WILPF Monthly Update
March 2008

Dear WILPF Members,

In this mailing you will find:

1. Message from the Executive Committee
2. Take Action!
3. Executive Committee Open Letter on Gaza
4. Update from WILPF Sections
5. Update from WILPF Working Groups
6. WILPF International Directory
7. Introducing Online Payments
8. International Peace Update

As always, we welcome feedback and input to these monthly mailings.  If you have something to contribute to the April mailing, please send it to susi.snyder@wilpf.ch no later than the 17th of the month. 

Past updates are archived on the website at: http://www.wilpf.int.ch/updates/up_index.htm,

Warm greetings,

Susi Snyder

Message from the Executive Committee

The Executive Committee has had a very busy couple of months; the following points only begin to capture the time taken to respond and also initiate, plan and act:  

March ExCom meeting: To make the best of our time together we have been planning the agenda and preparing for each item for our March ExCom meeting in New York. This meeting took place at the conclusion of the Commission on the Status of Women, and concentrated on preparing for the Board Meeting, finances and fundraising, 100th anniversary preparations, supervising our staff and implementing the Programme.  While in New York the team participated in a meet and greet session with New York City and regional WILPF members, interviews for a new UN Office Director, meetings with staff, and took part in many events at the CSW including: “Women in Armed Conflict: Difficulties in Implementing Resolution 1325 in Colombia”, “Women, War and Budgeting for Peace” and “Gender Mainstreaming in Peace and Security: Financing the Implementation of 1325 in Nepal”, to name a few.

Personnel Committee meeting – The Convenor of the Personnel Committee invited the group, including one of the Presidents, to London for a very productive meeting that advanced our personnel policies and practices.  A report was presented to the Executive Committee and another report to the board is coming soon.

March seminar: Was an excellent event, and all of the speakers texts, photos and presentations are available on the WILPF website (here: http://www.wilpf.int.ch/events/2008IWD/index.html) This was a full time job for one of the ExCom members to raise the profile and participation in this annual WILPF event since 1984. 

Y-WILPF – We have been in contact with Y-WILPFers from the Colombia, Denmark and the UK Sections about how to develop Y-WILPF and get contact persons in all Sections.

Outreach – We continue to try to keep in contact with sections, with Amparo recently having a lot of good feedback and information from the busy Latin American sections, and has been invited to Mexico by women’s organizations who would like to form a WILPF section.  Please contact Amparo if you have any sources for funding her future trip to discuss this with the Mexican women.  Tamara participated in the German Section’s Annual General Meeting, and Felicity visited Amsterdam to discuss the 100th anniversary Committees negotiations with the authorities in the Hague. 

Spanish translations – we need help! The Spanish speaking sections renew their request for more official WILPF documents translated into Spanish, including the Constitution and new programme.  If there are any WILPF volunteers that would like to assist, please contact Amparo.  Amparo also proposed that every section explore the possibilities within their section for translation help, especially English-Spanish and Spanish- English.

U.S. military violence -- Kozue has been working with Okinawan women on the recent sexual violence by U.S. soldier against a teen-ager Okinawan girl occurring on Feb. 10, in issuing a protest statement to the U.S. military and the U.S. government, as well as organizing a campaign to protest the media who blamed the victim. http://space.geocities.jp/wilpfkyoto/

Public speaking – Kerstin was invited to speak at a meeting that brought together NGOs and the Nordic Battle Group in which she protested the shift from UN peacekeeping to battle readiness, she has also just concluded a speaking tour organized in cooperation with the US Section.  Felicity was a speaker at the conference marking the 50th anniversary of the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament in London on the role of civil society and non-nuclear weapon states towards a nuclear free world.  Annelise was asked to contribute an article on Gender, Refugees and War to a German magazine.  Kozue was among the panellists for Code Pink’s Activist Training Workshop on International Women’s Day in New York.

Communication – it can always improve – and email is really sometimes a problem and not the answer in our organisation.  The ExCom is having regular Skype/telephone conferences, with the Presidents and the SG having weekly calls.

As usual, we are heartened at the amount of work WILPFers are doing around the world, the visibility and respect WILPF has in many countries.  We are also hopeful that our work, hopes and aspirations for peace in the world, applies also to the world of WILPF.  Where WILPF is undertaking reflection and change, which is sometimes quite painful and emotionally draining, we hope that courageous honesty can be combined with real listening, to bring about resolution and movement forward.

Cluster Munitions-

Since November 2006, WILPF has followed the discussions on the possible treaty to ban cluster munitions.  This process originated at the Third Review Conference of the Certain Conventional Weapons Convention.  It was during this meeting- where little progress had been made on the issue of cluster bombs- that the government of Norway decided to initiate an alternative process.

In February 2007, 46 states signed onto the Oslo Declaration, committing themselves to: “Conclude by 2008 a legally binding international instrument that will:

(i) prohibit the use, production, transfer and stockpiling of cluster munitions that cause unacceptable harm to civilians, and

(ii) establish a framework for cooperation and assistance that ensures adequate provision of care and rehabilitation to survivors and their communities, clearance of contaminated areas, risk education and destruction of stockpiles of prohibited cluster munitions.”

The final stage of this process is about to begin.  From 19 - 30 May, states will gather in Dublin to negotiate the text of the treaty.   The process is open to all states who associate themselves with the aims of the Oslo Declaration.  WILPF calls on the international community to implement gender perspectives and gender considerations at all levels in the process to ban cluster munitions and in cluster munitions clearance operations.

To truly eliminate the humanitarian impact caused by the use of cluster munitions, the international community must act now to negotiate a complete prohibition on the use, production, transfer and stockpiling of ALL cluster munitions. Implementing gender perspectives and considerations in the process will improve the effectiveness of a future instrument and its ability to protect civilians. Only with a comprehensive treaty will the international community be able to provide meaningful assistance to the survivors of cluster munitions and prevent future civilian casualties from the use of these indiscriminate weapons.

WILPF members and sections should contact their governments to generate their support for an instrument that includes:
- victim assistance measures and mechanisms taking into consideration the special needs by age and gender
- in the treaty text, use a short and simple definition of cluster munitions that leaves no room for “maybe” states to retain certain types of cluster munitions.   The Cluster Munitions Coalition suggests the following definition: 

A cluster munition is a weapon comprising multiple explosive submunitions which are dispensed from a container.
An explosive submunition is a munition designed to be dispensed in multiple quantities from a container and to detonate prior to, on, or after impact.

- destruction of existing stockpiles of cluster munitions within a time-bound framework, and the provision of international assistance to states to meet these goals.

- compliance mechanisms that provide for cooperation and transparency, and oblige states to adopt national level legislation

- aspects of the treaty which prevent treaty withdrawal during times of conflict and that prevent reservations to any aspect of the treaty.

The cluster Munitions coalition has additional suggestions, as well as sample letters on their web-site:
http://www.stopclustermunitions.org/

---------------

Military Expenditures-  toolkit now available: http://www.wilpf.int.ch/disarmament/military_spending_toolkit.html

In preparation for the Commission on the Status of Women, WILPF's Reaching Critical Will project created a tool-kit on military expenditures to encourage WILPF members and friends to engage with their governments on the issue of military spending.  When global military spending for one year is equal to the United Nation's regular budget for almost 600 years, a shift in spending priorities from military security to sustainable human security must take place.

The toolkit includes a sample letter to parliamentarians, talking points to take to meetings with governments, additional information on military spending, and international mechanisms that currently exist to increase awareness on military spending.

In addition, WILPF has recently published a new leaflet, entitled "You Get What You Pay For" that further examines the opportunity costs of gross military spending.

"Stop the massacre in Gaza immediately" and promote peace together with civil society!

Open letter to the President of UN Security Council, UN Secretary General, the Quartet, Israeli Prime Minister, Israeli Minister of Defense, Palestinian Authority and Hamas.

What is happening to the people in Gaza – but also to all of occupied Palestine is unbelievable and it is terribly dangerous.  It is not just that the volcano is building up underneath Israel/Palestine soil, but under the soil of the entire Middle East and Gulf region. If it is allowed to erupt, it will be a global disaster. It seems incredible that this international community of nations cannot find the guts and energy to stop it all while it still can.

We are horrified by the daily murder of innocent civilians in the Gaza strip as a result of the massive escalation in military action. This is illegal, uncivilized and unacceptable behaviour by a United Nations Member State.
 
It is high time for all involved to take the steps that will break the vicious circle of violent actions and reactions we witness constantly and bring the occupation, the basic cause of the violence, to an end.

We call on Hamas to stop firing rockets into Israel, and call on Israel to accept Hamas’s invitation to a bilateral cease-fire.
 
We call on all parties involved, including Hamas, to work for the speedy end of occupation and the establishment of the independent and viable state of Palestine alongside Israel.

We urge all governments, but in particular the European governments and institutions to take into account, and criticize openly, the continuous disrespect of UN resolutions and international law by the State of Israel and to put pressure on the Israeli government to respect them.

We ask all politicians visiting Israel and Palestine; to contact not only politicians, but NGOs that have the declared will to come to peaceful solutions in the region and who are actively engaged against the occupation – such as WILPF and others. The people in Israel and Palestine mostly want peace! International delegations must work more intensely with this part of the civil society.
 
We call on all governments to immediately stop any arms trade to Israel and to cancel respective treaties.
 
We call on the United Nations, particularly on the Security Council and its five permanent members, to assume its responsibility and take steps that will lead to a speedy end of the occupation of all Arab territories by Israel in 1967, in accordance with on all the relevant resolutions adopted over the years by the UN Security Council and General Assembly. These remain the legal basis for a just settlement of the conflict which must be achieved quickly to eliminate a serious threat to international peace.

WILPF Aotearoa
In February the Auckland Branch of WILPF hosted a meeting with a delegation from the Women’s Democratic Club of Japan who had been touring in New Zealand. They had contacted the Peace Council and requested a meeting with WILPF members. They were particularly concerned to tell us about their opposition to the proposed repeal of Section 9 of the Constitution and what they are doing about this. We were able to tell them about WILPF opposition to this and about other disarmament issues in the Asia/Pacific region that we work on.

Does the Japanese Section have any contact with this group?

Another activity we are involved with is a campaign against the illegal logging of kwila hardwood timber from Indonesian controlled West Papua and from Papua New Guinea.. Our Government discourages the importing of this illegally logged wood but does not ban it. We are working with the Indonesian Human Rights Committee here to lobby the Government and we also recently had a picket outside a furniture store which is selling outdoor furniture made from kwila.

We are working with No WARP! (Network Opposed to Weapons and Related Production) and other organisations here to try to stop the New Zealand government’s Superannuation (pension) Fund investment s in companies involved in producing cluster munitions and nuclear weapons, and in companies implicated in human rights violations, especially of indigenous peoples’ rights. The Superannuation Fund invests in a number of companies involved in such violations in the Asia-Pacific regions, including :BP Plc- environment and human rights concerns around its Tangguh liquified natural gas project in Bintuni Bay, West Papua; Exxon Mobil Corp-implicated in human rights violations at its liquid natural gas plant  in Aceh; Rio Tinto group- engaged in destructive mining operations throughout the region, Freeport McMoran (USA)-implicated in human rights abuses, forced relocation and environmental degradation at its Freeport/Grasberg mine in West Papua, and Barrick Gold, destructive mining operations in Papua New Guinea. More information about this campaign is available at http://www.converge.org.nz/pma/nwfeb08.htm with background information on rights violating companies at http://www.converge.org.nz/pma/idwip07.htm (see Section C: Government investments in companies involved in violations in indigenous peoples’ rights).

Joan Macdonald

WILPF Costa Rica
The  WILPF Costa Rica section recently released a statement on military spending and human rights,  El Comercio de Armas y los Derechos Humanos.
English: http://www.wilpf.int.ch/disarmament/Human_Rights_Arms_Trade.html
Espanol: http://www.wilpf.int.ch/disarmament/Human_Rights_arms_trade_sp.html

WILPF Germany
A number of WILPF members were detained on their way to join demonstrations in Romania at the upcoming NATO Summit. 
Below in an excerpt from a letter sent by the section on the situation:

Mrs Alexandra Geisler is a WILPF member. She is on the way to Bucharest, in order to participate actively and peacefully in information meetings during the planned Anti-Nato-summit. She is well prepared to question the political, social and economic root causes of conflicts and the ongoing militarization of the EU, the unbalanced expenses for military and civilian interventions as well as to show alternatives for peaceful solutions.

We are surprised to see the freedom of speech and mobility refused to a European citizen in the EU by the Romanian authorities. We strongly request that you take all diplomatic initiatives in order to convince your Romanian colleagues to let these young people continue their way without problems. We strongly protest against the humiliating procedures on the border on the first entry.

Irmgard Heilberger

WILPF Sweden:
This month IKFF has been seen on different spots in Stockholm. The first week we celebrated 8th of march together with more than 20 organizations that are in different ways working with women’s rights. The theme for the seminars this year was women and economy. The event was very successful and we had many more visitors than expected!

One week later we visited University of Stockholm and informed students about the organization and the possibility to do an internship within WILPF/IKFF. The students were very interested and we expect to receive a lot of applications during the following weeks. Hopefully new members will join us and strengthen our peace agenda!

Furthermore, we have continued working with Politics for peace (the EU-project), as well as Peace yes please (our youth orientated information project this year). We have decided to go to Almedalen, Visby. There is a large event every summer where politicians and NGO: s meet to discuss different topics and it is a great place to be seen at! We will continue with all preparations (e.g. seminars, book tables) for this week the following months.

Best wishes,
Josefin Lind

WILPF USA:
The time is NOW for WILPF to take its measure, to listen and learn from each other so we can shout out and stand up for the common good.  Democracy requires us to serve in the interests of those who cannot speak, cannot stand up.  Our 30th Triennial Congress provides a platform of all of us to form cohesive and effective voices in a time of greatest need. It will take place in Des Moines, Iowa from 25-29 June.  More information can be found on at: http://www.wilpf.org

Environment: 
The Environment Working Group continues to publish a regular electronic newsletter.  The latest newsletter can be found here:  http://www.wilpf.int.ch/environment/EnewsJan_feb08.pdf

To Email The Group And/Or Receive The E-News, The
Address Is: Environment@Wilpf.Ch.  REMEMBER TO SEND YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS AND IDEAS TO: Lorraine Mirham or Edel Havin Beukes
lmirham@hotmail.com or edel(at)beukes.net
E-News produced by Lorraine Mirham and Edel Havin Beukes

Peace and Security:
The Peace and Security Working Group also publishes a regular bulletin, the latest of which can be found here: http://disarm.wilpf.org/node/21

Please send your comments, reports and concerns on Peace and Security issues to Disarmament@wilpf.ch or reply directly to Carol Urner, Peace and Security co-convener at carol.disarm@gmail.com. Co-convener for Disarmament and Decolonization issues is Edwina Hughes of Aotearoa/New Zealand.

To unsubscribe or add additional subscribers, please go to: http://www.wilpf.int.ch/disarmament/elist.htm . If you do not want to receive this newsletter please find someone in your Section who is interested in Peace and Security Issues including Disarmament and Human Rights. Let's build this into a real working group.

The International Directory is published as a hard copy and sent out to all the national sections, International Board members, the Executive Committee and other WILPF representatives once a year. The ID is also regularly updated throughout the year and published online. The most recent version of the ID can always be accessed on http://www.wilpf.int.ch/PDF/InternationalDirectory.pdf.

WILPF now has the ability to receive donations, membership dues and other payments by credit card through a secure online system.  You can even join those who have pledged their commitment to WILPF’s 100th anniversary by giving 1000 Swiss Francs, Euros or Dollars.  You can also become a regular monthly donor- by signing up at: www.wilpf.int.ch/donate/monthlydonations.html.

We will continue to work on improving these online donation possibilities.  For further information, or if you have any suggestions regarding online payments, please contact Linnéa at linnea@wilpf.ch

International Peace Update

For various reasons there was only one edition of IPU send out in 2007.  This will change in 2008 – this is more than a new year’s resolution - we have reached out to find new women to become involved in the Editorial Group and a WILPF member to do the lay out.  The ExCom has decided to waive the 2008 subscription fees, and in the next edition each recipient will be informed of this.  We will also send each recipient 5 subscription fliers to encourage them to get their friends and colleagues to subscribe. IPU was discussed at the ExCom March meeting mentioned below and decisions made on it will be circulated in the next monthly mailing.