Women's Constitutional Convention 2002: Trust the Women Convention - the next hundred years

We are calling on women to be active in communities across Australia, to use 2002 as a year when women look back and, crucially, look forward. To assert your visions, to take your share of the power and to move forward in your communities, your regions, your states and federally to make the future what you want it to be.

2002 marks 100 years of suffrage for women of European descent and 40 years of suffrage for Indigenous women.

On 12 June 1902 the Federal Parliament passed legislation that finally gave most Australian women the right to vote in federal elections after more than 20 years of work. Indigenous women were left out: they did not get the vote until 1962 - only 40 years ago.

We are calling on women to be active in communities across Australia, to use 2002 as a year when women look back and, crucially, look forward. To assert your visions, to take your share of the power and to move forward in your communities, your regions, your states and federally to make the future what you want it to be.

The Conference is being organised to celebrate these significant events.

Canberra Host Committee for the Australian Women's Constitutional Network

Trust the Women - The Women's Constitutional Convention 2002

Australian Women's Constitutional Network Steering Committee consists of representatives from Australian Women Lawyers; National Women's Justice Coalition; Women's Electoral Lobby Australia; Women into Politics; YWCA of Australia; Women for an Australian Republic. Partnering organisations include: National Foundation for Australian Women; National Council of Women (ACT): Soroptimist International, Australia; and the Australian Federation of University Women.

THE CONFERENCE

The Trust the Women Conference will:

• Review the social and political concerns of contemporary women

• Raise awareness of political and governmental processes

• Identify opportunities for women with diverse views to feed into constitutional reform

• Explore the importance of women's vote, and

• Promote women's civic participation at a local, state and national level.

For further information