The first meeting of the International Women's Day Collective last month set the scene for a strong, vibrant and demanding IWD in 1998. One of the most encouraging aspects of the meeting is that professional women's service providers and grassroots activists are, more so than previously, uniting in action around the issues confronting women today.

With this joint approach, the commitment to taking action and putting a lot of energy into IWD preparations is very strong. On this basis the collective decided to organise the traditional IWD march on Saturday, March 7, with speeches and performances afterwards, and to make IWD the theme of the regular Sunday Nightcliff Markets on the actual day, Sunday, March 8. IWD stalls are being held in the city and on campus to spread the word and, with resources made available by some of the women's services, IWD leaflets will be printed in six different languages.

The collective is open and encouraging all women to come along to the meetings and get involved in the organising of the IWD activities. The first IWD collective meeting raised the need to feature the issues of native title, women and mandatory sentencing, violence against women, the campaign for the release of Indonesian political prisoner Dita Sari, the rights of single mothers and the attacks on child-care at this year's events. There was also a strong sentiment of support for the national focus on justice for indigenous women.

To get involved, or for more information about this year's events, contact Alison on (08) 8945 1388 or Sibylle on (08) 89482632. Sibylle Kaczorek - Darwin