About the festival:

1. This is a one-day event on March 15th 10 am - 5 pm
2. Around 200 guests are expected. Women from other communities are present there.
3. We will have a 6 -feet long table to present Iranian arts and antiques. Souvenirs can be sold at the table.
4. Every community should serve one item of food (not a complete meal though). The price of food will be paid by Immigrant Women's Association of Manitoba.
5. A speaker should have a 15-minute presentation about women's life in Iran.
6. The representatives should preferably wear traditional cloth of their country.
7. Representatives can bring a CD and perform traditional dances during the festival.

---------------------------

The society of Iran is a sexist society. The laws, the dominant culture, values, traditions and political system are sexist.

I am a woman a half of a man, my world is apart of man's. In this society I am not recognized as an independent human being. I am dependent on man and am defined in relation to man. I am somebody's wife, mother, and sister. Society, laws and family do not recognize me as an independent being. I am not independent in economic, lawful, social or sexual terms. My life has been decided for me. To work, study, and travel I have to get the man's permission. My sexual life is decided by the man and I don't have the right to live on my own. I can not choose who I want to share my life with. I have no right to get custody of my children.

As Maryam Namazi - an Iranian women activist says the 'situation of women living in Iran under the political Islamic laws is the outrage of the 21st century. Veiled women and girls, beheadings, stoning to death, floggings, child sexual abuse in the name of marriage and sexual apartheid are only the most brutal and visible aspects of women's rightlessness and third class status in Iran".

Blowing of the wind through her hair is a wish for my teenage daughter.

As an advocate of equality and freedom for women's rights, I strongly believe that we have to challenge any laws, religion, tradition, cultural and beliefs which are against women's rights. And I believe that a secular system that ensures unconditional equality for all the society's members and freedom of expression can also ensure success over sexist culture. In the 21^st century it is time that women have to get freedom and equality, decided for their own life and how to live a life, and have their own independent identities.