WOMEN THROUGHOUT the world will be celebrating International Women's Day on 8 March. But we in Britain should highlight one special struggle which demands our solidarity: regime Britain in the north of Ireland and its own On Socialist Action gives over its editorial space to support the women's delegation to magnaberry prison.
9AM, SUNDAY 8 March 1987 will see more than 100 women from Britain asssemble at Dunville Park, Falls Road, for the beginning of an annual journey to the all-women Maghaberry jail, miles south of Belfast. Yet again the Women and Ireland network is picket against strip-searching and in support of the national liberation commemorate 1987.
Returning Greenham woman wrote: from Ireland it struck me that my experience working in the peace movement has always been a matter of choice. choice about whether to risk arrest or to stay in the background. That choice doesn't exist for the nationalist communities in the north.' This year, women from Ireland and Labour Committee on Ireland will join others from up and down the country for this annual visit to the nationalist community of the north of Ireland. The Maghaberry picket has helped highlight the degrading strip-search torture that nationalist women are subject to as part of their everyday lives in jails throughout the north.
Arriving early evening, their accommodation with families from the nationalist community and participate in a women-only cabaret being laid on to greet the delega. tion. The next day, Saturday, events have been organised for the delegation throughout the day, followed by a social in the department. evening.
On Sunday evening, icket, women will participate in a feedback meeting, to periences. The delegations will arive home during the course of Monday. Thereafter, delegation meetings around the country are already planned: in London, in Liverpool, in Newcastle, and in Birmingham.
The the 1987 delegation is a stark reminder of why this annual picket takes place. Women are advised: 'You will be staying in a nationalist area bordered by loyalist areas, and it is very easy to wander into a loyalist area by mistake. therefore very important to tollow directions. It you are told the way to a certain place, then that is the way to go. This is particularly important at night.' For those who haven't visited the north of Ireland before, daily conditions of life for the nationalist community are hinted at by advice like: 'There are no buses in the nationalist areas. you are cheap.' And: 'It can be difficult to phone home as there are no public call households don't have a phone.
For one short weekend, women from Britain will experience the conditions that nationalist women from the six counties live under every day of every year. Socialist Action takes the opportunity of International Women's Day 1987 to salute women across the world who are fighting for their liberation and for the freedom of their people. Especially, women of the north of Ireland.
End strip-searches!
Self-determination for the Irish people! Britain out of Ireland!
the fight against the inhuman of strip-searching carried out by Day organising a women-only struggle in Ireland, to Day previous visit, 'After coming back Choice to be involved, and Labour Women for delegations women will take up by Sinn Fein's Workshops after the Mughaberr discuss their visit and share expre-visit briefing received by women on It is billeted centrally the black taxis are boxes many salute the nationalist
Socialist Action 6 March 1987