Talk from activist will mark International Women's Day at GVSU

Rosca was a political prisoner during Marcos' reign

Author and human rights activist Ninotchka Rosca will address an International Women's Day audience during a lecture on Friday, March 18, at Grand Valley State University's DeVos Center.

Once a political prisoner under Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos' regime, Rosca was forced into exile after she was threatened with a second arrest. She left the Philippines in the 1970s after being jailed for her opposition to Marcos' declaration of martial law and moved to the United States. She has since participated in many world forums and conferences for human rights, including organizing the 1995 United Nations Conference on Women in Beijing, China.

Rosca's speech will begin at 7 p.m. in Loosemoore Auditorium, DeVos Center, 401 W. Fulton St. in Grand Rapids. Prior to her speech, two screenings of the film "Standing with the Women of Iraq" will be shown at 4 and 5:30 p.m.

Rosca is the founder of GABRIELA Network, a women's rights organization of the Philippines, and a spokeswoman for its Purple Rose Campaign against the trafficking of women. Her research focuses on increasing awareness on issues of sex tourism, trafficking, violence against women and the mail-order bride industry.

Rosca is the author of six books, including "Twice Blessed," which won the 1993 American Book Award. She is a two-time recipient of the New York Foundation for the Arts Fellowship.

Her Grand Rapids appearance is sponsored by Grand Valley's Women's Center, International Affairs Office, Housing and Residence Life and Spotlight Productions. Community sponsors are the Nokomis Foundation, Grand Rapids Chapters of AAUW and NOW, Grand Rapids Operation Weed and Seed, Grand Rapids Institute for Information Democracy and Grand Rapids Women's History Council.