We are thrilled to announce and warmly invite you to the inaugural India Fisherwomen Assembly (IFA) 2024, to be held in Thiruvananthapuram, India on the 5th and 6th of November 2024. This historic gathering will take place at the Fr. Thomas Kocherry Centre and the Cheru Resmi Centre in Valiathura, a location of profound significance to the fisher movement. For many years, these centers were the heart of the World Forum of Fisher Peoples (WFFP), the National Fishworkers Forum (NFF), and the Kerala Swatantra Matsyathozhilali Federation (KSMTF), where our visionary leaders such as Thomas Kocherry and Harekrishna Debnath once stood.
The assembly marks the realization of a long-held dream for fisherwomen across India. Despite previous efforts to unite women fishers from different coastal and inland regions, challenges such as language barriers, geographic distances, and resource constraints slowed progress. The most significant hurdle, however, was the patriarchal mindset deeply entrenched in society and, at times, within our own movement. Overcoming these obstacles, the NFF General Body appointed a committee of senior women leaders to create a space for exclusive women’s engagement. This led to two national workshops, multiple online and offline interactions, and eventually, the bold decision to organize the India Fisherwomen Assembly (IFA) 2024. Though delayed, we believe it is better late than never.
The Women’s Struggles and Victories
Fisherwomen have always been at the forefront of battles for rights, dignity, and livelihood. While many struggles were community-led and often spearheaded by women, some were specifically for the rights of women in the fisheries sector. From managing pre- and post-fishing tasks to direct involvement in fishing, seaweed collection, and pagadiya fishing, fisherwomen have long played an essential role in the industry. They have also led the charge for equal rights in selling fish, public transport access, and processing unit dignity, while fighting for a voice at negotiation tables.
Notably, women’s leadership in the battles for inland and coastal rights—against ports, thermal plants, aquaculture, and land acquisition—has garnered global recognition, particularly in asserting the identity of fishing communities in India.
A Political Declaration of Identity and Solidarity
The India Fisherwomen Assembly represents a significant step forward. It will bring together fisherwomen from across the country to celebrate their identity, confront the challenges they face, and assert their rights. This gathering is a political declaration of the vital role fisherwomen play in India’s natural resource communities, and we call upon all solidarity groups and women’s organizations, both national and regional, to join us in building stronger alliances.
The IFA also serves as a curtain raiser for the 8th General Assembly of the World Forum of Fisher Peoples (WFFP), to be held in Brazil from the 14th to the 21st of November 2024, culminating in the celebration of International Fisheries Day. Four women leaders will represent India at this global event, where a special Women’s Assembly, Youth Assembly, and Indigenous Peoples Assembly will also take place.
The themes of the IFA, which align with those of the WFFP General Assembly, will explore critical issues including the Blue Economy, Ocean Grabbing, the Climate Crisis, Disasters, and Food Sovereignty. Women fishers, academics, and political leaders from across India will come together for a political convention, a delegate conference, cultural resistance celebrations, and a rally through the capital of Kerala.
Join Us in Thiruvananthapuram
We urge you to block your calendars and plan your travel to join us in Thiruvananthapuram on the 5th and 6th of November 2024. Your presence will strengthen the India Fisherwomen Assembly and help create a new synergy in the fisher movement, furthering the resistance and empowerment of fisherwomen.
India Fisherwomen Assembly 2024 Set to Make History in Thiruvananthapuram
Thiruvananthapuram, India – The first-ever India Fisherwomen Assembly (IFA) 2024 is set to take place in Thiruvananthapuram on November 5th and 6th, 2024, marking a milestone for fisherwomen across India. The assembly will be hosted at the historic Fr. Thomas Kocherry Centre and Cheru Resmi Centre in Valiathura, a former home of the World Forum of Fisher Peoples (WFFP), the National Fishworkers Forum (NFF), and the Kerala Swatantra Matsyathozhilali Federation (KSMTF).
The IFA aims to unite women fishers from coastal and inland regions in what is being hailed as a landmark event for the fisher movement. The assembly comes after years of efforts to organize women in the sector, who have faced numerous challenges, including patriarchal barriers within the fishing community itself.
Organizers say the IFA will provide a platform to celebrate the identity and struggles of fisherwomen, who play a crucial role in pre- and post-fishing activities, direct fishing, and resisting industrial encroachments on fishing communities. Women fishers have long been at the forefront of fights for equal rights in fisheries, public transport, and workplace dignity, while leading movements against land acquisition, aquaculture, and environmental destruction.
The assembly will feature discussions on key issues facing fisherwomen, including the Blue Economy, Ocean Grabbing, the Climate Crisis, and Food Sovereignty. The event will also serve as a precursor to the WFFP 8th General Assembly, to be held in Brazil from November 14th to 21st, 2024, where Indian fisherwomen will represent the country on a global stage.
With a series of political conventions, cultural resistance celebrations, and a rally planned through Kerala’s capital, the India Fisherwomen Assembly 2024 promises to be a powerful statement of unity and resolve.
Event Details:
- Dates: November 5th and 6th, 2024
- Venue: Fr. Thomas Kocherry Centre & Cheru Resmi Centre, Valiathura, Thiruvananthapuram
- Key Themes: Blue Economy, Ocean Grabbing, Climate Crisis, Food Sovereignty
Fisherwomen, political leaders, and supporters of the movement are expected to attend, and organizers are encouraging solidarity groups and feminist organizations to participate.