Greetings from Geneva!

Enclosed in this section mailing you will find the following information:

1. 2006 International Executive Committee Meeting and Gertrud Baer Seminar

2. Iran Action Pack

3. Update: WGEJ working group

4. Update: Indian section

5. Space for Peace Week

6. Request from the UN Office (New York): Women & UN Reform

As always, we welcome feedback and input to these monthly mailings. If you have something to contribute, please send it to susi.snyder@wilpf.ch no later than the 12th of each month. Also, you can find this, and past section mailings archived on the WILPF international website at: http://www.wilpf.int.ch/updates/sectionmailings.html

With Best Wishes,

Marie and Susi

2006 International Executive Committee meeting and Gertrud Baer seminar

Both our 2006 International Executive Committee meeting and the Gertrud Baer seminar will be held in the UK.

A registration form will be sent out to you very soon.

In the meantime, please save the date and start preparing!

Check our website for regular updates on the meetings: http://www.wilpf.int.ch/events/2006IEC/index.html

International Executive Committee Meeting
8 (afternoon) - 12 September 2006

Gertrud Baer Seminar
7 (all day) - 9 (concluding with a social event) September 2006

Officers Meeting
7 (all day) & 12 (afternoon) September 2006

University of Greenwich - Avery Hill Campus - United Kingdom

Southwood Site, Avery Hill Road, Eltham, London SE9 2UG

IEC preparation: let’s get started!

- Agenda items

We are putting together the IEC agenda and we welcome your contribution! If you wish to submit an item, please do so by contacting Susi on susi.snyder@wilpf.ch or Marie on marie.boroli@wilpf.ch immediately.

- Section reports

In order to prepare for the IEC, we are asking each section to report on its activities. By clicking this link http://www.wilpf.int.ch/events/2006IEC/section_reports_templates.htm you will access a personalized template that shows the questions that we would like you to answer. Please note that we require the section reports to be sent back to the International Secretariat, either by post, fax or email: inforequest@wilpf.ch, the latest on 15 June 2006. A hard copy of the report template will be sent to you via the post.

- Proposed resolutions

In preparation of the IEC, we invite all sections to submit draft resolutions to put forward to the 2006 IEC. By clicking this link http://www.wilpf.int.ch/events/2006IEC/proposed_resolution_template.doc you will access a template that shows some guidelines and examples of draft resolutions that were submitted to IEC05. Please note that we require the proposed resolutions to be sent back to the International Secretariat, either by post, fax or email: inforequest@wilpf.ch, the latest on 15 June 2006. A hard copy of the template will be sent to you via the post.

- Committee reports

In order to prepare for the IEC, we are asking each committee to report on its activities. By clicking this link http://www.wilpf.int.ch/events/2006IEC/committee_reports_templates.htm you will access a personalized template that shows the questions that we would like you to answer. Please note that we require the committee reports to be sent back to the International Secretariat, either by post, fax or email: inforequest@wilpf.ch, the latest on 15 June 2006. A hard copy of the report template will be sent to you via the post.

- Congress, Nominations and Programme Committees

Also, please start thinking about these 3 committees related to Congress and that will be created at this IEC and ask in your section who wants to participate in them.

Gertrud Baer participation

The Gertrud Baer (GB) seminar is structured so that newcomers to WILPF can get together, learn more about the organization, thoroughly discuss a variety of topics and participate in the IEC meeting (when both events are held in the same location).

We have chosen to move the Gertrud Baer seminar to London and to hold it some days before the IEC so that the attendants of the GB could also attend parts of the IEC to learn about how the international organization functions and so that we can all exchange ideas and experiences. We therefore recommend that the person attending the Gertrude Baer also attend the IEC.

The registration form will be sent out to the IEC members as well as to young members of WILPF in the different sections through Y-WILPF.

Iran Action Pack

WILPF's disarmament project, Reaching Critical Will, has been following the evolving situation surrounding Iran's nuclear program, and believes now is the time for people to take preventative action before their governments create more confrontation. To help you get started, RCW has prepared an Iran Action Pack, with background, talking points, recommended actions, and draft letters to the editor and parliamentarians: http://www.reachingcriticalwill.org/legal/iranactionpack.html

Update: WGEJ working group

Current negotiations at the WTO

Negotiations continue in Geneva on the unfinished "Doha agenda" from the WTO meeting in Hong Kong last December. Pascal Lamy, Director General of the WTO, travelled during April to meet trade representatives in some countries and plans to hold a "Ministerial Green Room" meeting of about 30 members at the beginning of May. (Green Room meetings are undemocratic meetings of Ambassadors from selected countries invited by the Director General or by the chair of a negotiating committee). Deadlines set for agreement on some issues by the end of April were not met but Pascal Lamy said that finding consensus in negotiations remains possible.

The powerful countries are continuing to put pressure on developing countries to open their markets; they are failing to put an end to an unfair trading system which leads to loss of jobs as local firms fail under competition from outside corporations, dumping agricultural products thus undermining local farmers, lowering of prices for raw commodities. Women farmers and community workers are particularly badly affected.

They are failing to address other concerns of developing countries.

The EU is taking the lead in exerting pressure to open markets to trade in services. Proposals under negotiation would leave developing countries less able to choose whether, when, how much and what sectors to liberalise. Local services, which are particularly important to women will be under threat.

Now is a good time for WILPF to urge our governments, particularly EU and governments of developed countries, to listen to what the people - poor people, 70% of whom are women, want.

The WGEJ working group has recommended that WILPF sign the statement issued by the "Our World is not for sale Network": "Call to Action! Stop the WTO's Doha "Development Round and other "Free Trade" Negotiations".

This statement begins:

"We call upon civil society organizations and social movements from around the world to join with us in showing their strong, united and unequivocal opposition to the completion of the World Trade Organization’s trade ‘round’, and other bilateral and regional Free Trade Agreements being forced on people by governments. We are committed to campaigning together to stop these negotiations, which ignore the needs of developing countries, the peoples of the world and the environment, and promote corporate globalization. We agree to mobilize, nationally and internationally, in late April, mid May and late July, to ensure our voices are heard as governments meet for the WTO’s scheduled General Council meetings."

It ends:

"We say – Let the People Decide—not governments negotiating on behalf of transnational corporations. Stop the negotiations. Take these proposals to every village square and see what the people have to say about these proposed trade agreements.

"Increased mobilization and action of civil society movements around the world is necessary! We must begin today. Our voices must be heard in the coming critical months. We will write letters, meet with our negotiators and take to the streets if we have to, so that our countries will not sell out our communities, our peoples and our environment

Draft letter to Trade Ministers of "developed" countries

Since its foundation in 1915, The Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF) has sought to establish economic justice for all and particularly for the poor, 70% of whom are women.

Among the consequences of the current unfair trading system are: loss of jobs as small firms close under competition from outside companies, dumping of agricultural products which undermine local farmers, decline of prices of raw commodities.

Many of the small farmers and traders are women with families to support; thus women and communities in particular are impoverished under this system.

As negotiations are now taking place Geneva on the unfinished "Doha agenda" from the WTO meeting in Hong Kong we urge you to ensure that this process will be conducted in an open and democratic manner and that  no pressure will be put on developing countries to open their markets.

We urge you: to ensure that governments are able to choose trading policies that best suit their countries; to introduce laws that put the welfare of people before profit for large businesses; to put an end to "dumping"; to stop trade which causes excessive environmental damage.

Margaret Turner

Update: Indian Section

"The National WILPF Section was officially inaugurated at the Peace Research Center, Gujarat Vidyapith (Institute of Learning ) Ahmedabad (Gujarat) on January 29, 2004 after a series of training workshops, seminars and lectures on women’s perspectives on promoting peace and healing communities in post conflict situations . These activities began much before the UN Security Council adopted the now famous Resolution on Women, Peace and Security 1325. The subjects and agenda items in these activities were also based on the UNESCO Resolution on Culture of Peace and Non- violence, 2000. These two UN resolutions became the basic texts for WILPF analysis and discussion and their every word, article and clause became a source of advocacy, local debate and institutional campaigns. It became increasingly clear during deliberations that while the various articles of the Resolution 1325 were aimed at post–conflict justice, there were no clear points of departure between pre- and post conflict problems as far as women were concerned. From the experience of the diversity of NGOS present during training sessions in different cities - Ahmedabad, Nagpur and Delhi - it was concluded that each clause of these Resolution needed not restrictive but an extra-legal ,economic and social interpretation when applied to women’s contribution to peacemaking and peace building. The conclusions which emerged from almost all intensive and interactive discussions were that irrespective of local tradition, culture or language, women craved for peace in their everyday life. They wished to be left in peace as violence surrounds their lives, their families and communities most of their lives.

What is heartening and satisfying for WILPFers in India is that our training sessions and workshops were appreciated by local NGOs who were willing to cosponsor and participate in our events and join the WILPF Section as volunteers and members supporting WILPF core groups and local initiatives. The origin and story of the evolution of the history of WILPF was told and retold several times. It was particularly fascinating and interesting for the audience when Edith personally recounted various WILPF landmarks during her two visits in Nagpur in 2003 and 2005. During several of these events, WILPF organizers missed relevant documentation and material on  its history, structure and current international activities .We had a few brochures and pamphlets and Peacewomen Newsletters which were copied and recopied and translated for distribution in different meetings in Nagpur and the Peace Research Center in Ahmedabad. The Marathi version of the translation of the UN Resolution 1325 has gone very far and has been used in several academic institutions also in other cities of Maharashtra. The work on the Hindi translation has also begun, as there is a lot of demand in this language, as Hindi is the official language of India and about 75 percent of the Indian people speak it or understand it in varying degrees. The Gujarat Regional section, its current coordinator and acting President, Ilaben Pathak has already begun work on the Gujarati translation of the Resolution 1325 and is applying for funding from WILPF international.

After my arrival in India in December 2005, several groups were coordinated to prepare strategies to take action and continue to spread the main message of Resolution 1325 and at the same time work for increasing institutional and individual membership for regional branches. During February/March 2006, there were altogether three workshops, two lectures and five general meetings in Nagpur, Delhi and Ahmedabad. The general meetings included responding to invitations by colleges and women’s organizations to speak on any issue of the International Programme of WILPF and/or subjects related to Resolution 1325; analyzing its relevant paragraphs and linking them with local problems and conditions. For instance, the meeting in Ahmedabad held in the headquarters of Ahmedabad Women’s Action Group (AWAG) was titled "Local Beginnings and International Solidarity". The titles of the more formal workshops had to be adapted according to the interests of the membership from different regions and the political focus of the co-sponsors who had provided either the administrative facilities and / or human or financial resources. In Nagpur, we were fortunate to network with the University and government Colleges where women were studying women’s issues including gender equality. The workshop itself was held in a building owned by the Ecumenical Church (connected to the Council in Geneva ) which supports local NGOs working on communal harmony and international peace. The Nagpur workshop on "Women and Peace building” was efficiently and professionally organized by the most active Ngos in town. The organizers succeeded in attracting activists and students from various disciplines who were interested in development, equality and peace at the local, national and international levels. They were mostly in their twenties and early thirties with a minority of teachers and activists who were a little older.

In Delhi, where there are competing demands from different subjects and institutions, WILPF workshop was organized with the help of the prestigious Indian Council for Social Development .We had a brief morning session with the local NGOs who included well known activists committed to gender and peace and who have enormous  experience on these issues . Most of the employees and the hierarchy of the Council including the President and the Director also participated in our meeting (I have given a copy of the list of the participants to Susi for office files). I have recently received a letter from the Director, Prof Muchkund Dubey expressing his interest in INDIA WILPF and its future activities. We are hoping that in future he will also support or sponsor our activities in Delhi. It is difficult to find space or organizations in the Capital city of India with whom one could form coalitions.On 4 February 2006, It was during the Delhi Core Group meeting that the idea of holding a WILPF International Conference on 30 AND 31 January, 2007 (Gandhi Anniversary) in Chennai (Tamil Nadu) was first considered. It was enthusiastically supported and confirmed by the coordinators and members by the core group in Delhi. It is too early to announce details about this future meeting. The Committee in Chennai is working for this grand occasion and is keeping closely in touch with all of us. As soon as more details are available WILPF International will be informed for the purpose of communication with other National Sections.

The workshop on "local beginnings and International solidarity "in Ahmdedabad mentioned above, was perhaps politically the most important endeavor by the India National Section, as it brought together those NGOs who will be our partners in the future to stabilize our activities throughout the country. The Gujarat regional organizer, Dr. Pathak, at present the Director of a well known NGO Ahmedabad Women’s Action Group (AWAG), which has a consultative status with ECOSOC, is one of the most active Indian organisation working for the condition of Women to enhance their economic and social status. We are all delighted to have Ila Pathak as the WILPF Acting President for the transitional period until the National Section holds elections in January 2007. At this Gujarat Workshop, the newly appointed Vice- Chancellor of Gandhi University (Gujarat Vidyapith) inaugurated the event and applauded the establishment of the WILPF National Section, currently affiliated to its Peace Research Center.  He emphasized the need for research linkages between India and movement for global peace.

Among the audience in the three cities (Nagpur, Delhi and Ahmedabads) in India where we held workshops, there was a lot of enthusiasm and excitement about continued activities on implementing the UN Resolution 1325 and giving it a wider meaning to improve for the status of women . There was a suggestion to continue to work on the general methodology of conflict resolution which had been introduced by WILPF in earlier workshops at the Peace Research Center. These events have given rise to an enormous demand for UN and WILPF documents and materials which need to be sent from Geneva. It is politically and practically important for them to also produce material in Indian languages particularly Hindi to bring non English speaking members of Ngo under WILPF umbrella.

WILPF is rapidly making inroads in India.

Dr Krishna Ahoojapatel, IEC member and WILPF UN Representative (Geneva)

President, NG0 committee on the status of women
48 Chemin Ami Argand
1290 Versoix, GE
Switzerland
Tel   +41 22 755 1634
Fax: +41 22 755 3348
email: kpatel@iprolink.ch

Keep Space for Peace Week

October 1-8 2006 is International Keep Space for Peace Week, co-sponsored by WILPF and the Global Network Against Weapons and Nuclear Power in Space.   We encourage all WILPF members to learn more about plans to weaponize space, and to organize actions to prevent this from happening.  There is a lot of information available on the Global Network Website about this week at: http://space4peace.org/actions/2006.htm#oct1.  You can also find background information on the Prevention of an Arms Race in Outer Space on WILPF's Reaching Critical Will project website at: http://www.reachingcriticalwill.org/legal/paros/parosindex.html.  We encourage all concerned citizens to organize a local activity during space week in solidarity with groups all over the world.

Request from the UN Office (New York): Work on Women & UN Reform

The UN office in New York has, with a number of other groups, been involved in advocacy for women in the UN reform process. Our aim is to place gender equality, women’s rights and women’s issues centrally on the agenda. In particular, we have been working to ensure that gender equality, women’s machineries and gender mainstreaming within the UN are addressed at this time of fast-paced UN reform. Together with our partners, we have prepared a Briefing Note to provide you with information on our advocacy efforts and to suggest ways that you can contribute:

English: http://www.peacewomen.org/un/women_reform/Briefingnote_May.doc

Spanish: http://www.peacewomen.org/un/women_reform/Briefing_Note_SP.doc

French: http://www.peacewomen.org/un/women_reform/Briefing_Note_FR.doc

These collaborative advocacy efforts began during the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) in March 2006 when the Secretary General appointed a High-Level Panel on System Wide Coherence in the areas of Development, Humanitarian Assistance and Environment, known as the Coherence Panel. Our efforts have seen some success: the Coherence Panel will now be considering gender as a cross-cutting issue for its work and will also review both the gender-equality architecture (how gender is addressed) of the UN and gender mainstreaming.

This is an important opportunity to ensure that obstacles to the implementation of commitments to gender equality and women’s human rights embodied in CEDAW, the Beijing Platform for Action, Security Council Resolution 1325 and other inter-governmental agreements are considered and addressed.

To ensure that the Coherence Panel properly considers all of the issues, it is vital that they receive input relating to the effectiveness of the UN. We hope to inform and mobilize women, including WILPF sections, to ensure that your voices and experiences shape the work of the Panel and it’s outcomes. We have a number of ideas for action. Most importantly, please send us your input and strategies on how the UN might better meet your needs on the country and global level in terms of gender mainstreaming and actual programs. We will gather this information and work with our colleagues in New York to compile thematic responses to send to the Panel.

For updates on this work please visit:

http://www.peacewomen.org/un/women_reform/reformindex.htm

What Else You Can Do:

1) Contact individual Panel members from your country: See if your country is represented on the Panel (there are fifteen members), and if yes, contact your country’s representative. 

The list of panel members is available at:

http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2006/sgsm10349.doc.htm

State your interest in the gender aspects of their work; in wanting to ensure that these questions are taken seriously by the Panel; and any other ideas you wish to share about gender equality or gender mainstreaming in the UN system. Tell them what would be most helpful from the UN for your work on women’s rights.

2) Make submissions directly to the Panel and its secretariat: If you wish to reach the Panel directly with a written submission about gender equality/gender mainstreaming within the UN at any level, you can send a submission to Koen Davidse, the Panel’s Research Director, at koendavidse@hotmail.com

Please send us a copy (unreform@peacewomen.org)

3) Talk to your government officials about the process: Many government officials don’t know that the gender review is part of the Coherence Panel’s work, and that the Panel will make recommendations on gender in the UN system to the General Assembly in September. Tell them what UN reform you believe is necesssary for women’s equality and women’s rights, and what they can do to make it happen. The briefing paper contains our recommendations.

4) Suggest ideas and strategies to us: Let us know your priorities regarding women and UN reform. Keep us informed on what you are doing to advance women rights and issues in the UN.

Please send your input to unreform@peacewomen.org

Some useful questions to consider and respond to:

Do you see women’s rights issues as effectively integrated into UN agencies? Why or why not?

In your work on gender equality, have you found that the agencies present in your country have been able to address this issue?

On what basis have you worked with UN agencies? (Ad hoc/ on specific UN driven projects / through UN funding of your own projects)

What UN agencies have you, in the course of your work, come into contact with in your country?

If you have not had the opportunity to work with UN agencies, was this because:

1. the agency most relevant to your work was not present;

2. the agency most relevant to your work was unable or unwilling to provide necessary support;

3. you were not aware of how to contact the UN country teams or agencies.

If you have had the opportunity to work with UN agencies:

1. what were the most successful aspects of this relationship?

2. what were the greatest challenges of this relationship?

3. what would have made your experiences working with the UN more effective?

Have you found UN staff:

1. to have adequate resources?

2. adequately trained?

3. with the necessary authority to ensure effectiveness?

4. Willing to fund or participate in projects related to women’s human rights?

What good models for gender mainstreaming have you experienced?

We look forward to receiving your responses as soon as possible, preferably by May 29 at: unreform@peacewomen.org

Your ideas and input are welcome after May 29 as well, but we hope to prepare initial input for the next meeting of the Coherence Panel which is in the beginning of June.