V-Day and Amnesty International Organize February 14th March on Ciudad Juarez

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT:
V-Day: email: [email protected], phone, +1 917 865 6603

Amnesty International: phone: +442074135706 in London,
or, Amnesty International Mexican Section on +525555747139

On Saturday, February 14, 2004,V-Day and Amnesty International are organizing a march to honor the over 300 missing and murdered women of Ciudad Juarez and Chihuahua, their families, and all groups that have worked tirelessly on their behalf.

"Last year when V-Day joined the local organizers and activists for a meeting with Prosecutor Of Justice, Lic. Oscar Valadez in Juarez, we promised him if there was not justice we would come back with the world in one year. It is one year later - we are marching on the 14th to say the time has come, we will wait no longer," stated V-Day Founder/Playwright Eve Ensler.

"Hundreds of young women have been murdered with impunity in the past decade in Ciudad Juarez and Chihuahua. Many were abducted and sexually
assaulted. Many others remain missing. We are joining with the women of Ciudad Juarez and Chihuahua and their families to demand the end to impunity and the prevention of further violence against women," Kate
Gilmore, Executive Deputy Secretary General of Amnesty International, said today.

The day will also include a discussion on gender violence by Mexican feminist, Marcela Lagarde; an ecumenical remembrance of the victims and honoring of their mothers and families at the Benito Juarez Monument; and lunch provided by local vendors. The day will culminate with a special V-Day performance of Ensler's "TheVagina Monologues," featuring performances by Lilia Aragon, Marinitia Escobedo, Laura Flores, Monica Alicia Juarez, Ensler, Sally Field, Jane Fonda, Christine Lahti, and Shiva Rose.

A schedule for February 14 follows at the end of this release. For more
information, visit vday.org/juarez.

Many local and international women's and human rights groups, political leaders, and celebrities will take part in the event in Ciudad Juarez.

V-Day has been working to raise awareness of this issue throughout Mexico via "The Vagina Monologues" and direct support to Casa Amiga and other
grassroots groups on the ground, as well as internationally through its thousands of activists. Juarez is the focus of V-Day's 2004 Spotlight placing the issue in front of millions in the U.S. and internationally
via the March and the over 2000 V-Day benefits taking place this February - March. V-Day Founder/Playwright Eve Ensler's essay on the missing and murdered women of Ciudad Juarez entitled "The City Of Murdered Women" appears in the March issue of Marie Claire magazine.

Together, V-Day and the US section of Amnesty International have held an educational roundtable in Los Angeles and have worked with media outlets
to draw attention to the issue. In August 2003 Irene Khan, Secretary General of Amnesty International, met Mexican President Vicente Fox to raise concerns about the lack of progress in solving the murders in Ciudad Juarez and the organization released a report on Ciudad Juarez in September 2003. For the text of Amnesty International's report on Ciudad Juarez, please go to:

"Intolerable Killings:Ten years of abductions and murders of women in Ciudad Juarez and Chihuahua",please see:
http://web.amnesty.org/library/index/engamr410262003 (English)
http://web.amnesty.org/library/index/eslamr410262003 (Spanish)

and foradditional information, please see:
"Mexico:Increased international scrutiny for violence against women in Ciudad Juarez and Chihuahua" http://web.amnesty.org/library/index/engamr410452003

About V-Day:
V-Day is a global movement to end violence against women and girls that
raises funds and awareness through benefit productions of Playwright/
Activist/V-Day Founder Eve Ensler's award-winning play "The Vagina
Monologues." In 2004, more than 2000 V-Day events will take place in the
U.S. and around the world. To date, V-Day has raised over $20 million
and educated millions about the issue of violence against women and the
efforts to end it, crafted national media and PSA campaigns, funded over
2000 community-based anti-violence programs, reopened shelters, and built
safe houses in Kenya, South Dakota, Egypt and Iraq.

About Amnesty International:
Amnesty International is a world wide movement of people who campaign
internationally for human rights to be respected and protected. Over 1.5
million members and supporters, in more than 150 countries and
territories in every region of the world, share the vision of a world
where every person enjoys all of the human rights enshrined in the
Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Amnesty International is
independent of any government, political ideology, economic interest or
religion. On 5th March this year Amnesty International will launch its
global campaign "Stop Violence Against Women".

For more information about Amnesty International, please go to:
http://www.amnesty.org

March on Juarez
Saturday, February 14, 2004
On V-Day, Saturday, February 14, we invite you to join us in our march
to take back the streets and demand justice for the 300 murdered and
missing women and girls in Ciudad Juarez and Chihuahua.

The details for Saturday's events are as follows:

*Join us in our march to take back the streets and demand justice for the
300 murdered and missing women and girls in Juarez and Chihuahua. The
details for Saturday's events are below:

*10:00 a.m. "Gender Violence," a lecture given by Mexican feminist,
Marcela Lagarde, will be held at Sala de Usos Multiples del Centro
Cultural Universitario (CCU). The lecture will be moderated by Elena
Ramos. Entrance-free. (Location: corner of Plutarco Elias and Hermanos
Escobar streets).

*11:00 a.m. Marchers staying in El Paso will meet at San Jacinto Plaza
in El Paso (from there they will meet marchers from Juarez at 12:45 p.m.
on the Mexican side of the Lerdo Bridge).

*11:15 a.m. Press Conference at the Sala de Usos Multiples del Centro
Cultural Universitario (CCU). (Location: corner of Plutarco Elias and
Hermanos Escobar streets).

*12:45 p.m. Marchers staying in Juarez will meet marchers from El Paso at
the Lerdo Bridge on the Juarez side, with a welcome address by Professor
Monica Alicia Juarez Correa.

*1:00 p.m. The March commences at the Lerdo Bridge on the Juarez side.
Marchers will walk to the Benito Juarez Monument. (Location: At Vicente
Guerrero and Constitucion streets).

*2:00 p.m. An ecumenical service to remember and honor the missing and
murdered women of Juarez and Chihuahua will be held at the Benito Juarez
Monument. (Location: At Vicente Guerrero and Constitucion streets). There
will be a moment of silence.

*2:45 p.m. Go to local dance hall, Morocco's, located at the Jardines
Carta Blanca (#1688 Ave. Reforma, Col. Barreal).

*3:00 p.m. Lunch will be available at Morocco's, with music provided by
musicians from Juarez. Local vendors will be participating and selling
their food at reasonable prices. Information from different local
women's and human rights groups will be available. (Located at #1688
Ave. Reforma, Col. Barreal).

*4:15 p.m. A group of University students from El Paso and Juarez will
read poetry at Morocco's. (Located at #1688 Ave. Reforma, Col. Barreal).

*4:30 p.m. A special V-Day benefit performance of "The Vagina
Monologues" will take place at Morocco's performed by Lilia Aragon,
Marinitia Escobedo, Laura Flores, Monica Alicia Juarez, Eve Ensler, Sally
Field, Jane Fonda, Christine Lahti, and Shiva Rose. (Located at #1688
Ave. Reforma, Col. Barreal). Entrance free.

Events are subject to change. Please check http://www.vday.org/juarez
for the most up to date information.

Mexico: Marcha sobre Ciudad Juarez

(Ciudad Juarez) 2 de Febrero de 2004. El sabado 14 de febrero de 2004,
V-Day y Amnistia Internacional organizaran una marcha en memoria de todas
las mujeres de Ciudad Juarez y Chihuahua, sus familias y todos los grupos
que han trabajado incansablemente en su nombre.

"El ano pasado, cuando V-Day se unio con organizaciones y activistas
locales para una reunion con la Fiscal Especial sobre Juarez, le
prometimos que si no habia justicia, volveriamos con el mundo en un ano.
Un ano ha pasado -- estamos marchando el 14 para decir que el dia ha
llegado, no esperaremos mas tiempo" dijo Eve Ensler, fundadora de la
organizacion y autora de la Obra V-Day.

"Centenares de jovenes han sido asesinadas impunemente en los ultimos
diez anos en Ciudad Juarez y Chihuahua. A muchas las secuestraron y las
agredieron sexualmente. Otras siguen en paradero desconocido. Nos unimos
a las mujeres de Ciudad Juarez y Chihuahua y a sus familias para exigir
que se ponga fin a la impunidad y se impidan nuevos actos de violencia
contra las mujeres", ha dicho hoy Kate Gilmore, Secretaria General
adjunta de Amnistia Internacional.

El dia de la marcha, la feminista mexicana Marcela Lagarde hablara de la
violencia de genero y se celebrara un acto ecumenico en recuerdo de las
victimas y un homenaje a sus madres y familias en el lugar del monumento
a Benito Juarez. Tambien habra un almuerzo, que correra a cargo de
proveedores locales. El dia culminara con la representacion de la obra de
Eve Ensler, autora teatral y fundadora de V-Day, Los monologos de la
vagina. En esta funcion especial actuaran Lilia Aragon, Marinitia
Escobedo, Laura Flores, Monica Alicia Juarez, Eve Ensler, Jane Fonda,
Sally Field, Christine Lahti y Shiva Rose.

Un calendario completo de actividades a realizarse el 14 de febrero se
incluye al final de este comunicado.

Informacion General
Al acto de Ciudad Juarez asistiran muchos grupos de mujeres y de derechos
humanos locales e internacionales, dirigentes politicos y celebridades.

V-Day ha estado trabajando para llamar la atencion sobre este tema en
todo Mexico por medio de la obra "Monologos de la vagina" y en apoyo
directo a Casa Amiga y otros grupos locales, asi como de forma
internacional a traves de sus miles de activistas. Juarez es el centro de
atencion del V-Day 2004 Spotlight poniendo el tema en frente de millones
de personas en Estados Unidos y el mundo a traves de mas de 2000 actos
V-Day a beneficio que se llevaran a cabo durante febrero y Marzo
proximos. La monografia de Eve Ensler, fundadora de V-Day, acerca de las
mujeres desaparecidas y asesinadas en Ciudad Juarez, llamado "la ciudad
de las mujeres asesinadas" aparecera en el numero de marzo de la revista
Marie Claire.

V-Day y la seccion norteamericana de Amnistia Internacional han llevado a
cabo una mesa educativa en Los Angeles y han trabajado con medios de
comunicacion para llamar la atencion sobre el tema. En Agosto de 2003,
Irene Khan, Secretaria General de Amnistia Internacional, mantuvo una
reunion con el presidente de Mexico Vicente Fox para comentar su
preocupacion acerca de los lentos progresos en resolver los asesinatos en
Ciudad Juarez. Asi mismo, la organizacion lanzo un informe sobre Ciudad
Juarez en Septiembre de 2003. Para una copia del Informe de Amnistia
Internacional sobre Ciudad Juarez, por favor, vea:

Muertes intolerables: Diez anos de desapariciones y asesinatos de mujeres
en Ciudad Juarez y Chihuahua, puede verse en:
http://web.amnesty.org/library/index/eslamr410262003

Si desean mas informacion, consulten:
Mexico: Aumenta la atencion internacional a la violencia contra las
mujeres en Ciudad Juarez y Chihuahua
http://web.amnesty.org/library/index/engamr410452003

Mas informacion sobre V-Day:
V-Day es un movimiento global para acabar con la violencia contra mujeres y ninas que reune fondos y llama la atencion de personas a traves de presentaciones a beneficio de la produccion de la escritora, activista y fundadora de V-Day "Monologos de la vagina". En 2004, mas de 2000 eventos de V-Day se llevaron a cabo en Estados Unidos y alrededor del mundo. Hasta la fecha, V-Day ha reunido mas de $20 millones y ha educado a millones sobre el tema de violencia contra la mujer y los esfuerzos para acabar con ella, ha trabajado con medios de comunicacion nacionales, ha fundado mas de 2000 programas contra la violencia a nivel de la comunidad, ha reabierto refugios y ha construido casas seguras en Kenya, Dakota del Sur, Egipto e Irak.

Para mas informacion sobre V-Day, por favor, vea: http://www.vday.org

Sobre Amnistia Internacional
Amnistia Internacional es un movimiento internacional de personas que llevan a cabo campanas en todo el mundo con el fin que los derechos humanos sean respetados y protegidos. Mas de 1.5 millones de miembros y simpatizantes en todo el mundo, en mas de 150 paises y territorios en cada region del mundo, comparten la vision de un mundo en el que cada
persona disfruta de todos los derechos consagrados de la Declaracion Universal de Derechos Humanos. Amnistia Internacional es independiente de todo gobierno, ideologia politica, interes economico o religion. El 5 de marzo de este ano, Amnistia Internacional lanzara la campana global "No mas violencia contra las mujeres"

Para mas informacion sobre Amnistia Internacional, por favor, vea:
http://www.amnesty.org

PROGRAMA:
10:00 A.M. Conferencia "Violencia de Genero" por parte de Marcela Lagarde. Lugar Sala de Usos Multiples del Centro Cultural Universitario (CCU). (Plutarco Elias Calles y Hermanos Escobar) Moderadora Ma. Elena Ramos. (Entrada Gratuita)

11:00 A.M. Las personas en El Paso van encontrar al Plaza San Jacinto.

11:15 A.M. Rueda de Prensa, Lugar Sala de Usos Multiples del Centro Cultural Universitario (CCU). (Plutarco Elias Calles y Hermanos Escobar).

12: 45 P.M. Reunion en Puente Internacional Lerdo, bienvenida a la gente que nos acompana de la Cd. de El Paso, por Profra. Monica Alicia Juarez Correa y comision.

1:00 P.M. Inicio Marcha, partiendo del Puente Internacional Lerdo (Ave. Lerdo) a el Monumento a Benito Juarez. (Calle Vicente Guerrero y Constitucion).

2:00 P.M. Celebracion Ecumenica. Lugar Monumento a Benito Juarez (Vicente Guerrero y Constitucion). Se pedira en el transcurso de la Ceremonia "UN MINUTO DE SILENCIO POR LA PAZ".

2:45 P.M. Traslado a los Jardines Carta Blanca Salon "Moroccos" (Ave. Reforma # 1688, Col. Barreal).

3:00 P.M. Modulos informativos en los que contaremos con la participacion de distintas ONG's, Instancias que colaboran en la Prevencion y Atencion a la Violencia en Cd. Juarez.. Lugar Jardines Carta Blanca (Ave. Reforma # 1688, Col. Barreal), habra musica y comida a precios modicos.

4:15 P.M. Poesia Coral de Estudiantes Universitarios de Cd. Juarez - El Paso. Lugar Salon "Morocco's" de Jardines Carta Blanca (Ave. Reforma # 1688 Col. Barreal). Entrada gratuita.

4:30 P.M. Obra de teatro " Los Monologos de la Vagina", con la participacion de las actrices mexicanas: Lilia Aragon, Laura Flores y Marintia Escobedo, y en Ingles por Sally Field, Jane Fonda, Christine Lahti y Eve Ensler. Lugar Salon "Morocco's" de Jardines Carta Blanca (Ave. Reforma # 1688, Col. Barreal).