Information Sheet

Young Women and Democracy 
Press Conference

26 September 1995


This sheet aims to give you a brief outline of the different
subjects discussed at the press conference. If you want to ask
questions or need more information please don't hesitate to
ask.

HEALTH
Speaker: Mel Gunesana, Women's Environmental Network, UK

We are aiming to empower young women to campaign to make
women's health an integral part of health and environmental
policy and practise. There are currently 10,000 chemicals in
use everyday. Only one third have been tested for their
effects on human health. Women's bodies are more susceptible
to environmental pollutants and we are more likely to pass on
the effects of toxic substances to our children. We need to
make the connection between environmental pollution and ill
health a mainstream concept and take control of our own health
rather than allowing industry, governments and the drug
companies to force us into silence.

SEXUALITY
Speaker: Jan Boontinand, UK

Sexuality constitutes who you are as a person; it is your
sexual relationships, your sexual preference, and your
personality. In our society people are stigmatized because of
our sexuality. This includes sex workers and homosexuals. In
addition, women are subordinated doubly by their own
sexuality. The workshop gave women the opportunity to voice
their strategies for change.

IMAGE AND PORTRAYAL OF WOMEN
Speaker: Eva Monspart, Eco Counselling, Hungary

Throughout a woman's life we are shown certain derogatory
images of women. It starts with fairy tales such as 'Little
Red Riding Hood' and carries on with gender issues in schools.
When we get older we realise that there are still very few
women in leading positions, and that advertising billboards
portray women as sexual objects in order to sell their
products. We have been discussing what we can do to change
this.

CHANGING PRODUCTION AND CONSUMPTION PATTERNS
Speaker: Lena Panina, Mama 86, Ukraine

In the so-called former socialist countries there is very
little information made available to the public about the
impact of consumer goods on our health and the environment.
Through exchanging experiences with other consumer societies
and NGOs we can learn about the skills and tools needed to put
pressure on the decision makers, how to gain more supporters
and how to inform the public about the issues.

DEMOCRACY
Speaker: Ausrina Velickaite, EYFA, Lithuania

It is not by chance that the group who contributed most to our
discussions on democracy were the participants from
post-Soviet, post-totalitarian countries.  This is because
democracy in these countries is new and is still being
developed. It is also because of the way people are thinking
in these countries.  They are looking at the overall situation
for everyone, but also including issues specifically relating
to women, such as sexuality and the image and portrayal of
women, within the whole picture.