Message From the International Officers
International Executive Committee, 8-12 September 2006
(12 July 2006; revisions 24 August, 2006)
International Report
Samira Khoury: “Partners not participants, this is the dream I have for our future wilpf starting with this IEC, moving progressively forward towards our Bolivia Congress 2007, and our 100th. anniversary, & beyond ... I have a dream that each one of us, partners not participants, will have her valuable contribution in re-visioning, re-interpreting and re-forming our wilpf as an organization and as a programme for action ...I want this IEC to be inclusive, none of us feeling as the "other", but all of us gratified with a sense of equality: different but equal within the amazingly rich cultural diversity in our wilpf. Yes I dream that we, partners, will prove together that wilpf is a forceful force for change, committed to bring about, together with all peace movements and organizations, the other possible world of peace,justice,and freedom.”
Marta Benavides: “At Avery Hill I want us to define/determine well our work. … I want to make sure our organization is not an end, but a means, and a real means for our effective and timely presence in the world for peace, freedom, internationalism...I want to work on the future of WILPF, and the financial situation, and I want to make sure we have fun, come out with strength and happiness.”
Dulcy De Silva: “The most important thing actually is to give time for every one to participate in the discussion. Everybody's voice must be heard and we have to respect all the ideas. We may be a great expert on some issues but giving others a chance will be greater. …”
Annelise Ebbe: “For me the most important thing about the IEC is that we focus on every single participant as a precious and important part of the meeting. That we pave the road for a warm, welcoming and giving atmosphere and that everybody has the feeling when she leaves the place that her participation was worth it.
I would also like everybody to feel that she -- has been moved and has moved – at least herself and her closest in order to be more capable at moving the rest of the world
-- has learnt something
-- has enjoyed the meeting
-- has been engaged in interesting discussions
-- has participated in important decisions and decision making
-- has had lots of fun and lots of laughter.”
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Welcome to the 2006 International Executive Committee meeting at Avery Hill, London. Greetings to all the WILPF members who cannot be present. Thank you to the UK WILPF Section for arranging the venue, attending to many details, and for organizing the seminar “Women’s Unfinished Agenda: What does feminism offer peace, social and economic justice and human rights campaigners?”
This is a question we can take with us throughout the IEC: What is WILPF’s ‘unfinished agenda’? What does WILPF offer?
The program of work for this meeting – another kind of ‘agenda’ – is on the surface similar to previous IEC meetings. However, throughout our time together and in the months ahead we must address questions and decisions to be made for our work and for our organization. Rethinking of how the League defines itself and functions, building on what we have already done, can be part of our preparation for the 100th anniversary of WILPF.
This message (open to discussion and revision), was drafted in June and early July when, even at the time, September seemed too far away to know what the world picture might be like two months later. Our sense of apprehension proved accurate when the war between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon led to suffering and death, devastation, and deepened animosities. In the meantime, we have no peace in Iraq, in Gaza, in Afghanistan, in Sudan, Ethiopia and Eritrea, in Sri Lanka and elsewhere.
We come together bearing in our hearts and minds the results of living in stressful and terrifying circumstances of war, of fear of violence, of poverty, of apprehension instilled in us by a so-called “war on terror”, of fear that birds may bring disease, of the seas rising, new super-germs, and dead zones in the oceans. We come together as women who have hope and a vision of another world of peace and freedom that is possible and is necessary.
We in WILPF, both as individuals and collectively as an organization, are impacted by 21st century biotechnology, dependency on exhausted resources, threats to civil liberties and democratic process, vast differences between those who have too much and those who have too little, fossil fuel-dependent transportation, the media, popular culture and many other aspects of the world in which we find ourselves in 2006. The neoconservative social and political agenda coupled with a militaristic view of security predominates in many countries. At the same time, however, resistance to neo-liberal policies, racial discrimination, poverty and injustice inspires us to continue our work.
Our analysis must also have a look at the world within WILPF. Where should we focus our energy? At the UN, advocacy in local communities, regional and global social movements, on trade organizations and financial institutions, legal mechanisms, education? How are we interacting with other progressive movements? Where are we providing leadership and alternative ways of thinking?
Looking ahead: an unfinished agenda or a new agenda?
¿Como se genera el cambio? How is change generated?
The structure of our organization has served us in bringing us within sight of our 100th year less than 10 years from now. It is certain WILPF’s goal to abolish the causes and concept of war, to achieve world peace, total and universal disarmament, human rights and dignity for everyone will still be an unfinished agenda in 2015. How will we frame that agenda?
International Program and Plan of Action
In 2004 we adopted the Program “Economic and Social Justice, Respect for the Environment – the Foundation of Peace” based essentially on building a ‘culture of peace’. Within this framework, three main interlinked areas were developed with a ‘gendered eye’:
I. Peace and Security
II. Environmental Sustainability
III. Global Economic and Social Justice.
Our International Program is based on work over many years and on our analysis of the contemporary situation. However, we have not built into this Program an evaluation mechanism. The IEC reports give some data in this regard. During the coming year a Program Advisory Group as was suggested by the Program Committee convened at the 2004 Congress would help us evaluate our Program (including the UN projects), give direction, and focus our work for the years following the 2007 Bolivia Congress.
Researchers report that the incidence of state armed political conflict has decreased world-wide, (Stockholm International Peace Research Institute(SIPRI), 2006; Human Security Report 2005 published by the Human Security Centre). This hardly gives us comfort as we witness the suffering caused by a militaristic culture. A more comprehensive view of true human and collective security has to take into account the impact on all dimensions of life due to conflict, armed violence, structural violence, and disasters. A disturbing manipulation of the concept of “human security” is its use to justify military intervention and neo-colonialist intentions.
We devoted much of our 2006 energy to the conflicts in Iraq, Afghanistan, Lebanon, Palestine and Sudan. Other conflicts such as in Colombia, Nepal, Sri Lanka, East Timor, West Papua, Zimbabwe, Chechnya, the Democratic Republic of Congo and elsewhere are also extremely important though have not captured as much world attention.
The prevailing neoconservative political, economic and military agendas will likely accelerate resource depletion and climate change. Hopefully, there will be fundamental changes in our relationship with nature and development of sustainable alternatives. Oil, water and soil are critical for our food production. All three are in trouble. The political, economic and social implications will affect our personal lives and how WILPF functions as well.
What new expressions of our program work might be emerging? International campaigns to stop torture and shut down prisons such as Guantanamo Bay; gender aspects of climate change; the role of the UN in PeaceBuilding (particularly with the recent Security Council recommended focus on Sierra Leone and Burundi where we have national sections); resistance movements in Latin America; countering a new “cold war” mentality between the US and Russia and/or other countries; incorporating an understanding of religion and ideology in our work for peace? We invite your wisdom and insights.
Membership
“We are an international organization with a national expression” to quote Marta Benavides. Membership data is vague and in many cases non-existent. Our sections have different views of what it means to be a member of WILPF. Due to electronic communication and the excellent materials posted at our web sites the number of those who use our information is uncountable. How can we give the opportunity to thousands -- or millions -- of women and men who agree with our principles and objectives to be identified with WILPF as members and/or supporters?
Sections
Samira Khoury (if possible) will be preparing a summary of the 2006 section reports. Many sections are doing amazing work; all are struggling in various ways. Thank you to all the sections who have been “sisters” to others by your support. We regret that Ireland Section has disbanded and we hope that a new Irish Section will be born in the country that has a strong WILPF history. The Bulgarian Section, which asked to be disbanded in 2004, appears to be non-existent.
A new WILPF group of 25 women in Rwanda, linked with the WILPF branch in Vermont USA, requests to be recognized as a Section in 2007.
What should the size of a section be? Are ten members really enough to reflect an active national program and democratic internal process? Or, can the impact of 10 committed women be immeasurable?
Finances
The financial health of the organization over the last 15 years (IEC 1993, International Report) is chronically precarious. If it were not for unexpected gifts and bequests in 2005 and 2006, maintaining the Geneva office would be difficult. There essentially would be little money for salaries. This uncertainty makes it very difficult to launch new program work as we experienced with the proposed conference in Cuba. We do not have effective capacity to fund-raise, yet we must put the organization on a more stable financial basis. The costs of operating in the future will only be higher, not lower, if we continue as we are.
We warn you as IEC members of this situation. At the Officers Meeting in March 2006 we asked the Secretary General and the Office Administrator to make fund-raising a priority in their work plan. Practically speaking, it is difficult for them to add this to their already heavy work load; however, it is imperative.
Committee of 100
The ten years leading to the celebration of WILPF’s 100th year can be very intellectually and culturally stimulating. Perhaps a series of seminars, summer schools, or study sessions can be designed and adapted to local use. We have launched the Committee of 100 (or “Commitment of 100 donors”) – 100 individuals WILPF and non-WILPF, groups, national Sections and branches who pledge a donation of 1000 euros, dollars or Swiss francs (euros preferred!) by 28 April 2007 because they believe in WILPF’s agenda and future. Four (hopefully by IEC 10!) have already pledged!
The Officers’ Team
Each of the officers made a significant contribution as a Board member in addition to the unique role she plays in her national section. The officers do not have equal access to technology; it is especially difficult for Marta, Dulcy and Samira who also faced very unstable political situations in their countries.
We are proud of the fact that of the approximately twenty WILPF women listed among the 1000 women proposed for the Nobel Peace Prize, three are international vice presidents: Dulcy, Marta, and Annelise.
International Women’s Peace Conference: “Voices for peace, ecology dignity and life”
The decision in Sweden to hold an International Women’s Peace Conference in Cuba in 2006 has now been transformed into an official delegation to Cuba in collaboration with the Cuba Women’s Federation. [Ref: “IWPC - A Status Summary”, May 2006, by Regina Birchem and the OPP regarding the Cuba delegation.]
We take what we have learned in this experience and build on it as we prepare for the 29th International WILPF Congress in Bolivia, July 2007 -- an opportunity to learn more about political scene of Latin America.
Words of Thankfulness
Finally we want to pay tribute and express our thanks to the exceptionally gifted and committed staff in Geneva and New York. These young women put in long hours, respond to countless emails and requests, implement our program, and suggest new initiatives.
We also want to thank the Committee Conveners for your responsiveness, new ideas, and help on many organizational and programmatic issues. We are especially grateful to Coby Meyboom as Convener of the Standing Finance Committee who along with Michaela Told, our Treasurer, with a great deal of time and care monitor -- and mentor – us on our financial responsibilities.
At this IEC we also recognize and pay tribute to the women who have faithfully served WILPF for many years: Gloria Frankel of the Irish Section; Solange Fernex, June Raynal, Simone and Helen Landry, France; Lee Weingarten and Edith Ballantyne, Switzerland; Natalia Bereshnaya, Russia; Anissa Najjar, Lebanon; Olga Bianchi, Costa Rica; Aiko Tokusue, Japan; Joan McDonald, Pauline Tangiora, Aotearoa; and so many, many others – forgive us for not naming all the hundreds - they are known to you for their dedication and wisdom.
In closing: a quote from Kay Camp, International President who died in her sleep 10 July 2006. This is from an article published in International WILPF’s Pax et Libertas, March 1988, “Towards SSOD III – For a Common and Secure Future”*:
“Step forward, sisters, and claim your victory. …
“It is time to undermine the war system and to concentrate on building a peace system. It is time to emphasize the forms and processes of peace-making – the regional efforts in Central America, Southwest Asia, Southeast Asia, and those that must be mounted in the Middle East and on the Korean peninsula. The emphasis on peaceful settlement of disputes must be revitalized.
“It is also time for the peace movement to go global, to develop geographically, conceptually, and with a long-term view. Because of the awareness that is spreading of the connections between world peace and economic justice, women’s and racial equality, environmental protection, development, self-determination and human rights, it is ever more possible and practical to think of global solutions in global terms.
“The best means for going global is to make use of the institution created for that purpose. We must publicize the UN and celebrate its potential if properly used and strengthened. The Thorsson triad (disarmament, development, and security) must be raised to counter the “defense” triad (the arms race, underdevelopment and insecurity.
…
“This is an exciting time for us, and with a solid victory behind us the next steps should be even more exhilarating.”
[*SSOD III – The Third Special Session on Disarmament, UN General Assembly, May-June 1988. The article was written after the signing of the INF Treaty (Intermediate-range Nuclear Forces Treaty). ]
Dulcy de Silva writes of her work in Sri Lanka:
June 30, 2006
Even now I talk over the radio and the TV about the Peace process and the women's involvement. It is very important as a WILPFer when I travel round the country; they recognize me and thank me for my contribution.
I have covered all the districts in the country about the UN Security Council Resolution 1325. the responses are very admirable and we are planning to have some workshops with the parliamentarians. Because of the situation in my country, we have to postpone it day by day. I am the resource person for this. I traveled to the places where there were massacres of civilians. It is terrible and heart breaking.
I was invited to Cuba last November to attend the annual general meeting of the World Federation of Trade Unions and I am proud to say that I was selected as one of the Vice Presidents. I have more work now with the trade union, but I think I am pleased with the work and it is my pleasure.
We formed a women's federation with the leading women from all the political parties to face the present situation in my country. It is a very successful and every body comments how the women of Sri Lanka came together for a common cause. Last month we organized a picket against using pregnant women as suicide bombers. It was very successful with a big crowd; it was telecasted in all the channels over the TV several times. I was the spokesman. The most important thing is I got some anonymous calls as to whether I like to live or to die. I was pleased because there were some people who didn't like our action. By this I will be encouraged.
I do some work with some ministers on how to restore Peace in my country. I went to meet women in the North Central Province and they proposed to meet the President of this country and the LTTE leaders to force them not kill any more our children; we need a peaceful country. It will happen very soon before our IEC meeting.
With Warm Regards and Love,
Dulcy
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