OSKa - the National Information Center on Women's Organizations and Initiatives, Poland

OSKa is a non-profit, non-partisan foundation, the first women's organizations' information center in Poland. It assists all women-related organizations and initiatives by providing open access to information and the tools and skills necessary to use it, by encouraging women's participation in public life and by stimulating dialogue and networking of women's organizations. The Center operates a database of women's organizations, a comprehensive archive and a resource library. OSKa publishes a Calendar of Events and a Bulletin, organizes trainings, discussion meetings, seminars and conferences. We work with policy makers and the media to raise awareness of the issues of gender equality.

On the 25th - 26th of April, 1998, OSKa organized a nationwide conference in Warsaw for representatives of women's non-governmental organizations on the social and legal situation of women in Poland and related government policies. It brought together over 150 women from about 80 organizations, foundations and informal groups. They represented a wide spectrum of women's organizations, from the Rural Housewives' Associations, the Association of Police Women, the Feminist Women's Organization to the Amazons - Breast Cancer Survivors and the Foundation for Single Mothers. Women working in the local government, central government agencies, active in political parties, trade unions and human rights organizations also attended the conference.

The participants had the opportunity to listen to speeches by Teresa Kami�ska, the minister for social reforms, Barbara Sosi�ska, spokeswoman for the National Labor Office and Ms. El�bieta Kr�ciejewska from the Ministry of Health. Unfortunately, no one from the Office of the Plenipotentary for the Family was present in spite of our invitations. The women also listened to experts such as Prof. Eleonora Zieli�ska, Prof. Ma�gorzata Fuszara and Prof. Zdzislawa Janowska

Last updated:    March 1999

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