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AUSTRALIA - IEC REPORT - 2006
Overall leadership and good governance of WILPF while maintaining WILPF's
high international reputation, building effective networks and campaigns
to further our aims.
Thank you for these regular briefings - they keep us informed of coming
events and WILPF's response to critical political issues as well as WILPF's
international projects and organizational changes.
The International Section Mailings provide regular updates while urgent
business conducted via email has worked well. Should specific information
be required, we will seek this from Geneva via email.
Being able to maintain your current programs.
The Australian Section is content to receive only electronic copies of
International Section Mailings - we would like to have a copy sent to
our two Joint National Coordinators (Ruth Russell & Cathy Picone)
our Assistant National Coordinator (Stella Boyages) and our IEC Representative
(Mary Ziesak) whose email details are on the front of this report.
Information specifically about how Australia has voted in the UN on particular
issues. This would allow us to contact our Government here at home to
support any international WILPF campaigns.
Nuclear disarmament and CSW.
Country specific information would be very helpful. The UN's own website
is more than usually difficult to navigate.
Yes
If so for what? What is the most useful? What would make the site more
useful for you?
Yes - This website is visited to find the latest information when drafting
submissions/letters to our Australian Government and also to read reports
on the NPT and other important international meetings.
Yes - they are also filed for reference as required when drafting submissions/letters
on these topics.
Yes
If so for what? What is the most useful? What would make the site more
useful for you?
Yes - This website is visited to find the latest information when drafting
submissions/letters to our Australian Government.
Do you read the Peace Women E-news?
We welcome the range of information provided - background information,
links to other related websites, as well as coming events (Women, Peace
& Security Calendar) which assist us feel we are working in solidarity
with women from many countries. We also welcome the reports on UN activities.
Yes
WILPF (Australia) is a member of the United Nations Association of Australia
and representatives attended their national conference in 2005.
WILPF (Australia) actively promotes the United Nations and especially
UN Resolution 1325 wherever possible.
WILPF (Australia) actively promotes the UN Charter and International Declaration
of Human Rights in Australia wherever possible - we are actively working
with local groups to achieve a national and state Bill of Rights.
WILPF actively promotes international treaties and conventions relating
to many topics such as Refugee Convention (re Australian legislative changes
in refugee processing), Maritime Boundaries (conflict between Australia
and East Timor over oil in the East Timor Sea, CEDAW, Geneva Conventions
etc..
Yes
We work on the International Program as it affects our region of the globe.
Naturally some areas of the International program are considered more
as global issues than others.
We work in all the following ways: Responding to invitations by government
to write submissions; letter writing; being represented on Consultative
Committees; attending and organizing meetings; teleconferencing; faxing;
phoning; rallying, protesting and vigils. We also have exhibitions. We
purchase or make saleable merchandise and run stalls to raise funds and
awareness about WILPF and our aims. Probably one of the best ways we get
our message across is by one to one discussion. WILPF also participates
in local Social Forums and ran a 5 day Festival of Peace in Canberra in
2005 to celebrate WILPF's 90th birthday - this was sponsored by local
female politicians from all the political parties.
We sponsored a Law Prize for the most outstanding student in international
law at Flinders University in South Australia in 2006.
Yes
" Participation in the World March of Women Women's Charter and Quilt
exhibition - 2005.
" Work in regard to the humane treatment of refugees in Australia
and worldwide.
" Work in regard to Indigenous Peoples and other minority groups
which are socially, culturally and financially disadvantaged.
" Engage speakers to address public and WILPF-specific meetings to
educate ourselves on the effects of globalization in developing countries
as well as Australia's new Industrial Relations laws which reduce collective
bargaining for wages and conditions, potentially leading to exploitation
- especially of women.
" We have expressed our concerns to the Australian Government about
Australian David Hicks remaining detained in Guantanamo Bay without fair
trial.
" We object to the strengthening of laws regarding terrorism in Australia
as well as in other countries such as the United Kingdom. We consider
our laws to have been adequate and have some fears that peaceful objectors
could be held without access to lawyers etc.
" We support fair trade vs free trade campaigns and the exploitation
of workers in developing countries.
" We objected to the deportation of US peace activist, Scott Parkin
" We have written numerous letters in support of the peoples of East
Timor and West Papua.
Yes
" Individual members work in the area of stopping developers destroying
the natural bushland and habitat.
" Protesting about the contamination and destruction to the Australian
environment caused by military exercises - Australia has three joint US-Australia
training facilities now.
" We have protested about the devastation perpetrated in Iraq and
other areas of conflict by the use of weapons containing depleted uranium
and other pollutants
" We protest about the pollution and the dangers in the mining of
uranium in Australia.
" We are opposed to all aspects of uranium mining in Australia. We
protest as there has been accidental contamination of workers in the extraction
process. We are conscious of the fact that Australia is the world's second
biggest exporter of uranium and continually remind our government that
we cannot be sure of the use of uranium once it leaves our shores even
though there are policies in place that supposedly ensure its non-war
uses.
" We are currently engaged in a new debate about increasing Australia's
nuclear capacity which raises issues of increased toxic waste and its
storage.
" We support ecologically sustainable solutions to energy and natural
resource future planning for cities, agriculture, housing, transport etc.
Yes
" Our photographic exhibition "Children of the Gulf War"
continues to tour in regional cities to highlight the effects of depleted
uranium on children in Iraq.Our Section is represented on NGO Consultative
Committees of the Australia Federal Government where we put forward WILPF's
views and concerns on issues in the areas of the Attorney General's Department,
Foreign Affairs and Trade and the National Consultative Committee on International
Security Issues which was formerly the National Committee on Peace and
Disarmament.
" We protest joint military, naval and airforce exercises with the
USA that take place annually, in the Torres Strait in 2004, Queensland
in 2005 and again in 2006.
" We voice our opposition to the continuing presence of Australian
troops in Iraq and the atrocities that are happening there by attending
rallies, writing submissions/letters etc.
" We wrote several submissions to parliamentary committees on the
US-Australia Defence relationship expressing our concerns at the increasing
militarism and arms expenditure.
" We oppose the existence of Pine Gap as a US communications facility
on Australian soil from which bombing coordinates and international intelligence
is coordinated.
" We wrote several submissions and letters re Australia's position
on the NPT Review and related international meetings.
" We are concerned about the use of Australian Federal Police in
the Solomon islands and Papua New Guinea and keep informed about these
situations
" We have representatives at International Meetings such as the recent
NPT Rev Con, WILPF Congresses and IEC', WILPF Regional Meetings and meetings
organised by other Peace and Human Rights Organisations.
" Many WILPF women/branches hold regular Women in Black vigils in
several capital cities.
" Funded an Australian WILPF woman to attend the Hiroshima Day Commemoration
in Japan - June 2005.
"
Yes
" We advocate the careful use of water, this precious resource whenever
it is possible. We are involved in collectives and speak up about the
wise use of water and the necessity to educate the community. These references
are minuted and become part of reports etc to Government.
" We educate ourselves about the problems of water conservation in
our country.
" WILPF opposed the privatization sale of the Snowy Mountain Hydro
scheme.
" WILPF supports the "Save the Murray" campaigns to increase
water flow to improve the water quality/flow of the River Murray - the
largest river system in Australia.
" We oppose the use of artesian basin water for uranium mining in
SA which is depleting local mound springs used as water resources by indigenous
people.
" Work on stopping introduction of fish sea cages which pollute coastal
waters.
" Work to stop cruel methods of fishing that injure or kill other
sea creatures not required for food - long line fishing and destruction
of sea grass beds.
Yes
" We have launched the United Nations Security Council Resolution
1325 website in Australia using a Government Grant. We have produced a
brochure, a card and a website and an information kit for politicians.
www.1325australia.org.au and have actively promoted UN Res 1325 at many
venues, conferences and social forums.
" We actively engage with other women's organizations and government
departments to promote UN Res 1325 while also providing presentations
to university students and community groups.
" We have set up a WILPF National Taskforce on UN Res 1325 to increase
awareness.
Women's political participation? Yes
How?
" All state branches participated in the discussions and policy formulation
regarding the situation of women in Australia before the 2006 CSW New
York meeting and WILPF contributed toward the cost of an Australian representative
who reported back to WILPF (Australia) at our recent Triennial Section
Meeting.
" The keynote speaker at our Triennial Section Meeting, Professor
Rhonda Sharp, spoke to us about women's budgets.
" WILPF links with national women's organizations to campaign on
women's issues such as gender equality, essential supports such as child
care, equal wages and opportunities for women.
" WILPF actively supports International Women's Day events and other
local women's groups, including migrant and indigenous women to support
their views being heard.
Yes
" WILPF actively participates in promoting non-violence and conflict
resolution solutions to violent situations.
" We support the "Stop Violence Against Women" campaign
by Amnesty International.
" Several WILPF Women attended a national non-violence gathering
to network on effective non violence training where a Non-Violence Training
Manual was launched.
" We support women's rights at every opportunity.
" Our government follows the lead of the United States Government
to a great extent - and does not react when the US policies are obviously
wrong or inhumane for example Guantanamo Bay prison or the revelation
that there were no weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. There is strong
reaction from the community!
" The Australian Government now has control in both houses of parliament
and this has resulted in more draconian legislation being passed decreasing
civil liberties and loss of privacy "in the national security interest".
Other worrying legislation has been introduced regarding treatment of
people seeking asylum in Australia where they can now be taken to Pacific
Islands without access to Australian appeal rights or any support from
Australian citizens or anyone knowing how they are being treated as access
is restricted.
" Australia continues to have a "non-existent" opposition
party, thus providing no alternative voice to the current government's
harsh policies.
" Recently the Australian Government disbanded the national organization
which enabled indigenous people elected on behalf of their communities
to advocate for their needs and rights. This has left them without a political
voice - which suits the government fine.
" The commercial media continues to support the government line and
denigrates anyone who has a contrary view. The Prime Minister prefers
to speak on commercial talkback radio rather than face open questions
from journalists and rarely calls Press Conferences.
" The Australian Government continues to pedal its message of fear
with a recent campaign "be alert but not alarmed" sending fridge
magnets to every household with a phone number to ring if they see anything
"suspicious" that may not be "in the national security
interest".
" We see no immediate change in these rightwing policies or change
of government soon.
" Australians have become increasingly scared and have been encouraged
to settle for material comforts, and consequently to worry about our house
mortgages and rises in interest rates rather than paying attention to
what's actually going on.
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