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January 2011
WILPF Congress 2011 Invitation
Dear WILPF sisters,
In 1915, at the height of the First World War, 1300 women from a wide range of countries and cultures came together in the Hague, brought together by a mutual horror of the consequences of war and a desire to live in peace. They formed the International Congress of Women to study, make known and eliminate the causes of war. Now known as the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom, the group continues to work for peace by pushing an agenda of disarmament and increased inclusion of women in all decision-making aspects of peace and security. In 2015 we will meet in Hague again, to celebrate our 100th Anniversary. For us to be able to have a real celebration, we need to work hard in the years to come.
This year we will meet in San José, Costa Rica for our International Congress. The congress will be held from July 30th – August 6th 2011. Please circulate this information in your sections.
In this letter you will find;
a)Outline of the congress program;
b)Deadlines for sections;
c)About WILPF congresses as written in the Constitution
Please note that the outline of the program will be further developed, and that input from sections is very important.
Further information about the congress will be posted on the international website, www.wilpfinternational.org. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the conference coordinator, email: congress@wilpf.ch. Please circulate this invitation in your section!
In Peace,
Annelise Ebbe & Kerstin Grebäck, Co-Presidents, and Madeleine Rees, Secretary General
a)Congress Program Outline
Congress Program Outline:
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What: |
Saturday 30th July |
Open seminars |
9.00 – 10.00 |
Registration of participants |
Information: Congress Participants will register at the Congress Hall, Radisson Hotel, San José, Costa Rica |
9.00 – 10.00 |
ExCom and COG meeting |
Information: Preparatory meeting for ExCom and COG |
10.00 – 12.00 |
Gertrud Baer Seminar:
Women, Peace and Security |
Information: The purpose of the Gertrud Baer seminar is to welcome and give an introduction to the organizations to new members |
12.00 – 13.00 |
Lunch |
13.00 – 16.00 |
Gertrud Baer Seminar (second part) open to public |
Information: The purpose of the Gertrud Baer seminar is to welcome and give an introduction to the organizations to new members |
16.00 – 16.30 |
Coffee |
16.00 – 18.00 |
Pre-congress open ExCom meeting |
Information: |
18-18.30 |
Conclusions |
Information: The purpose of the conclusion is to summarize what has been said during the day, so that it is kept in mind later on |
Sunday 31th July |
Sightseeing / Preparatory Meetings |
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Sightseeing for participants held by the Costa Rica section |
15.00 - 17.00 |
Registration for late arriving delegates |
17.00 – 18.30 |
Staff meeting ( ExCom and COG) |
Information: |
Monday 1st August |
Women, Peace and Security – Transforming the Agenda |
9.00 – 9.30 |
Welcome and greetings |
Information: |
9.30 – 12.00 |
Women, Peace and Security and Participatory Democracy |
Information: In this seminar, the audience will be given an introduction to the work of WILPF, with a focus on our work on resolution 1325, human rights and disarmament |
12.00 – 14.00 |
Lunch |
14.00- 14.45 |
Parallel workshops |
Information: in these workshops, the audience will choose among different workshops arranged WILPF sections. If other Sections has funding for a workshop, please contact congress@wilpf.ch |
14.45-15.00 |
Coffee break |
15.00 -16.30 |
Parallel workshops continue |
Information: in these workshops, the audience will choose among different workshops arranged WILPF sections. If other Sections has funding for other workshops, please contact congress@wilpf.ch |
16.30 – 17.00 |
Announcement and information
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17 – 19 |
Reception |
19 - 20 |
Registration for late arriving delegates |
Possible Evening or Lunch Activity |
Standing committees; program working groups; regional meetings |
Tuesday 2nd August |
Congress starts: not open to public |
8.30 – 9 |
Diversity Exercise |
9.00 – 10.00 |
WILPF visions: Where are we – and where do we want to go? WILPF politics for peace and justice, from our founding mothers in 1915 until new challenges today |
Information: the purpose of this session is to discuss the vision of WILPF, based on the issues raised by the French Section |
10.00 – 12.00 |
Interactive global café (including 30 min break) |
Information: this session will give congress participants a possibility to engage themselves in interactive conversations about the future of WILPF. Ideas are summarized and kept in mind for the discussions about 100th Anniversary |
12.00 – 13.00 |
Lunch |
13 – 13.30 |
Congress Appointments * |
Information: appointments of congress working groups Resolutions Committee; Elections Committee; Congress Committee |
13.30 – 14.30 |
Presentation of new Sections |
Information: WILPF groups applying for becoming sections will introduce themselves |
14.30 – 15 |
Presentation of International Program and WILPF priorities 2007 – 2011 |
Information: |
15 – 15.30 |
Coffee Break |
15.30 – 18 |
Reports: Presidents, Secretary General, Treasurer Working Groups, Standing Committees |
Information: |
18 – 19 (time can be modified) |
Presentation of Candidates for Election |
Information: Nominations Committee will present the candidates for election for the Executive Committee, candidates will present themselves (very short), time for Q&A |
19 -19.30 |
Conclusions |
Information: The purpose of the conclusion is to summarize what has been said during the day, so that it is kept in mind later on |
Possible Evening or Lunch Activity |
Standing committees; program working groups; regional meetings |
Wednesday 3rd August |
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8.30 – 9 |
Diversity Exercise |
9.00 – 11.00 |
Challenge Militarism |
Information: the purpose of this session is to summarize WILPF´s work on challenge militarism, with reports from Reaching Critical Will and Sections. Confirmed Section Reports from: |
11 – 12 |
Program and internal policy issues / recommendations / open space discussions |
Information: the purpose of this session is to discuss and evaluate program and internal policy issues. |
12 – 13.30 |
Lunch |
13.30 – 15.30 |
Standing Finance Committee Report |
Information: report from the Standing Finance Committee, presentation of WILPF international budget by the Intl Treasurer |
15.30 – 17 |
Fundraising |
Information: the purpose of this session is to inform participants about fundraising, and to inspire sections to engage in fundraising activities |
17-17.30 |
Coffee Break |
17.30 - 19.00 |
Presentation and decisions on Constitutional Change Recommendations * |
Information: Suggestions on constitutional change recommendations are presented, decisions are made. |
19 - 19.30 |
Conclusions |
Information: The purpose of the conclusion is to summarize what has been said during the day, so that it is kept in mind later on |
Possible Evening or Lunch Activity |
Standing committees; program working groups; regional meetings |
Thursday 4th August |
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8.30 – 9 |
Diversity Exercise |
9.00 – 11.00 |
Invest in Peace |
Information: the purpose of this session is to summarize WILPF´s work on invest in peace, with reports from PeaceWomen and Sections. Confirmed Section Reports. |
11 – 12 |
Program and internal policy issues / recommendations / open space discussions |
Information: the purpose of this session is to continue discussions and evaluation of program and internal policy issues |
12.00-13.30 |
Lunch |
13.30- 15.00 |
Evaluation andfollow up of IB and Congress decisions |
Information: |
15 – 16.30 |
Organization, Structure and Communication |
Information: the purpose of this session is to discuss and evaluate organization, structure and communication |
16.30 – 17.00 |
Coffee Break |
17.00 – 18.00 |
Decisions on improvements of Government Structure; Organization, Structure and Communication * |
Information: |
18 – 19 |
Decisions on New Sections * |
Information: |
19 – 19.30 |
Conclusions |
Information: The purpose of the conclusion is to summarize what has been said during the day, so that it is kept in mind later on |
Possible Evening or Lunch Activity |
Standing committees; program working groups; regional meetings |
Friday 5th August |
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8.00 – 9.00 |
ExCom/ COG meeting |
Information: |
8.30 – 9 |
Diversity Exercise |
9.00 -10.30 |
Adoption of Resolutions and Policy Statements * |
Information: resolutions and policy statements are introduced by the Resolutions Committee, followed by decisions. |
10.30 -11.30 |
Election of the ExCom * |
Information: |
11.30 – 12.30 |
Budget Decisions * |
Information: |
12.30 – 13.30 |
Lunch |
13.30 – 15.00 |
Decision on WILPF International Program * |
Information: |
15.00 – 16.00 |
Report from the 100th Anniversary committee |
Information: |
16 – 16.30 |
Manifesto |
Information: |
16.30 – 17 |
Decisions on next Congress * |
Information: |
17 – 19 |
International Board Meeting |
Information: |
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Reception |
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Saturday 6th August |
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9 – 12 |
New ExCom meeting |
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* = Session involves DECISION
b)Deadlines for sections
Information: |
Deadline |
Information about congress (including deadlines, draft agenda, themes for workshops, Gertrud Baer) is sent to sections |
20 January |
Sections send feedback on congress draft agenda, themes etc to Geneva office |
1 February |
Final draft agenda is sent to sections |
15 February |
Registration: |
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Deadline for Participants who are funded, 85% maximum, by WILPF International send registration to Geneva Office |
29 March |
Other participants send registration to WILPF Secretariat |
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- early registration |
25 March |
- late registration, 10% increase |
15 May |
Reports: |
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Sections, committees, UN representatives and ExCom send reports to Geneva office |
1 April |
Reports sent out from Geneva office
ExCom, Secretary General, sections, committees and UN reports sent by email |
1 June |
Nominations: |
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Nomination Committee sends information on nomination process to Geneva office |
20 January |
Geneva office sends letter from Nomination Committee to sections |
1 February |
Sections send nominations to Nomination Committee |
1 April |
Nomination committee reports to sections |
1 June |
Constitution and by law changes: |
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Proposals for constitution and bylaw amendments |
1 April |
Geneva sends out proposals to sections |
15 May |
Fund raising: |
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Reports from Sections about fundraising |
20 February |
Proposals: |
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Sections and thematic committees send proposals to Geneva office
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29 April |
Geneva Office sends proposals to sections |
14 May |
c)About the congress, as written in the WILPF constitution:
The International Congress
a) The International Congress shall be the highest decision making body of WILPF and the final authority in all matters concerning the organization.
b) The International Congress shall be composed of all members of the International Board, and delegates and alternates elected by the National Sections in the following manner:
A National Section shall be entitled to representation to the International Congress when its dues are paid to the end of the previous calendar year;
Each National Section shall be entitled to elect five delegates and up to five alternates;
Each National Section with a paid up membership of five thousand or more shall be entitled to three additional delegates and up to three additional alternates;
c) Voting rights at Congress
Each member of the International Board and each delegation elected by a National Section shall be entitled to one vote;
A National Section represented by a single delegate shall have two votes;
A National Section alternate may vote in the place of the delegate.
Any other paid up member of WILPF may attend and participate in the International Congress but shall be non-voting.
International Congress
The responsibilities of the International Congress shall include, but not be limited to:
reviewing the activities since the last Congress, setting the policies, and direction of WILPF, and adopting the programme and related budget until the next Congress;
electing the President, Vice-Presidents, and treasurer of WILPF to serve until the next session of the International Congress; no individual may be elected to the same EC more than two consecutive terms.
Appointing convenors of Standing Committees and Working Groups;
receiving reports from Convenors of Committees, Executive Committee, National Sections, Secretary General, Project Coordinators, and others;
admitting new National Sections and associate members;
deciding on amendments to the Constitution and By-Laws.
A scheduled session of the International Congress may be cancelled or postponed by the EC subject to the agreement of a 2/3 majority of the IB at a duly constituted meeting or by voting via post and/or electronic mail.
Travel expenses of the delegates and alternates to the International Congress shall be borne by the National Section they represent. The Executive Committee and the Secretary General shall have their expenses paid out of the international budget to the extent that the funds are available. In the event of a job share for President, only one of the two co-Presidents shall have expenses paid from the international budget to any particular meeting, with the exception of the IB and Congress. National Sections shall also be responsible for the travel expenses to the International Congress of members of the International Board elected by them.
WILPF shall maintain a Travel Fund to assist members in special circumstances to attend the International Congress. The Fund shall be administered by the Executive Committee, in accordance with guidelines established by the International Board.
The International Congress shall be convened every three years but no longer than 48 months since the last one to allow for North/South differences and other considerations. In the case of an ‘Extraordinary Session’ being convened, the next regularly scheduled Congress shall be in the third year after the ‘Extraordinary Session.’ Congress shall meet at a date and place determined by the International Board.
Extraordinary sessions of the International Congress may be called on request of a National Section, subject to the agreement of a two-thirds majority of the International Board voting at a duly constituted meeting.
The International Board shall decide whether an extraordinary International Board meeting should be called to execute all or some of the Congress responsibilities, or whether these responsibilities should be completed via other procedures (e.g. video conferences, e-mail voting), or whether the fulfillment of such responsibilities should be postponed until a session of the International Congress can be scheduled.
Quorum for Congress shall consist of 40% of the sections being represented and at least three of the elected members of the Executive Committee.
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