for Peace and Freedom
Peace Disarmament Economic Justice Environment Racial Justice UN Human Rights Contact Donate
| Women's International League
for Peace and Freedom |
|
Peace Disarmament Economic Justice Environment Racial Justice UN Human Rights Contact Donate |
|
|
January/ February 2009 Included in this WILPF International update you will find:
As always, we welcome feedback and input to these mailings. If you have something to contribute to the next 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/, Warm greetings, Susi Snyder 1. Message from the Executive Committee As a fragile cease fire starts to take hold and the rubble of a devastated Gaza is faced, the ExCom would like to thank all of the WILPF women who demonstrated, wrote, donated and acted for an end to the violence, particularly to those sections in the region for whom the devastation and agony of war is not abstract or "over there", but only too real. Later in this mailing you can learn more of what WILPF women were doing during the height of the crisis, this latest episode of a decades-long power imbalance and violence between Israel and Palestine which simply must end in a just settlement. As you may know, Tamara James, who was the previous International Treasurer, needed to resign from this position as it was seen as a conflict of interest by her present employer. Nancy Ramsden was appointed to this position in her place by the International Board. Nancy is currently working on becoming familiar with the financial situation of WILPF International and in the process is having some fascinating conversations with those involved. She looks forward to working with everyone and would be happy to hear any of your ideas regarding our finances. She can be reached at njramsden@aol.com. In these difficult economic times in the world, WILPF too is looking for additional financial resources in order to carry out all of the valuable work we do throughout the world in our quest for world peace and the end of wars. The Executive Committee looks forward to working with you to make 2009 a successful year for WILPF. 2. Message from the Secretary General Dear friends, Happy New Year! This customary greeting has been very difficult to say because 2009 has not brought peace to the Palestinians or the people in the DRC. The military approach that failed last century and the century before in Iraq and Afghanistan is failing still because the mentality of the year 1325 rather than the principles of resolution 1325 prevail. Hope is dangerous, yet hope is essential in our work. We have reason to hope that the mandate for change given to the new US leadership will yield change in our world. The year ahead looks to be challenging but also exciting. Preparations have begun for the 20 – 25th April Durban Review Conference. We are also very excited about preparing membership materials and materials so that all of our members and sections can hold exciting WILPF anniversary events (28 April). As we look ahead to a challenging and exciting year, allow me a moment to introduce our 2009 Geneva team to you. Sofia Ek grew up in Stockholm, Sweden. She has studied Political Science and Gender studies in the European Program in Stockholm. During her year abroad in San Diego, CA 2007 she took in-depth studies in conflict and conflict resolution, and in international relations. Further, she volunteered for Planned Parenthood at their department for Public Affairs. She is also a volunteer with the Swedish section of WILPF / IKFF. Sofia is very interested in women’s rights and how to implement a gender perspective at all levels of conflict resolution and peace work. As WILPF’s Economic Justice and Fundraising intern, Sofia will continue the work to strengthen WILPF’s finances and to reveal the link between militarism and economic injustice. Sofia is serving as our transition intern, helping train and orient the new team for 2009. Ilse Wermink is from the Netherlands and will strengthen the WILPF team in Geneva as the 2009 annual intern. Her interest in the special role of women in peace building developed while studying Sociology (Msc) in the Netherlands. In these university years she coordinated events for Amnesty International and interned with the Institute for Diversity Studies in Cape Town. In 2007 & 2008 she studied International Humanitarian Action (Msc) in Ireland and Germany and worked for the European Commission in Brussels and Plan Ireland. This year she hopes to specialize herself further in the gender perspective on human security, become a better lobbyer and improve her French. Maria Jomaa was eight years old when she came to Sweden with her family. She is currently from Malmo, where she studies Peace and conflict studies. She began her academic life by studying religion at the University of Lund. She is interested in using religion in favour of women by going back to history and referring to women in power. She’s volunteered in a women’s shelter, where they help women with different backgrounds. Maria speaks Arabic and Kurdish, which she can use while volunteering in the shelter. Before she came to Geneva for her internship she got a diploma as an peace agent for Islam in Sweden. She’s also a member of the UN Association in Malmo, where she plays a big role. She represented the Association in a seminar on Human rights and freedom of religion. The seminar took place in Amman, Jordan. Even though she always knew what she wanted in life this experience gave her the strength to keep on fighting for human rights. Esra Ekip, from the northern part of Sweden is a fulltime student. Her main interests are women in politics and their participation in political processes. Esra has a BA in Social Science, her main field of study is Peace and conflict studies. Esra has specialised in International Crisis and Conflict management, and is currently studying Peace building and Conflict management. As an active member UPF (Foreign-Policy Organisation), she thinks it’s really important for students get a better understanding and knowledge about international relations and politics. Esra has also been a member of UN- Youth Association. At the WILPF office in Geneva Esra will work on events and communications. With warm wishes for peace in the New Year, Susi Snyder 3. WILPF actions to stop the Violence in Gaza Argentina: Australia: The section is also working on a letter to Stephen Smith, the Australian Foreign Minister. The letter to Stephen Smith mainly calls for an increase in the amount of Australian humanitarian aid promised for Gaza which is presently $5 million Australian dollars. Any action which we undertake is aimed at bringing together potential interlocutors from both sides of the conflict. While we condemn the recent actions of Israel in Gaza, and the firing on Israel of Qassam rockets and mortars by Hamas, any action which renders less likely the coming together of the parties to the negotiation table (through appropriate intermediaries) is, in our view, unhelpful to the fashioning of a long-term peaceful settlement. There are people on both sides of the conflict who deserve our support as they reach for this peaceful settlement. With thanks and appreciation, Cathy, on behalf of WILPF Australia Denmark France: French Polynesia Germany: Japan: Israel: A lefty in Israel Please allow me to steal a few minutes of your time, and share my feelings. In the last few days, a small group has been demonstrating in the entrance of an Air Force base in Tel Aviv. The reason we stand there is that this is the place most air force fighters use to fly to their bases around Israel. We hold signs calling on them to refuse orders to bomb civilians and children. This is one of many demonstrations against the war held by Israelis and taking place on a daily basis. This very quiet vigil provokes very strong feelings among passers-by, the military, and the fire brigade across the street. The fire brigade, even though they are not allowed to express political opinions while on duty, threw eggs at us and, when we didn't move, brought forward their fire engines, with cranes and tried to wash us away. Since I happened to be on the edge of the vigil, they managed to use one hose to isolate me, and the other to get me soaked wet. When they decided I can't get any wetter, they kept only the hose they used to separate me from the group, and came together, all in uniform, with their commanding officer, to rip my sign, and to tell me again and again, that I need to get inside the station and (my apologies) give them all head (oral sex). The under-cover police were there. We kept calling the police asking them to send someone, and they did nothing. We, at the more extreme left in Israel, always knew that we are, for some, fair game. That we, as they put it so nicely, "should be killed even before the Hammas". Violence was always part of the response to our activities, but violence by the fire brigades, with the police refusing to act, is a new escalation. We will continue our demonstrations, and we truly believe in what we do. But at the same time, we know that we are not effective. We are not effective because the media refuses to cover us. I know. My feelings, my disappointment, my fear, are nothing in comparison to the fear of the people, the families and the children in Gaza. They are also nothing in comparison to the people living in Sderot and in the south of Israel. But today, I am afraid. In my country, I'm a traitor. Fair game. But the minute I leave Israel, I'm an Israeli. Not a lefty. An Israeli, an occupier, and again – fair game. And my last point is that there can be a million demonstrations around the world against Israel. That won't make Israel listen. But a million demonstrations for Peace and full coverage of what we do here in Israel will keep us safer, and might make a difference. Please, if you know reporters, if you have connections, ask media people to start showing Israeli opposition to the war. It is time our voice is heard. If you demonstrate, please do it in a way that will make a difference. Not just anti-Israel, but with signs calling for a cease fire and the acceptance of UN resolution 1860 by both sides. Thank you for listening. Peace, Italy Norway Palestine Sweden After the demonstration there was a meeting arranged by Amnesty, Save the Children, Red Cross, Diakonia and Kvinna till Kvinna where Hans Corell held a short speech about International law Switzerland United States The US Section released a statement on 2 January 2009 calling for an immediate cease fire. In addition, the section has made sample letters to local media and government officials available on their website. -- For more information on WILPF’s work to bring about peace in the Middle East, see our website. --------------------- The Human Rights Council met in a Special Session on Friday 9 January that continued on Monday 12 January, and adopted a resolution on the situation. This ninth Special Session on the grave violations of human rights in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including the recent aggression of the occupied Gaza Strip, adopted a resolution in which it strongly condemned the ongoing Israeli military operation in Gaza, which had resulted in massive violations of human rights of the Palestinian people, and demanded the occupying power, Israel, to immediately withdraw its military forces from Gaza. The Council also decided to dispatch an urgent independent international fact-finding mission to investigate all violations of international human rights law and international humanitarian law by the occupying power against the Palestinian people throughout the Occupied Palestinian Territory. Canada, speaking in an explanation of the vote before the vote, thanked the Palestine delegation for its consultations, but said the draft text still failed to clearly recognize that rocket fire on Israel had led to the current crisis. It also used unnecessary, unhelpful and inflammatory language. Canada therefore called for a vote and voted against the resolution. Abstaining states, including the European Union, also said that the European Union had expressed its utmost concern about the situation in the Gaza Strip, and deplored the high number of civilian casualties. The European Union had welcomed the adoption of Security Council resolution 1860, and reiterated its call for an immediate and permanent cease-fire and a renewed peace process in conformity with the appropriate United Nations resolutions and the Quartet's road map. All parties should avoid acts threatening a permanent, just resolution of the conflict. The European Union had welcomed the Special Session, and was ready to co-sponsor it with a better title. The European Union was deeply concerned about the human rights situation in Gaza. The Council had an opportunity to focus on the human rights consequences of the conflict, and address the needs of all victims. The European Union could support some of the elements in the draft resolution before the Council; unfortunately, the resolution addressed only one side of the conflict, and some paragraphs used legal terms without full evidence of whether definitions were met. For these reasons, the Member States of the European Union which were members of the Human Rights Council would abstain in the vote. A copy of the resolution that was adopted can be found here: http://www2.ohchr.org/english/bodies/hrcouncil/specialsession/9/docs/S-9resolution12jan08.pdf WILPF’s call to action can be found here: http://www.wilpf.int.ch/middleeast/2009jan-call-to-act.html With hope for peace, Susi Snyder NATO – the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation, a Cold War nuclear war fighting alliance – is celebrating 60 years of destruction. Come to Strasbourg with other WILPFers 1 – 5 April as we join a coalition including 250 organisations are protesting NATO's aggressive military and nuclear policies. NATO has no reason to celebrate:
NATO’s nuclear doctrine is illegal
“Each non-nuclear-weapon State Party to the Treaty undertakes not to receive the transfer from any transferor whatsoever of nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive devices or of control over such weapons or explosive devices directly, or indirectly; not to manufacture or otherwise acquire nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive devices; and not to seek or receive any assistant in the manufacture of nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive devices.”
In Strasbourg:
Strasbourg is France’s north-eastern metropolis on the border with Germany. It continues to serve as an important European crossroads. The city is easy reachable with Strasbourg’s airport (www.strasbourg.aeroport.fr) just 12 km southwest of the city centre and its railway station (connecting the city centre to Paris, Basel and Frankfurt by high speed trains. In addition, Eurolines has bus services from multiple European cities to Strasbourg (www.eurolines.com). Info on NATO: NATO is the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation. Currently it has 26 member countries and an open door policy towards 7 possible new member states. Its troops are momentarily active in seven countries and one sea.
Additional Contact: Please feel free to contact Ilse Wermink at WILPF’s international secretariat in Geneva when you want additional information or want to exchange thoughts on the matter: Ilse Wermink
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
WILPF
1, rue de Varembé,
Case Postale 28,
1211 Geneva 20,
Switzerland Tel: +41 22 919 7080 /Fax: 7081
To contact the website manager, send an email to web@wilpf.ch |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
