day of the strategic meeting was dedicated to the context, means and tools of the Black European Women’s Council. First of all the DVD “The Birth of the Black European Women’s Council” was showed to open the meeting. Martin Janata of the Renner Institute Vienna welcomed the participants before the president of the BEWC, Beatrice Achaleke, emphasized the necessity of a strategic meeting to reactivate the BEWC again and to define common goals, an organisational structure, duties and a strategic plan.

The following points were discussed to feed the strategic plan of the BEWC:

• achievements and dreams
• competences and skills of the BEWC members
• fears concerning Black European Women and the BEWC
• challenges

The fist day was closed by an embassy dinner courtesy of the Cuban ambassador, Her Excellency Norma Goicochea Estenoz.

On the second day the focus was laid on formulating the objectives, discuss the BEWC governance and structure, proposing BEWC activities and projects as preparation of the strategic plan of the BEWC. The objectives will be jointly formulated and adopted at the next general assembly in 2011.

Other activities

Besides the strategic meeting the following activities took place.

To create more visibility and synergy some members of the BEWC were invited to the World Diversity Leadership Summit Europe in Vienna from 11th-12th March 2010. WDLS-EU 2010 provided a great networking opportunity and strategic positioning with companies such as Walt Disney, Adecco North America, Virtcom Consulting, Diversity Practice, and with personalities like Josy Garlacher, Tanya Odom, Lois Cooper and many more.
Exchanges with these personalities and organisations were all centered around creating more visibility for BEWC, creating strategic alliances and discussing strategies on possible sources of funding and strategic networks.

Transatlantic Minority Political Leadership Conference
3 members of BEWC (Beatrice Achaleke, Yvette Jarvis BEWC Greece, and “Transatlantic Minority Political Leadership Conference” in Brussels in 2010. During both meetings the President & Vice President of BEWC not only visibly positioned BEWC at the Trans-Atlantic context but they also insisted on the recognition and involvement of BEWC as strategic partner in all issues relating to Black Europeans.

Participation at the 3. Meeting of the European Intergration Forum
BEWC is a registered member of the European Integration Forum and took part as such at the 3 Meeting of the European Integration forum in June 2010. At this meeting it was important to create direct contact to the current board members of the Integration Forum and to take part in the discussions from the perspective of Black European Women.


Participation at the UN Human Rights Day 2010
Since 2009 BEWC has been appealing strategic partnership with the Helsinki Commission, and the organisers of the Black European Summit including Congressman Hastings and the European parliament. During this meeting it was possible to meet and speak to Congressman Hastings personally, and other members of the European Parliament and Clack Caucus including Rosa Brigonne, Hannes Swoboda, both EU parliament, and may to network with Pr. Allison Brackely (Author of many Blacks on Black Europeans, the US Ambassador to the EU, and many others. Three BEWC Members represented BEWC at this meeting including Yvette Jarvis, Barry Biekmann and Beatrice Achaleke.

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.