The International Working group (hereafter WWB) was set up in 1994 as a working group of WOUW Vlechtwerk (WOUW Weavework Association) in the Netherlands.

Developments in Europe have an increasing influence on the position of older women. There is a great need for womanpower at international level. Networking can be a vital tool for change.

WWB‘s objective:
To put the interests of women aged 50 and over on the international agenda and as a result improve their social position.

A few areas where older women are disadvantaged :

• no pension as a result of little or no paid work in the past

• poor health

• arrears in education

• less access to modern technology

• underrepresentation in policy and decision-making structures both in the Netherlands and outside it

A short review of our activities up to now
Participation in the UN Women’s World Conference in Beijing in 1995, including two preparatory conferences, followed by national and local campaigns for the implementation of the Platform for Action in the Netherlands and Europe.

Participation as observer in the UN-CSW conference in New York in 1997.

Participation in a cross-border project of German and Dutch seniors.

Participation in a conference in Malta about Eliminating poverty in old age.

Two-day meeting with Netzwerk älterer Frauen in Munster, Germany, within the framework of the 350 years’ peace celebrations in Munster.

Active participation in founding as well as in developing OWN Europe.

Giving lectures and writing articles about European developments. Participation in the NPOE, the Dutch Platform of Older People and Europe.

And, finally, we have been intensively and actively involved in the realisation of the conference in Egmond-aan-Zee on Social Exclusion and Older Women, October 1999.

In the space of five years the Working Group has acquired a lot of expertise and built up a wide network of international contacts.

What is WOUW?
WOUW Weavework Association (WOUW Vlechtwerk), founded in 1982, is a network of active and alert 50+ women whose aim is to acquire more influence for older women on social developments. WOUW Weavework has a loose structure, with local and regional groups which are alle autonomous. WOUW does not strive for the power of numbers but the power of the idea.

Why older women?
Older women share a number of social interests and are faced with specific challenges that hitherto have not been recognised as such by society at large.

What are WOUW’s objectives?

• To promote awareness of the strength of older women.

• To improve the social position of older women.

• To influence policy makers and authorities

• To enrich society with the experience of older women.

Why the name WOUW Weavework?
Wouw stands for Wise Older Women (or, as some prefer to say, Wise Old Wives).
The word weavework symbolises the weaving together of all the talents that WOUW women possess individually and as a group. Although they come from different social, educational, religious and political backgrounds they form a strong texture which holds the possibility of changing social structure.

How do WOUW women try to realise their objectives?

• By organising information days and workshops on relevant topics.

• By stimulating the acquisition of skills and knowledge.

• By promoting the participation of older women in decision and policy making

• By lobbying organisations, committees, councils and government departments on behalf of older women and their specific needs and demands.

• By supporting each other in achieving our common goals.

WOUW has achieved many of its original goals. We are constantly extending our field of action, nationally and internationally. Come and strengthen our ranks and weave with us as we weave on.

From little acorns mighty tr ees may grow!!!