5 February 2010—International Monthly Update

A Message from the Geneva Office:

Happy New Year to all of those who we have not yet congratulated! 

The New Year certainly swept in with a bang.  Many of you gathered together during the first days of 2010 for the International Board Meeting in Ahmedabad India, where we established resolutions on war crimes and the Middle East and decided on many changes for the coming year.  The IB meeting took place during the last few days of Susi Snyder’s post as Secretary General.  She has certainly left big shoes to fill, which the Executive and Selection Committees have been busy attempting to fill.  Several very qualified candidates applied and were interviewed for the position.  News on who will be the new Secretary General will be forthcoming.

In the meantime, the Geneva office has added new staff members to help oversee the transition period as well as strengthen our disarmament programme.  Ilse Wermink, the Human Rights Annual Intern from 2009, has been managing administrative, financial and general organisational tasks until the new SG takes over.  She is doing a commendable job in taking on these seemingly endless responsibilities and we are all impressed by the leadership qualities she exhibits in stepping into this role. 

Beatrice Finn, who was the Disarmament Annual Intern in 2006, has returned to WILPF after a research position at the Geneva Center for Security Policy to lead the Reaching Critical Will project from the Geneva side.  As Programme Associate, she works closely with Rae Acheson in the NY office, taking up where Susi left off in disarmament.  She is also primarily responsible for organising the International Women’s Day Seminar at the end of February.

Katherin Machalek, who became Communications Coordinator at the International Secretariat in October 2009, is also staying on to help oversee the transition and build communications between individual members and sections and the Secretariat.  As a part of her work, she is organizing the set up of an Online project management software for collaborative work between offices, the development of a new WILPF international website with online membership database and the professional production of a WILPF promotional video on the topic “Redefining Security,” due out in April this year.  She appreciates the active participation of all WILPF-er in the facilitation of communication within our organization.   Your input is always welcome and valued!

As a part of our continuing internship programme with the Swedish section, Malin Fast has also joined our team until the end of May.  Malin is a Political Science student with a minor in French at the University of Växjö in Sweden and will be assisting Beatrice on the monitoring the first session of the Conference on Disarmament and coordinating the Women's International Day Seminar.

Swedish intern Hadil Zainal has been monitoring and drafting a report on the Netherlands’ compliance with CEDAW.  She is also working together with Leila Chakar on an educational project devoted to changing perspectives on security involving member driven activism, the UN system and treaty bodies.   They are organising a workshop with NY interns on how to strengthen and utilize treaty body advocacy, which will take place at CSW conference at the beginning of March.
Warm greetings from Geneva!

In this International Monthly Update you will find:

Update from the Executive Committee
Update from the UN Office in New York
Highlights from the IB meeting
a. Resolutions on the Middle East and War Crimes
b. Building WILPF
c. 100th Anniversary
d. WILPF Finances and Fundraising
e. Decisions
RCW Update
International Women’s Day Seminar
Human Rights Update
Security Council Monthly Action Points
Follow us on Twitter and Facebook!
Section Highlights:  New WILPF Group Formed in Mexico and Political Action from WILPF in the Netherlands

As always, we welcome feedback and input to these mailings.  If you have something to contribute to the next mailing, please send it to secretariat@wilpf.ch with “For International Update” clearly marked in the subject line.
Past updates are archived on the website at: http://www.wilpf.int.ch/updates/,______________________________________________________________________

Update from the Executive Committee

WILPF and the Non-Violence Principle

Annelise Ebbe (excerpt from inauguration in Nagpur the 11th of January 2010)

WILPF has throughout our herstory stressed the natural link between disarmament and economic development. After the Congress in August 1953 they called for a UN Conference to take steps towards total disarmament, using the resources released from arms production to tackle the problems of hunger, disease and illiteracy, which was among the prime causes of war.

But disarmament was not simply a matter of economic adjustment – and economic justice. WILPF saw that along with planning for the redeployment of resources there must be some consideration of an alternative system.  This has remained one of WILPF’s long-term projects.

In the preamble to the Programme Priorities for 2008-2011 the ExCom wrote i.a.: “Our work continues through the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom’s international programme to empower women, eliminate war and militarism and build a strong United Nations system...”

In the programme, we have a chapter called: Challenge Militarism: challenge military security concepts, end current conflicts & promote disarmament.

The objective of this is as follows: Provide WILPF and broader NGO community with information, evidence and lobbying tools for increased and focused protest of military security concepts, institutions and spending, and urging for human and economic resources to be converted to human, economic and environmental security needs.

As part of our programme and connected to disarmament we also have the “You get what you pay for” campaign. At our IB meeting I gave the example from Denmark of getting 1.618.123 visits to elderly or disabled persons instead of one Joint Strike Fighter (of which the Danish government intend to have 30). If you pay for weapons you get war.

Hand in hand with these campaigns I would like us to promote the principle of non-violence. 

Or in other words: It is my ambition and my dream to grasp the relay of non-violence from our foremothers and bring it forth to be again a vibrant part of WILPF’s political drive.

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Update from the UN Office in New York

CSW 54 and Beijing +15, CENTS: Changing Every Nation's Thinking About Security and much, much more!

To download the newsletter of our United Nations office in New York click here
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Highlights from the IB meeting
As usual many discussions were had and decisions were made at this years IB meeting.  A full report of the meeting will soon be available, but in this update, we include some highlights.

a. Resolutions on the Middle East and War Crimes

The board established a Resolutions Committee comprising Susi Snyder
(International), Emma Rosengren (Sweden) and Laura Roskos (USA) during the WILPF International Board Meeting in India.  Two Resolutions concerning War Crimes and the Middle East were adopted.

Read them online here

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b. Building WILPF

There was a lively discussion on how to build WILPF.  The Secretary General reported that the international individual dues paying membership had been doubled since the last board meeting, taking on the challenge issued at that meeting. 

The Dutch section reminded the board that grassroots members are the lifeblood of the organization- and that WILPF needs to be strong and connected to sections.  They reported on a Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats (SWOT) analysis the section took and the result was that WILPF has to make itself more well known.  They have engaged help from outside of WILPF, and told the board that there are more people than many might realize who want to help and share their knowledge.  

Building WILPF Membership- from the Secretariat
In keeping with its ongoing commitment to improving communication with and among all WILPF members, removing barriers to the full participation and cooperation in WILPF projects and campaigns, and increasing transparency and reducing hierarchies of power and knowledge within WILPF; the International Board adopted the following action plan, to be implemented by the Secretary General in consultation with the communications committee:

WILPF will invest in a one-year trial of the Democracy in Action system or another online membership database to allow for individual members to login and control their membership accounts.  If the trial goes well, the system should be rolled out to the entire organisation at the 2011 Congress with commitments made by each section to begin using it as a membership tracking and development tool in advance of the 100th anniversary.

Building New WILPF Sections
There was great enthusiasm during discussions about Building WILPF when it came to light that there are a number of WILPF groups that are looking to become sections.  In order to help these groups who are eager to become sections at the next Congress,  a Committee was created.  Amparo Guerrero (Colombia, International Vice President), Ferial Abou Hamdan (Lebanon), and Marie Claire Faray (UK – who will be asked) agreed to work on this committee.  Their mandate is to work with emerging groups, especially those in Jordan, Mexico and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to ensure that they have the support they need to become sections at the 2011 Congress. 

c. 100th Anniversary

There was a report and discussion about the 2015 WILPF Congress planned for the Hague (Netherlands).  Some decisions about venue and projected numbers have to be made now.  The Board empowered the Executive Committee, in consultation with the international 100th anniversary planning committee to make any needed decisions at this time. 

d. WILPF Finances and Fundraising

2010 WILPF Budget
The 2010 budget was approved as drafted under the following five conditions. 

Those IB members who have established connections with funders will make those connections known to staff and Executive Committee. Mary Ziesak (Australia), Inge Stemmler (Netherlands) and Adilia Caravaca have agreed to work with the Executive Committee to ensure that two funding proposals are prepared and submitted by the end of February 2010. The IB established a “prize committee” responsible for submitting nominations on WILPF’s behalf to established prize funds.  An individual to lead this committee will be found by the IB by 28 February 2010. The IB recommitted to the fundraising strategies adopted at the 2008 IB meeting, with the request that the secretariat send quarterly reminders of these strategies to the IB. 

The strategies are:

• Make sure that an annual letter from international presidents to go to every member in every section;
• Recruit to the Committee of 100 (who will contribute 1000 CHF, USD or Euro earmarked for WILPF’s 100th anniversary)
• Hold 28 April WILPF Birthday fundraising events
• Engage with the international offices on internships and summer schools
• Use the programme proposals generated by the international offices in a coordinated way
• Build WILPF’s endowment

Recognizing that WILPF is not in the best position right now to receive grants for capacity building, the Board agreed that it would make sure work plans were created for every committee and working group by the end of 2010 which would ensure WILPF would be able to apply for, and receive this type of grants in the future.  The Executive Committee is responsible for making sure that this happens.

Corporate Fundraising Policy
For many years there have been requests for clarity on WILPF’s policy about corporate fundraising.  This issue has come up at the national section level and would be better served by a guiding international policy.  The board agreed to develop such a policy.  Helena Nyberg (Switzerland) will work with Joan Bazaar (USA) to create a draft for consideration by the board.  This draft will be circulated by July 2010. 

e. Decisions

Click here to see a list of decisions made at the IB meeting (in PDF)

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Reaching Critical Will Update

Reaching Critical Will continues to monitor and report from disarmament negotiations in the UN system. The Conference on Disarmament (CD) commenced its first session of 2010 on 18th January. After last year’s successful adoption of a programme of work, but frustrating inability to implement it before the end of 2009, the expectations are high for this year’s session. Don’t forget to follow the developments through our CD reports (http://www.reachingcriticalwill.org/political/cd/2010/reports.html). For more info on the CD, please see http://www.reachingcriticalwill.org/political/cd/cdindex.html.

We are also in the process of preparing for the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) Review Conference on 3-28 May. This conference is the primary focus for the international community concerned with nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation and we encourage all WILPF members to find out what they can do to be actively involved in this process. If you are interested in attending part of all of the NPT Review Conference, please email Ray (ray@reachingcriticalwill.org) or Beatrice (beatrice@reachingcriticalwill.org) with your full name before Friday, 12 March 2010. You will also need to fill out a registration form, which will be sent out to those who request accreditation. For more information about the 2010 NPT Review Conference, and what you can do if you cant come to New York, please see http://www.reachingcriticalwill.org/legal/npt/2010index.html.

Reaching Critical Will is also currently putting the final touches on a book on civil society’s recommendations for the NPT Review Conference. The book focuses on disarmament, offering analysis of some of the most critical issues and approaches to disarmament and non-proliferation issues, framing them in the 2010 NPT context and suggesting concrete directions around or though some of the major anticipated stumbling blocks. The book will be released in the beginning of March.

Also, don’t forget to have a look at the Reaching Critical Will blog. The blog supplements the reporting and analysis produced regularly by Reaching Critical Will. Our latest post is our response to the call for more nuclear weapon spending by
the “four horsemen”—Schultz, Perry, Kissinger, and Nunn in the Wall Street Journal. http://reachingcriticalwill.blogspot.com/2010/01/more-spending-for-more-disarmament.html.

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International Women’s Day Seminar
The annual IWD seminar in Geneva will take place on the 22nd February (preliminary date) and will deal with civil society’s recommendations to the upcoming nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty Review Conference in May. The seminar will focus attention to some of the potential sticking points of the NPT Review Conference and seek to provide a forum for dialogue on these matters for disarmament delegates and civil society. More information about the details of this seminar will be available on our website shortly. 

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Human Rights Update

Human Rights Council Special Session Haiti:

On 12 January 2010 Haiti was hit hard by a devastating earth quake. WILPF’s International Secretariat followed the news closely and circulated a written statement.

The Human Rights Council convened its 13th Special Session to discuss the human rights approach for the reconstruction of Haiti. Economic Justice intern Hadil Zainal took this opportunity to address the Council and push for the full participation of women in all layers of decision making in the reconstruction, rehabilitation and development of Haiti. Click here if you want to watch the statement.

CEDAW:

The first CEDAW (Committee on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women) session of 2010 took place in Geneva and allowed WILPF to contribute to the IWRAW Asia Pacific training programme “Global to Local”, which introduces grassroots level women’s rights activists to CEDAW and allows them to contribute their knowledge and experiences to the fullest.

The WILPF report of the CEDAW review of the Netherlands will be available here soon.

The CEDAW Committee adopted a statement on Haiti which focused on including gender perspectives in the relief and reconstruction phase and the protection of women against sexual violence.

Upcoming meetings:

The WILPF Human Rights Team in Geneva will attend the following two meeting sessions in the month of February:

The sections were contacted, informed on the upcoming meeting and requested to describe the focus of the potential report. In February you can read more on this.

In March the 13th regular session of the Human Rights Council will take place. During this session WILPF will co-sponsor an event on human rights, women and religion. In addition, we will address the Council on several topics.

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Security Council Monthly Action Plan

The NGO Working Group on Women, Peace and Security, of which WILPF is a founding member, has released the February 2010 version of the Monthly Action Points (MAP) on Women, Peace and Security for the UN Security Council. For February, during which France holds the Security Council Presidency, the MAP provides recommendations on country situations, such as reporting on Central African Republic/Chad, Darfur, Iraq, and Liberia; the mandate renewal and reporting on Timor-Leste; and the ongoing situation in Guinea. The MAP also recommends ongoing Security Council and Member State support for the recommendations in SCRs 1888 and 1889, particularly the forthcoming appointment of an SRSG; development of the Team of Experts; and the proposals to strengthen the UN response to sexual violence in conflict.  The February MAP is available in English and French.

To view the MAP for February in English, please go to:
http://www.womenpeacesecurity.org/media/pdf-MAP_February2010.pdf
To view the MAP for February in French, please go to:
http://www.womenpeacesecuriyt.org/media/pdf-MAP_February2010_FR.pdf

All previous MAPs are available on the NGOWG website:
www.womenpeacesecurity.org. The briefs are designed for Security Council Members, civil society actors, Member States, and UN entities. We look forward to your feedback and input. Please distribute widely.

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Follow us on Twitter and Facebook!

As many of you know, we have been actively devising ways to make better use of social networking medias.  Finally, we have decided to use Twitter and Facebook fanpages as they were intended to be used!  The Secretariat has begun to update our Twitter and Facebook fan pages as we follow meetings and conferences at the United Nations in Geneva.  For “Live” shadow reporting from our staff, check out what events we are attending on the Google Calendar on our website and follow either our Twitter or Facebook updates to keep posted on what we are observing!  The internet was never so exciting for WILPF members spread across the globe.  Now you can sit next to us in the meetings.  No U.N. badge required J

Follow us on our WILPF Geneva Twitter page
(We currently only have 36 followers and we need MORE!  Open a Twitter account and follow us.  It’s free and fun!)

Or become a fan of Geneva WILPF  
(We already have 493 fans, but we still want MORE!  Come on, be our fan!)

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Section Highlights:  New WILPF Group Formed in Mexico and Political Action from WILPF in the Netherlands

New WILPF Group in Mexico

Recently, a new WILPF group was founded in Mexico and they are already active with some exciting activities.  Below is a letter from the group’s President, Elizabeth Ballen. 

Greetings from Puebla, Mexico!
 
We are organizing an event to commemorate International Women’s Day on March 8th. On this day, we are calling people to contribute to the construction of a mural called "Faces of Women", with photographs or portraits of their family albums, which reflect the different ways of being women (female teenagers, grandmothers, moms, professionals, granddaughters, the great-granddaughters, marriage, first communion etc..).  We would like this exhibition to travel and be complemented by photographs taken by women of other women in their daily lives. Some photographs will demonstrate women’s roles as protagonists, and others will make statements about violence against women.
 
In the exhibition room, there will be a log book in which visitors and record their responses to the mural.  Women may give testimony on the memory, nostalgia, subjectivity implicit in the exhibition and exposed in the mural.
 
LIMPAL Mexico wants to do more cultural activities to mark its launch and celebrate the bicentenary year. Among other activities are workshops for women's testimonies, painting workshops and others that are yet to be planned because we need to find the resources to organize the activities and hire experts.
 
We would like to hear from about WILPF events in other countries. We are very proud to belong to WILPF.
 
Sincerely,
 
Elizabeth Ballen
President LIMPAL-Mexico
 

Publication of the brochure Women Peace and Security, Implementing Resolution 1325

WILPF is a member of Women and Sustainable Peace (VDV) and helped address the Dutch government on implementing resolution 1325.

2010 is a special year to give special attention to 1325: 15 years after the UN Women conference in Beijing in 1995, 10 years after the declaration of UNSCR 1325 and half way the implementation of the Dutch National Action Plan on Women Peace and Security. 

The Platform VDV is a cooperation between several Dutch women's organisations and peace organisations; the Dutch Women's Council (NVR) is a partner organisation. WILPF the Netherlands is one of the members of the Platform VDV

 See the press release here  

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