Equal

As International Sponsor, the Children's Rights Council ("CRC") invites people around the world to join in Equal Parents' Week and unite our voices in making the message "The Best Parent Is Both Parents" an international mandate. Last year, people in 25 states throughout the United States and six countries joined to send the message of Equal Parents' Week throughout the world!

WHAT IS EQUAL PARENTS' WEEK?

Equal Parents' Week is a movement which sends the message that parental rights and responsibilities must be shared equally by both parents. The purple ribbon is the symbol which sends this message. People are urged to send this message by wearing purple ribbons and tying them everywhere they can be seen.

Equal Parents' Week advocates that the right of both parents to function equally as a parent, the right of children to be raised and nurtured by both parents, and the right of familes to exist and function as a family, are civil and human rights inherent and inalienable to all families. The Equal Parents' Week mandate for equal parent status is a mandate for the time it takes to love, nurture, and teach our children our values the only way we can...a mandate for the ability to be a parent...and a mandate for justice.

This year, Equal Parent's Week ("EPW") takes place September 23, 2002 through September 29, 2002. The CRC is soliciting participation in EPW to create an international movement that will unite the voices of people all over the world to raise public awareness and achieve legislative reform to promote joint custody and shared parenting, and address injustices that affect parents, children and family members everywhere. Although the simple act of tying a purple ribbon may seem insignificant, the power of our message and the power of this message being sent by purple ribbons all over the world will reach people everywhere. If every family member throughout the world who cherishes their love for their family unites their voices in sending this message, we will send a message so powerful it cannot be ignored.

AN INTERNATIONAL EVENT OF SOLIDARITY TO SEND OUR MESSAGE.

"A Moment in our Hearts, A Moment of Solidarity."

As a international event, we are asking all organizations to hold as many public candelight vigils as possible throughout each country. ALL CANDLELIGHT VIGILS WILL BE HELD ON THE SAME DATE AND AT THE SAME TIME:

Wednesday, September 25, 2002 at 7:30 p.m (as this time occurs in your time zone, not adjusted for any other time zone) Please view the "Five Candles Reading" at http://members.tripod.com/epweek/candlevigil.html for use at public candlelight vigils and "Home Vigils."

"HOME VIGILS"

We are urging all people who cannot attend a candlelight vigil or who do not have one taking place near them to share in "A Moment in our Hearts, A Moment of Solidarity" by holding their own "Home Vigil" and light a candle in their home for at least 15 minutes, on September 25, 2002 at 7:30 pm, the same date and time as the public candelight vigils will be taking place. A "Home Vigil" can be held by anyone, it can be held by a single person living alone, and include as many people as you wish, so invite your family and friends if you like. Please use the link http://members.tripod.com/epweek/profile2.html to sign up to hold a "Home Vigil". NOTE: Home Vigils are as important as public candlelight vigils, because they are very valuable in strengthening the message of EPW.

EPW advocates that a 2-parent focus be established as an internnational priority, maximizing the involvement that both parents are willing and able to contribute in raising their children, and promoting the ability of both parents to meet all their children's needs without compromising or imposing financial impediments to nonfinancial forms of child support. The CRC's campaign, JUST SAY YES! to Joint Custody and Shared Parenting advocates that parents are required to exercise their first responsibility as a parent, to "just say yes" to making a commitment to doing what is truly in children's best interests, to "just say yes" to unconditionally loving and sacrificing for their children...and that means, "Just Say Yes!" to joint custody and Shared Parenting.

YOU CAN DO ANY OF THESE THINGS TO JOIN IN EQUAL PARENTS' WEEK:

Wear purple ribbons and tie them ANYWHERE they can be seen

Hold or attend a public candlelight vigil on Wednesday, September 25 at 7:30 pm

If you cannot attend or hold a public candlelight vigil, hold a "Home Vigil" in your home on Sept. 25 at 7:30 pm

Hold any other activity, such as picnics, gatherings, or rallies, preferably on Wednesday, Sept. 25, or at any other time(s) throughout the week, and include purple ribbons to send the message!

SEPTEMBER 6, 2002 IS THE PRESS RELEASE CUTOFF

lease contact the International Coordinator as soon as possible to notify us if you will be participating in EPW, and by September 6, 2002 for inclusion in the international press release. Please use the link in the EPW website entitled "Sign Up: Candlelight Vigils, Purple Ribbon Activities, etc." http://members.tripod.com/epweek/profile1.html

to notify us of your participation. Please understand that activity(ies) cannot be included unless you provide ALL the information requested in the Sign Up Link (this includes identifying for each activity the complete address/location of the activity; the date and time it will be held; your organization's contact and media contact; and the names, addresses and phone numbers of persons holding Home Vigils).

Please know that the voice of every person is very valuable in strengthening the message we want to join with you in sending all over the world, and to help send the most powerful message internationally. Please feel free to contact me if you should have any questions or want to discuss anything regarding EPW. Please visit the Equal Parents' Week web page at http://members.tripod.com/epweek

IMPORTANT NOTE: If you have not received an EPW information package containing informational material, brochures and buttons, please provide me with your name, your organization's name, and complete mailing address, and I will send one to you immediately.