WILPF International eNews - October 2012

NEXT STOP PARIS?

 
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

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 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.