NEWS

Post date: Fri, 10/05/2012 - 08:33

By the DISARM/End Wars Issue Committee

The current DISARM-End Wars Issue Committee priority is nuclear weapons abolition and a nuclear free future. However we seek to support any US WILPF Branch or member project on disarmament and demilitarization or on ending and preventing US wars and occupations.

Keep Space for Peace October 6–13: Calling all WILPFers to join in resisting war in, from and through space. Here is the letter already sent to those for whom our committee has addresses. Share it electronically with your Branch members. If you want copies of the poster and Space Alert, and/or to be on the DISARM-End Wars committee list, send your name, address, phone and email to Carol Urner carol.disarm@gmail.com. Check out Philadelphia Area Drones Protests During Keep Space for Peace Week.

Read the details below. Join us to work with any of our five sub groups and share your own concerns.

I. ABOLISH NUCLEAR WEAPONS – Some very good news as we move toward abolition

II. SHUT DOWN NUCLEAR POWER – WILPFers in No Nukes Northwest and Washington D.C. join efforts of No Nukes South and No Nukes Northeast.

III. KEEP SPACE FOR PEACE – We’ve delivered KS4P posters to Progressives in Congress and D.C. NGOs. Send reports of your own actions to NFFchairs@WILPFus.org

IV. END WARS AND OCCUPATIONS – We’ve been asked by UFPJ to draft an organization sign on letter based on our Iran statement.

V. DISMANTLE THE WAR ECONOMY –Bad News: Weapons R Us! The US now sells 78 % of the world’s weapons! Good News: Nancy Wren of Boston WILPF will soon supply us with videos on cutting the military budget with Bruce Gagnon, Chris Hellman and Bill Hartung. Suitable for individual viewing, WILPF programs or cable TV.

I. ABOLISH NUCLEAR WEAPONS – Some very good news as we move toward abolition:

Norway and the 117 nations ready to negotiate a nuclear weapons test ban treaty no longer want to wait while the U.S. and other nuclear powers try to avoid negotiations. Norway has called a summit of governments on the humanitarian consequences of nuclear war March 4 and 5 2013 which it hopes will reframe the debate about nuclear weapons and lead to a nuclear weapons convention. ICAN has called for pre-conference gathering of civil society on March 2 and 3. WILPF will be there. Can we send someone from U.S. WILPF? It was Norway that lead the way to a cluster ban treaty when the U.S. was still blocking all disarmament negotiations in the United Nations.

In the U.S. WILPF is still resisting the nuclear weapons modernization program which received 53 billion in return for Republican cooperation in ratifying the new START treaty. Monterey and MacGregor Eddy have been concentrating on publicizing and protesting the upgrading of Minuteman Missiles to carry what some of our ANA friends call Frankenbombs. They are actually new bombs made from parts from the unused nuclear weapons stockpile. These bombs cannot be tested (though some dream of doing so one day) but the missiles are fired off at $20,000,000 a shot from Vandenberg AFB.

October 17 is the trial of the VANDENBERG 15. Watch the VFP video of the February protest organized by WILPFer MacGregor Eddy in which so many of our California Branches were involved. It is an invitation to attend both the trial and the October 16 public forum in the Santa Barbara library.

U.S. ratification of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty, an essential next step toward abolition of nuclear weapons, moves forward slowly. Washington D.C. Branch chair Coralie Farlee, is watching out for DISARM events on Capitol Hill and sent a video available on C-SPAN on prospects for ratification of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty.

D.C. Branch members have also been attending Congressional and Nuclear Regulatory Commission Hearings for WILPF. She has just sent a report on three recent hearings relevant to efforts to abolish nuclear weapons. The first two of them were triggered by the Plowshares action of Sister Megan and her friends.

And best U.S. news, (though scarcely known outside of Alliance for Nuclear Accountability where cheers are loud) is that funds for the boondoggle multi-billion dollar plutonium pit (triggers for nuclear warheads) production facility was zeroed out of the Senate continuing resolution for 2013 funding.

II. SHUT DOWN NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS – Washington D.C.Branch NUCLEAR POWER:

Participate in the Wall Street Journal poll on nuclear power. If you comment it is a wonderful opportunity to educate. At least twice as many are for as are against but many of the former are completely ignorant of the costs and dangers.

We’re pleased to see increased involvement of WILPFers in the “shut them down!” movement. WILPFers in Oregon and Washington can now work with No Nukes Northwest on closure of the Hanford commercial reactor on the Columbia river, and Washington D.C. WILPF has prepared a statement for public hearings on Calvert Cliffs.

But of course it is important to know and understand the dangers first. We recommend Beyond Nuclear and NIRS for both information and help in organizing. Cecile Pineda, author of Devils Tango, how I learned the Fukushima Step by Step is available for book signings and community programs in California and we are happy to learn of plans for a Midwest tour in 2013.

III. KEEP SPACE FOR PEACE – prevent cyberwarfare and robotic warfare:

The best resources for planning KS4P events are on Global Network, including the challenging Pax Americana and other videos. Explore event reports from 2011 as well as resources for 2012

The best background information on UN progress (or lack thereof) on Keeping Space for Peace is on Reaching Critical Will including the newly updated section on Outer Space and PAROS. A two-page fact sheet for distribution can also be accessed.

Joan Bazar of San Jose Branch has posted two videos with Medea Benjamin’s talk on drones given in San Jose.

Thanks to Joan and a salute to our sisters in Code Pink who on October 7 will join Imran Khan, Pakistan's most popular leader, on a peace march to Waziristan where U.S. drones have killed so many people. He expects some 50,000 Pakistanis to join the march.

IV. ENDING WARS and also Preventing U.S.Wars and Occupations:

Check out UNAC October 5 to 7 actions. Let us know if you have planned your own are joining one of these coalitions.

We are now drafting an Iran sign on letter at the request of UFPJ and will share it will the DISARM-End Wars Committee for comment and suggested revisions. It will be a joint UFPJ statement and they also may have serious revisions.

V. DISMANTLING THE WAR ECONOMY:

Nancy Wrenn of Boston Branch will soon have three videos to share with WILPF members. They can be viewed on individual computers, projected for WILPF or community programs and shown on cable TV. Each video features a different speaker on the need to cut the military budget, dismantle the war economy and fund for life and development rather than death, destruction and huge profits for a few. The speakers are Chris Hellman of the Nat'l Priorities Project and Mike Prokosch of the New Priorities Network (Sept. 30), Bruce Gagnon, Global Network against Weapons in Space (October 21) and Bill Hartung of the Center for International Policy on November 18. WILPF Boston is a co-sponsor.

Image: Image courtesy of No Drones Pennsylvania, Artist Ann Northrup, 2010 (detail)

Advancing Human Rights/CEDAW

Post date: Fri, 10/05/2012 - 08:23

Post date: Thu, 10/04/2012 - 14:53

We are no stronger than the weakest link in the chain
WILPF International Update is an internal newsletter sent to the Sections, IB, ExCom, Working Groups and Staff. We only send it to the convenors. Please remember to share/forward the WILPF International Update with the rest of your Section, Working Group and so on … so that everybody is informed.
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NEXT STOP PARIS?

Photo of Femen in Paris - naked (of course) Did any of you notice that my favourite feminist group,FEMEN have set up a “training camp” in Paris?

Seems they are fed up with our conferences and discussions and want women to take direct and controversial, media targeted action to overcome patriarchy, sort of a new WILPF really, but less modest perhaps ... Good timing!

We sent out information about the recent disgraceful attempt by Russia to entrench patriarchy, to roll back gains made in human rights by introducing the traditional values resolution in the Human Rights Council. It would allow for the erosion of universality by making human rights subordinate to culture and tradition. If ever there was a move to erode equality and entrench patriarchy then this is it … unless we get them to understand the nature of ancient cultures, which were matriarchal and why THAT is the traditional value!

Whilst there is obvious merit in upholding indigenous traditions, the indigenous movement do not want this, they are advocating for adherence to the existing protections. Those of non-heterosexual proclivity do not want this, and women absolutely do not want this. There has been a lot of opposition but it may get through with support from States with strong religious influences, indigenous populations, (note States, not the people themselves), and those who believe that human rights are too western in concept.

WILPF is supporting the NGOs in opposition. We need to lobby our governments now to galvanise them into action, particularly in Latin America where they could go either way.

Whilst as a matter of law a resolution will not trump the Universal Declaration of Human Rights or the treaty bodies, it sends a strong message and will cause real problems in discussions in the Council.

If it gets passed, I suggest we take a train to Paris …

Welcome to the October issue of WILPF International Update.

- Madeleine

PEACE IS A GOAL BEYOND OURSELVES

Photo of Adilia Caravaca As part of the celebrations of theInternational Day of Peace, on September 21, a day for much reflection, another opportunity to share with other organisations with different emphases on what peace means, on what is needed from us all to advance agendas to end wars; and to foster conditions and attitudes to create peace, peace as a way and as a goal beyond ourselves.

Our world keeps bleeding. Humanity is still in the nightmare of war, from which we all want to wake up. It is inspiring to realize that by now more than 1793 civil society organizations and public institutions have adhered to the Santiago Declaration to the Human Right to Peace.

This document is being used as a base document by the Human Rights Council appointed Working Group to draft a Declaration on this matter, which is hoped to be voted on in the UN General Assembly.

It is a very comprehensive document of what the right to peace entails, even if some modifications could be suggested in two paragraphs, such as 27, in which tribute is paid to organizations which have advocated for peace, and WILPF is omitted. Yet, the one organization that has been active in most of the issues this declaration contains is WILPF, as we know, for almost 100 years, therefore we cannot but rejoice at the fact that nowadays so many groups coincide in connecting all those subjects to positive peace, as we have done.

Paragraph 28 of the considerations refers to peace and women; it can be expanded, and hopefully there will opportunities to do so, before the UN working group assigned to draft the Declaration on the right to peace as a human right.

This past September 21, some international organisations launched a campaign to promote peace as a human right, and launched a video with many popular singers, asking that the UN declare it so. We can support this initiative by signing atwww.pazsinfronteras.org.

WILPF’s long history of activism is testimony to our commitment to the right to peace. Joining the efforts that may lead to a Declaration, which at the same time invokes International Law, and therefore entails States’ obligations, should be a significant effort toward building political will for peace. Mobilizing our sections and our networks to be part of this initiative, to collect millions of signatures supporting this idea, should be a campaign in which our united efforts can be very significant.

WILPFERS can do it. Let us do it!

- Adilia

Act Now to Help Haiti

In 1926, Nobel Prize Laureate and WILPF co-founder, Emily Greene Balch, led a U.S. delegation to Haiti. Whilst there, she uncovered the ravaging effects the international community were having on the country’s economy and its people.

Sadly, history is repeating itself today. Recent scientific studies have established that a troop contingent of the UN peacekeeping mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) have brought a cholera epidemic to the country. Faulty waste disposal practices at the MINUSTAH base have allowed the cholera bacteria to contaminate Haiti’s largest river system, causing over 7,400 deaths and the illness of almost 600,000 of the 10,000,000 people living in Haiti to date.

WILPF’s long-standing commitment to assisting Haiti – initiated all those years ago by Emily Greene Balch – ensures that we are unwilling to ignore their plight. The WILPF U.S. DC Branch has developed a petition to take action regarding the public health crisis in Haiti in time for the upcoming vote in the UN in October, regarding MINUSTAH.

Please join us in acting on this issue by signing and circulating this petition to as many people as possible, and sending it to the UN Peacekeeping Office.

WILPF Colombia Needs You

The President of Colombia has begun a process of peace talks with the Revolutionary Armed Forced of Colombia People¹s Army (FARC-EP), due to formally begin in October in Oslo, Norway. The women of Colombia are preparing to take an active role in these conversations.

In order to do this, WILPF Colombia is looking for financial and creative generosity. Read more about how to help them here >>

HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL

Reporting on the 21st Human Rights Council Session

This year, we have decided to do things differently for the Human Rights Council session. Instead of preparing one long, complicated report at the end of the session for you to wade through, we are sending out a shorter, special Human Rights Council edition newsletter every week to our International Board.

So far, we’ve highlighted discussions on Syria, India, Russia’s ‘Traditional Values’ Resolution, and of course, our side event on the Human Rights Impact of Nuclear Testing.

Check out the archive.

PROGRAMME NEWS

Latest news from PeaceWomen

Maria Butler, PeaceWomen Director participated in the first UN high-level forum on the Culture of Peace on September 14. She focussed on demilitarization and gender equality using examples from WILPF work including from WILPF DRC, the Middle East North Africa (MENA) project, and the work by WILPF Colombia.

Maria held up LIMPAL-Colombia’s recent letter to the Colombian president calling for women’s full and equal participation in the upcoming October peace talks, and the inclusion of women’s participation and women’s rights in the process. Read more here >>

(Click on the picture to hear Maria Butler's input to the discussion).

Latest news from Reaching Critical Will

In September, Reaching Critical Will (RCW) participated in the Second Review Conference of the UN Programme of Action (UNPoA) on small arms and light weapons, where we advocated for strengthened implementation to prevent the illicit transfer of small arms.

We urged for new tools for measuring the impact of the programme on reducing armed violence and for the increased inclusion of women in decision-making on small arms. The outcome document was adopted by consensus, which was a relief after repeated failures to reach agreement in many of the UN disarmament bodies.

However, as RCW intern Eloise Watson wrote, the document “is limited by its failure to include particular language relevant to today’s security situation, to satisfactorily assess UNPoA implementation to date, or to articulate the necessary tools for gauging progress in UNPoA implementation.”

More information is available in RCW’s Small Arms Monitor.

Update on the UN General Assembly

Starting on 25 September, UN Headquarters has been busy with the high-level debate of the UN General Assembly (UNGA). The theme of the 67th session is “adjustment or settlement of international disputes or situations by peaceful means”.

RCW has thus encouraged governments to use their opportunity at the UNGA to express political support for disarmament, reduction of military expenditure, and women’s equal participation in decision-making.

RCW and PeaceWomen have been jointly monitoring the debate and extracting all references to disarmament and arms control as well as women and gender. The disarmament extracts are available on RCW’s website and the gender extracts are available on PeaceWomen’s website.

There have also been several high-level meetings held in the margins, including on women and disarmament, the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT), chemical weapons, and more. Information about these events will be available in the next RCW newsletter.

First Committee on Disarmament and International Security

Following the high-level General Assembly segment, the First Committee on Disarmament and International Security will commence its work on 8 October. Once again RCW will be monitoring and analyzing the committee through our weekly First Committee Monitor—subscribe now to be sure to receive this important resource during the month.

International Week of Protest to Stop the Militarization of Space

Finally, this year’s International Week of Protest to Stop the Militarization of Space will be held on 6–13 October 2012. WILPF is a co-sponsor. See the Global Network Against Weapons and Nuclear Power in Space for details and information on how to hold or join events in your area.

Check Reaching Critical Will online for more news and updates:

PROJECT NEWS

Latest news from our Middle East North Africa (MENA) - project

MENA Agenda 1325 project is preparing for it’s second phase. The first phase accomplished to hold national consultations in 8 countries with almost 400 CSO to identify challenges and opportunities for inclusion of women in national and regional peace and security processes and a 3 days International Conference in connection with the 20th Session of the Human Rights Council.

The second phase will build on integrating the outcome and recommendations from phase 1. Specifically, Phase 2 will focus on identifying national priorities, to enable a more long-term regional strategy. WILPF will continue to use the Women, Peace and Security lens as an important tool while continuously underlining the importance of UNSCR 1325 within the wider context of women’s rights, and linking it with relevant human interpreting rights conventions and standards.

Some of the key recommendations from the first phase was identified as:

Use the strength that lies in the multiplication of alliances to work within coordination and networks to draw common actions plans for the implementation of the WPS agenda
Support a strategy for the advancement of women that take account the new changes and benefit from international experience and emphasizes support and they equally promote a culture of equality and anti-discrimination and non-violence.
Develop an interactive portal for MENA region with resources on UNSCR 1325, CEDAW and the international mechanisms and regional framework in Arabic/French/English language
Produce learning opportunities and workshops on concepts, notions, tools of analysis approaches and best practices in the field of peace and security
Enhance the reflection and discussion on the process of a national action plan on women’s rights, peace and security

FROM THE FIELD

WILPF's International Workshop: A Call to Action in India

In August, WILPF–India (Nagpur Branch) came together with other partners to host a week-long International Workshop in Nagpur. Maria Butler, director of WILPF’s PeaceWomen Programme, launched the discussions, emphasising the importance of creating a sisterhood that addresses the interlinked root causes of violence and actively promotes equitable peace.

The first session of the week was devoted to creating awareness of the Security Council Resolution 1325, where Maria discussed WILPF’s focus on conflict prevention. The Indian context was discussed extensively with WILPF India’s President Dr Ila Pathak introducing and stressing the on-going internal conflicts and barriers to women’s empowerment.

The week continued with a range of discussions, from the necessity for an Indian legal system that is not prejudiced against women to the importance of confronting sexual harassment in the workplace and sexual assault in post-conflict contexts.

In the final two days, the talks focused on the idea that the only way Indian women will assume power and responsibility is if they can confront the customs that bind them to a deeply patriarchal sphere of living. In countries such as India, where women are heavily confined to the domestic sphere, the work that organisations such as WILPF do to ensure a female voice in national policy-making becomes all the more pertinent.

The high turnout at the workshop and the lively debates it generated testified to its success in uniting women in the struggle for peace and freedom.

CAMPAIGN NEWS

It’s Time to take Action!

Calling all WILPF Sections! Following WILPF’s historic participation in the 16 Days of Activism against Gender Violence Campaign last year, we would like to make this year’s effort even better.

The 2012 Campaign will be held from 25 November to 10 December. It will continue with the global theme: From Peace in the Home to Peace in the World: Let’s Challenge Militarism and End Violence Against Women!

Please let us know what your Section will be doing to participate in the Campaign, as we would like to help you in any way we can with your ideas!

If you haven't planned yet how your Section wants to be involved, then you just might take inspiration from our Five Ideas for Cost-Free Campaign Activities.

New Campaign logo

Picture of new WILPF logo for 16 Days Campaign This year we have created a special campaign logo, merging WILPF's own logo with the dark purple colour of the official campaign.

We would be very happy for our Sections to use the new logo.

If you are interested in using the logo, let us know the name and contact details of your campaign coordinator and we’ll invite you to our Dropbox folder, which contains the logo in high resolution, additional information and an action kit for the Campaign.

16 Days of Activism against Gender Violence Blog

As part of the Campaign we will be releasing 16 blogs – one for every day of the Campaign. We would love the participation of as many Sections as possible. The blog posts have to be about how (one of) the three main campaign themes (more details can be found in our Dropbox) are viewed from your Section’s national perspective.

If you're interested in writing a blog post, then contact us for more information. The deadline for letting us know is the 20th October 2012 as we need time to prepare an editorial plan. Deadline for delivery of the blog post will be 10th November 2012.

Please contact communications (a) wilpf.ch for more information if you’d like to get involved.