From the Editor
Dear Friends,
In this issue, we have a special focus on women and labour issues in the fishing sector. As you may be aware, at the 93rd Session of the International Labour Conference (ILC), the proposed Convention on Work in the Fishing Sector could not be adopted for lack of quorum by only one votean unforeseen and unfortunate development for fishers all over the world. The Convention will come up again for voting in 2007.
At the ILC, the ICSF Statement to the Committee on the Fishing Sector stressed the need to broaden the definition of a fisher’, to promote the rights of those whose fishing operations do not necessarily involve the use of fishing vessels, such as those undertaking commercial beach-seine operations, diving and gleaning. It is in such gathering/gleaning fishing operations, in fact, that women are commonly involved, as the article from Chile in this issue of Yemaya also indicates. We carry the text of the ICSF Statement, as well as comments subsequently received, highlighting the need to also promote the rights of collaborating spouses’women who stay on shore but manage the fishing enterprisewhose work is rarely recognized or covered by social security.
Eight months after the 26 December 2004 tsunami in the Indian Ocean, the situation is still difficult for many victims. We carry a write-up from Sri Lanka about tsunami-displaced people. Ironically, in Sri Lanka, community settlements in the coastal buffer zone’ are being cleared, even as tourist resorts are being allowed to continue or rebuild in the same zone. We also carry the Statement from the Asian Women’s Consultation on Post-Tsunami Challenges’, organized in Aceh, Indonesia, from 25 to 27 July 2005 by the Asia Pacific Forum on Women, Law and Development (APWLD). The Statement highlights key issues vis-a-vis tsunami relief and rehabilitation, from the perspective of women victims of the disaster.
And lastly, we reproduce an article about Miya Hawa, a community leader from Trang, Thailand, who died recently. She was only 47 years old. Miya’s contribution to coastal conservation is well acknowledged, proving beyond doubt the commitment of local communities to manage and protect their ecosystems, particularly where and when they are supported in their efforts. Miya blamed State greed for the vast environmental destruction in the country, cautioning that if nature dies, people cannot live. Listening to such voices, one wonders about those who primarily see local communities as threats to conservation and management of ecosystems and natural resources.
And finally, let us remind those of you who would like to contribute to Yemaya, that we circulate an email two months prior to each issue, requesting for articles, comments, write-ups and other news of relevance to women in fishing communities. If you would like to receive this email reminder, do let us know by emailing us at icsf@icsf.net
