Background
For many years, the United Nations and many other international organizations have recognized that the vast majority of refugees around the world are women and children. In many cases, these women face terrible hardships that often go unrecorded and unstudied, but clearly are remembered by those who face them. Women are moving beyond victimhood and claiming their places in the world arena of civil society. On this December 10th – marked around the world as "Human Rights Day" – St. Thomas University wishes: to celebrate the lives and stories of women who have come to the United States from somewhere else, to provide a forum for remembrance and discussion, and where possible to "move forward" toward policy changes that will alleviate suffering and promote positive policy development.

Topics
Arts, Communications, Cultural Studies, Diplomacy, Education, Environment, History, Human Rights, Immigration, International Relations, Journalism, Language, Law, Literature, Methodology, Peace and War, Politics, Psychology, Public Policy, Religion, Social Justice, Storytelling, Undocumented Workers, and related areas.

Proposals
You are invited to submit a proposal (one page maximum), for a 20-30 minute paper presentation on any aspect of the conference theme or related topics. Panels and poster presentations also will be considered. Proposals must include (on a separate page): name and title(s), paper title, institutional affiliation, abstract (100 words maximum), biographical details, and contact details. Deadline for submissions is October 15th, 2005.

Theme: "Women Moving Forward"

Sub-themes: "Identity, Migration, Resilience, and Hope"

Timetable
Call for Papers opens................. July 19th, 2005
Proposals Due......................... October 15th, 2005
Notification of Acceptance............ November 15th, 2005
Full Papers Due (preferred)........... December 1st, 2005
Registration Deadline................. December 1st, 2005
Conference............................ December 10th, 2005

Logistics
The Conference will be open to the public at a nominal cost of $20 per person; this cost is waived for accepted presenters. Conference participants will be responsible for all of their own expenses, including, but not limited to, air and local travel, accommodation, meals, and insurance. A list of hotels located near the University is available upon request. Meals are available at two campus cafeterias. Parking is available on campus at no cost. The Conference will be conducted in English, although question-and-answer and discussion sessions may take place in additional community languages, including Spanish and Haitian Creole.

Publication
Conference papers will be reviewed by the Organizing Committee and considered for publication.

Organization & Endorsements
The Conference is organized by St. Thomas University:
Office of the Assistant Vice President for Academic Affairs
Office of the Dean - School of Law
Office of the Dean - School of Graduate Studies
Human Rights Institute
Institute for Pastoral Ministries
Center for Justice and Peace
Women United for Human Rights
Department of Religious Studies

The Conference is supported by the following organizations:
Coalition of Florida Farmworker Organizations
Peace Education Foundation
Sigma Tau Chapter of Chi Sigma Iota (), International Counseling Academic and Professional Honor Society

Registration & Contact
“Women Moving Forward” Conference Organizer
St. Thomas University
16401 N.W. 37th Avenue
Miami Gardens, Florida 33054 USA
Telephone (305) 628-6583
Facsimile (305) 628-6749
E-mail
http://www.stu.edu/womenconference.html (currently under construction, ready Aug. 1st)