Our Road: Reports, Reportages, Information (WIDF, 1965), including 'GERWANI for Peasant Women'

=== [PDF page 1] === Rights and duties of women in the Democratic Republic of Korea REPORTS - REPORTAGES - INFORMATION 38 The law on the equality of women with men, proclaimed on July 30, 1946 after the liberation, legally assured to women, for the first time in the history of the country, the same rights as men in all domains, political, economic, social and cultural. In the political field, from the age of 18, like men, they enjoy the right to vote and be elected. At the present time in our country, 25,488 women, who represent 29% of the total number of deputies, are members of the People’s Assembly and deputies in organs of local administration. And many women, assuming responsible positions in the party and local government, social organisations, fulfil their duties efficiently. In the economic field also, Korean women enjoy the same rights as men. Women represent 49% of the work force and participate in socialist edification. It is particularly in the field of the light industry and commerce, as well as in teaching, culture and public heatlh, that women play a very important role. In light industry women represent 62% of the work force while in local industry they represent 70% of the workers. The proportion of women in merchandise distribution is 75% They are an overwhelming majority of the workers in retail selling, commodity services and the food industry. Under the colonial rule of the Japanese imperialists, 90% of the women were illiterate. In 1948, after liberation, illiteracy was completely wiped out in North Korea. Women now possess scientific, technical and general advanced knowledge. The total number of women who now have Doctorate degrees, including doctors, engineers and specialists, is more than 70,000. Women represent 60% of the whole teaching force. In the sphere of public health they represent 78% of the total personnel. Working women are particularly well cared for by the State. After the sixth month, expectant mothers are transferred to easier work at no change in salary. To protect the health of mothers and the newborn, maternity leave is granted to expectant mothers in addition to regular paid vacation, In addition to work breaks for all workers, nursing mother with children less than one year old, are allowed sufficient additional time every three hours to feed their children. Women have the right to receive old-age pensions at an earlier age than men. In case of loss of ability to work, they receive the same social security payments as men. Large numbers of nurseries and kindergartens re run at the expense of the State. Korean women also play an important role in the country’s agriculture. Peasant women enjoy great solicitude from the government. They benefit from special work protection and paid maternity leave. The system of free medical care and obligatory education also operates in the country, and innumerable nurseries and kindergartens have been built. Thus peasant women can work at the cooperative farm, free of worries concerning their children. Many women are Chairmen of Administrative Committees in the country rural economy and management committees of the cooperative farms; they are engineers, assistant engineers, ete. But the condition of the women of South Korea, which was liberated the same day as we were, are the exact opposite to the above mentioned facts. (Taken from a report of the Union of Women of Democratic Korea) In South Korea In South Korea, which is under the colonial domination of American imperialism, women are deprived of the most elementary freedoms. They are completely excluded from political life. 95% of women able to work cannot find suitable jobs, and in the case of women who are employed, their salaries represent only 30 to 50% of the salaries of men, the latter being only one third of the amount needed for a minimum living. South Korean workers are forced to work 12 to 18 hours a day in conditions deprived of all work protection. The number of school-aged children who do UNG! A SANC === [PDF page 2] === Rights and duties of women in the Democratic Republic of Korea REPORTS - REPORTAGES - INFORMATION NOD, The law on the equality of women with men, proclaimed on July 30, 1946 after the liber tion, legally assured to women, for the first time in the history of the country, the same rights as men in all domains, political, economic, social and cultural. In the political field, from the age of 18, like men, they enjoy the right to vote and be elected At the present time in our country, 25,488 women, who represent 29% of the total number of deputies, are members of the People’s Assembly and deputies in organs of local administration. And many women, assuming responsible positions in the party and local government, social organisations, fulfil their duties efficiently In the economic field also, Korean women enjoy the same rights as men expectant mothers in addition to regular paid vacation In addition to work breaks for all workers, nursing mother with children less than one year old, are allowed sufficient additional time every three hours to feed their children Women have the right to receive old-age pensions at an earlier age than men In case of loss of ability to work, they receive the same social security payments as men. Large numbers of nurseries and kindergartens are run at the expense of the State Korean women also play an important role in the country’s agriculture. Peasant women enjoy great solicitude from the government They benefit from special work protection and paid maternity leave. The system of free medical care and obligatory education also operates in the country, not attend school has reached the alarming figure of one million The deplorable conditions of women and children in South Korea are the result of the 20 yea atrocious colonial domination by American imperialists and the policy of fascist repression by the puppet Pak Jung Hi clique. Today the spirit of anti-imperialist struggle for the restoration of the country to the people and women of South Korea gains in amplitude day by day. The women of South Korea who have and still know all sorts of suffering and pain, sympathize infinitely with the dignified and happy life of women in North Korea, and lead a vigourous struggle to chase the aggressive American troops from South Korea, unify the country by an independent election, and to obtain the right to life and liberty OF J Women represent 49% of the work force and participate in socialist edification. It is particularly in the field of the light industry and commerce, as well as in teaching, culture and public heatlh, that women play a very important role. In light industry women represent 62% of the work force while in local industry they represent 70% of the workers. The proportion of women in merchandise distribution is 75% They are an overwhelming majority of the workers in retail selling, commodity services and the food industry Under the colonial rule of the Japanese imperialists, 90% of the women were illiterate In 1948, after liberation, illiteracy was completely wiped out in North Korea. Women now possess scientific, technical and general advanced knowledge. The total number of women who now have Doctorate degrees, including doctors, engineers and specialists, is more than 70,000 Women represent 60% of the whole teaching force. In the sphere of public health they represent 78% Working women 78% of the total personnel are particularly well cared for by the State. After the sixth month, expectant mothers are transferred to easier work at no change in salary. To protect the health of mothers and the newborn, maternity leave is granted to Rag ee and innumerable nurseries and kindergartens have been built. Thus peasant women can work at the cooperative farm, free of worries concerning their children Many women are Chairmen of Administrative Committees in the country rural economy and management committees of the cooperative farms; they are engineers, assistant engineers, ete. But the condition of the women of South Korea, which was liberated the same day as we were, are the exact opposite to the abovementioned facts. (Taken from a report of the Union of Women of Democratic Korea) In South Korea In South Korea, which is under the colonial domination of American imperialism, women are deprived of the most elementary freedoms. They are completely excluded from political life. 95% of women able to work cannot find suitable jobs, and in the case of women who are employed, their salaries represent only 30 to 50% of the salaries of men, the latter being only one third of the amount needed for a minimum living. South Korean workers are forced to work 12 to 18 hours a day in conditions deprived of all work protection. The number of school-aged children who do Prices are rising, living standards are getting lower. Indian women, indignant at this state of affairs, are reacting with mass demonstrations initiated by the Indian women’s organisation. SSapey eke Hag we. TP UNNTRA EL DUEBIO pow, 79 DOMING We invariably maintain that, to resolve the problem of the unification of Korea, a central unified government must be installed, grouping representatives of different strata and backgrounds, elected by means of a general free election in the whole of the country based on democratic pr inciples with no foreign interference whatsoever, after the withdrawal from South Korea of the aggressive troops of American imperialism GERWANI for Peasant Women For a very long time the Indonesian Women’s Movement, GERWANI, has especially worked for -the concerns of peasant women, which make up a great part of the population of the country. Since its foundation GERWANI has ictively worked for the realisation of a land reform, explaining to women the advantages Women against “Emergency German Federal Republic For some years in the German Federal Republic, the Government has been trying to get Parliament to pass laws known as Emergency Laws which can limit the constitutional rights of the citizens, not only in c of war but also during peace time. Progressive organisations including women’s organisations, participants in meetings and many eminent personalities have made a stand against these Emergency Laws; the campaign grows daily. Women and mothers are especially affected by these laws, as work, service and production is planned, both in and outside the country for those aged 18 to 55; service in air protection, identification for children up to 12 years of age and the storing of emergency rations sufficient for several weeks armaments industry; etc; “The planned laws will stipulate the making of identification for our children out of heat resistant material — Mothers, are your children also heat resistant?” a woman asked at one of the large women’s gatherings now being held in all parts of the German Federal Republic, where the women explain what effect these planned laws would have. “Definitely resist the emergency laws been the demand of many women’s meetings in the last few months. In Gelsenkirchen the women said VERA LOS AGRESORES yANou NB: rats of LA ARGENTIN and alterations which would result from it At the same time they stress the importance of women’s work on the land, holding seminars and courses on this question. In their deep concern for the fate of peasant women GERWANI works closely with other organisations, including the Indonesian Peasant’s front. On International Women’s Day the Indonesian Peasant’s Front sent a message of greeting to the Indonesian women which stressed the important role peasant women were playing in the anti-feudal revolution and the struggle for increased production. In their statement on International Women’s Day GERWANI called on the women to support the peasant’s struggle for the implementation of the basic Agrarian Law and the Law on the Crop Sharing Agreement This statement also urged them to strengthen their unity with women, particularly with those of South East Asia, by collecting medicines and other materials for the women and children of Vietnam Laws" — in part: “ we, mothers, are the first victims of the emergency laws. Household money will be increasingly insufficient, prices will rise even higher, the emergency food stockpile will make additional demands on the household budget... it is hoped that these preparations for war will get us used to the idea of a war.” In the mining district of Essen, an open letter written by a miner’s wife protesting against the Emergency Laws was distributed at a National Union meeting of miners and similar industries. In another industrial city women metal workers protested to their members during elections. Resistance is growing, women, it needs your strength standing In Brooklyn (USA), women are collecting signatures on a letter addressed to President Johnson in which they demand peace in the Dominican Republic and in Vietnam. Argentine women organise important mass demonstrations against the sending of Argentine soldiers to the Dom an Republic. In many cities, Buenos Aires, Tucuman, San Juan, Mendoza, Mar del Plata and Santa Fe, they have paraded in the streets with the slogan “Our sons will not fight against the Dominican people.’ They collect signatures on petitions addressed to members of Parliament, distribute leaflets printed by the Union of Argentine Women demanding “No Argentine soldiers to be sent to drown our Dominican brothers in blood!”