Women delegates protesting at the Beijing conferenceWomen delegates gagged to symolize China's silencing of Tibetan women's voices at the Beijing conferenceWomen delegates gagged to symolize China's silencing of Tibetan women's voices at the Beijing conferenceWomen delegates gagged to symolize China's silencing of Tibetan women's voices at the Beijing conferenceWomen delegates gagged to symolize China's silencing of Tibetan women's voices at the Beijing conference

SECTION II: PREPARING FOR BEIJING

A. Organisation of the Tibetan Women's Delegation

Tibetan women living in exile and supporters and advocates
working with Tibetan women thus decided to actively participate in
the preparatory process and actual Beijing Conference.These women,
scattered around the world on several continents, organised a
delegation referred to herein as the Tibetan Women's Delegation
(TWD).The President of the Tibetan Women's Association (TWA),
Central, in India, served as the International Coordinator.Five
Regional Coordinators coordinated activities with Tibet NGOs,
the local Tibetan communities and grassroots women's organisations
in their respective regions, and served as links to
the International Coordinator.
A Special Representative in New York facilitated directly
with UN offices.

B. Communication

Initially,TWD members communicated by mail and facsimile.
The TWD began communicating by electronic mail after
the March 1995 Preparatory Conference in New York.
E-mail proved to be the most efficient means of communication
and was the major mode of communication both during and after
the Beijing Conference.

C. Preparatory Activities of the TWD

The TWD engaged in extensive local and international
preparations for the FWCW, beginning over two years
prior to the conference.These preparations initiated
the long road to gaining international awareness and
support of Tibetan women's perspectives and were essential
for the success of the TWD in Beijing. The efforts included
preparation of publications, networking with other NGOs, 
education, media efforts, events and fund-raising; 
participation in various official preparatory and
other related conferences around the world; and meetings with UN
and government officials. The TWD also organised several regional
internal strategy meetings in preparation for Beijing. These 
regional meetings provided significant opportunities for TWD 
delegates from India, Europe and North America to gather for 
training and strategising.
    
TWA in India designated the year March 12, 1994 to March 12, 1995,
the International Year of Tibetan Women, dedicated to the women 
and girls in Tibet.All regional TWA branches and many Tibet 
NGOs celebrated the year with festivals, candle-light
vigils,peaceful demonstrations and letter writing campaigns,
creating awareness in the international community about
the conditions of Tibetan women,both in Tibet and in exile.
The year's activities celebrated Tibetan women who had led 
the way in the resistance to the occupation of Tibet,and 
recognised and honoured the pain of those who had experienced
or witnessed such horrors as rape, sexual torture and forced abortion. 

Please see Appendix I for a list of participating Tibet NGOs,
coordinators and delegates to the Beijing Conference;  
Appendix II for a list of publications by participating NGOs;
and Appendix III for a list of conferences and internal strategy
meetings in which the TWD participated.

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© Copyright Tibetan Women's Delegation, April 1996.