WILPF 2010
International Board Meeting
2 - 9 January 2010
in Ahmedabad, India

The Gandhi University has kindly agreed to host us for this meeting.
More information about the university can be found here:
www.gujaratvidyapith.org

IB MEETING NOTES - HERE

LIST OF DECISIONS - HERE

Evaluation form - HERE

Political Seminars | Workshops | Gertrud Baer Seminar | Draft Agenda | Location | Documents | Travel Assistance Policy | Registration Form

Location

The Gandhi University has kindly agreed to host us for this meeting. The main campus of Gujarat Vidyapith is located on the Ashram Road, Ahmedabad. Spread over 21 acres of land, the main campus is known as "The Mahatma Gandhi Parisar". More information about the university can be found here: http://www.gujaratvidyapith.org

After several years of meeting in hotels and office buildings, it will be great for us to come together once more in a university setting. However, there are some very strict rules that we will respect during our stay on campus, including: no alcohol, no meat, no smoking.  

Concerning the booking of airplane tickets, participants are advised to book their flights to Mumbai.

Some practical information

Climate
The temperature in January is roughly between 17-30°C. So you might carry light woollens with you.

Accomodation
Imagine a large campus dotted with many buildings. The hostel rooms will be clean and comprisable with appropriate beddings. There are attached bathrooms with mirrors but without shower. Hot water will be available on demand. You will have to carry your own towel and toiletries.

Health
A nurse in the compound and a doctor on mobile will be available 24 hours.

Food and water
Indian breakfast, lunch and dinner will be served. Purified water by a system within the compound will be available. Moreover, bottled mineral water will be available on payment.

Images

Click here for some images of the location where the Board meeting will be held.

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Proposed Seminar: Non-violence Principle and South Asian Realities

The growing regional tensions in India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Sri Lanka are one of the more serious situations in the world.  With nuclear armed India and Pakistan, ongoing civil strife in Sri Lanka and continued international military action in Afghanistan, how are current peace movements looking to address this situation?  What is the role of the United Nations and humanitarian organisations?  What is the situation on the ground in these regions- for refugees, for women? 

This seminar will examine some of the history of the region and will look at current efforts to build a just and sustainable peace in these countries.   The seminar itself will take place at the Gujarat Vidyapith, founded by Mahatma Gandhi in 1920.  It is a fitting setting to examine how the principles of non-violent resistance can be used to shift security paradigms from militarized security to holistic human security.

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Proposed Workshop 1:  Strategic Planning and Campaign Building in a Digital Age

In an age of mass internet movements and technologic advances, this workshop will examine how WILPF is moving forward towards our 100th anniversary in the digital age.  Information technologies, from blogs to Facebook to Wiki, are changing the face of democracy activism, allowing more participatory, dialog-based approaches to cross-border work.  The Strategic Planning and Campaign Building workshop emerges from recognition that ongoing education in how individuals plan and implement global campaigns in the digital ages is necessary. 

This workshop will examine how to implement WILPF’s programmatic priorities and intensify cross-border collaborations.  As WILPF currently has three international websites, and over a dozen national sites, this workshop will take the opportunity to discuss harmonizing and utilizing these tools to connect across language and cultures.  

Proposed Workshop 2: Understanding and Acting: Women’s Human Rights Mechanisms

The goal of this workshop is to increase the understanding amongst WILPF members, and friends about existing mechanisms to promote and protect women’s human rights, including the Convention on the Elimination of All forms of Discrimination (CEDAW) and its Optional Protocol and UN Security Council Resolutions 1325 and 1820.

We often reference these tools without a full understanding of HOW we can use them in our daily work.  How does 1325 affect our communities?  How can we truly utilize CEDAW, and how can we work with others to help them understand?  How does CEDAW connect with other human rights mechanisms- including the Universal Declaration and the Covenants?  This workshop will examine case studies, based on the current situations of participants, as examples on how to use and implement these tools to further women’s human rights.

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Gertrud Baer International Seminar

Every day women and men look at what is happening in the world and ask themselves, “what can I do?”  The Gertrud Baer seminar provides new activists an opportunity to answer that very question.

The seminar will give a brief introduction to WILPF, history and current programme.  It will also  provide an overview of the United Nations, how it operates and how to engage with it; a review of existing tools available from WILPF to engage on key issues, and; an examination of current political issues and methodologies to promote diplomatic engagement by national governments as opposed to military interventions.  Seminar participants will leave with additional tools and resources to further their local and national advocacy efforts as well as a better understanding of how to engage with WILPF. 

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Revised Draft IB Meeting Agenda

2 January- Saturday

3 January- Sunday

4 January - Monday

5 January - Tuesday

6 January - Wednesday

7 January - Thursday

8 January - Friday

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Travel Assistance Policy-
as adopted at the 2008 IB Meeting

Sections in developing countries can qualify to have 85% of their travel costs met if they meet the following criteria:

- IB member purchases their ticket at least one (1) month in advance of the meeting

- IB member attends the full IB meeting

- Section has paid their section fees for the two years before the meeting

- Section has provided timely reports to the secretariat on their activities

- IB Member will travel by least expensive method available

This policy is subject to available funds.  Sections who wish to contribute to a travel fund are requested to do so through the Geneva office so that coordination of needs can be met.

An appeal to all sections will be sent by the Secretariat.  Individual sections are requested to not approach other sections for funds, but instead make their needs known to the Geneva office so they can be matched with those who can provide support.

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