Agenda 21 - a Chance for Women

It was already in August 1998 when the working group "Women and Local Agenda 21" met for the first time, initiated by a congress on the topic "Agenda 21 - a Chance for Women in Rostock?". The group started with about 10 women who were interested to work for a sustainable development of the Henseatic City of Rostock.

In 1999 the Office Local Agenda 21 and the working group published a brochure to advertise for Agenda 21 and a sustainable development of Rostock. The summery gives an idea of what - from women's point of view - is important and has to be considered.

At the beginning women discussed what should be common topics and aims Nobody wanted to participate just for show but to make sure, that this participation will be considered in the discussion process towards a sustainable city.

We were focussing on questions like: What topics are especially interesting for women in Rostock? What does sustainable development mean for women? Can sustainable women's initiatives become more valuable by means of the Agenda process? Which processes, projects or conference shall be initiated sooner or later? How can we proceed with our ideas and demands within the urban development process?"

The group decided to work on three main topics which are Labour, Politics and City development.

It was agreed that from women's point of view the following values should absolutely be part of sustainability: variety – justice – human dignity – partnership – friendship – respect – patience – inner and outer balance – love – peace – right for individuality – fun – wealth – confidence – solidarity – women power – self-detainment and - realisation – richness in colour – personal freedom – acceptance and tolerance – personal freedom – heterogeneity – time for reflection and recovery – calmness and composure.

During the last two years the group played an active roll in the Agenda process: e. g. supported women's groups in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, produced a short film about their own group and developed a certification project. At present the women are starting a competition for an exhibition on the future life of women.