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IFOR's Women Peacemakers Program believes that programs that specifically empower women peacemakers, and encourage women and girls to become involved in peacebuilding and civil society building, are essential for development. (mission)

 

News and Announcements:

From the WPP Office

Engendering Peace - Incorporating a Gender Perspective in Civilian Peace Teams

Engendering PeaceThis publication is the result of a one-year pilot study, which
explorated the field of civilian-based peace keeping from a gender perspective. The study focused on the work carried out by those organizations that provide unarmed international accompaniment in the form of peace teams to persons, groups or communities threatened by political violence in conflict-
affected situations. Download the publication

Interfaith Peace Building Consultation: The Need for a Gender Perspective” - September 2010 – Cyprus

On the verge of the tenth anniversary of UNSCR 1325, the momentum is there to increase the support for women peacebuilders within the different faith traditions, as well as to support the inclusion of a gender perspective in faith-based and inter-faith peacebuilding. Pioneering progressive theologians, women rights and peace activists from different spiritual traditions and different regions, will analyze -using a gender-perspective- the multiple roles of religion in current conflicts, both as cause of war and as incentive to peace building. Read more . Applications for this conference has been closed.

02 June 2010: WPP e-opportunities issue 66 is out!

WPP's e-opportunities contains information about upcoming trainings, seminars, campaigns, recently published materials, and job openings related to the issues of gender, peace and nonviolence. Download the latest issue

04 March 2010: Statement Concerning Beijing +15 process Review at Commission on the Status of Women

The Fourth World Conference on Women produced the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action (BPfA), a
comprehensive women’s human rights paradigm that envisioned the transformation of power relations. This was a global vision of social justice, equality, development and peace. Fifteen years later, the BPfA would seem to be considered by governments as technical instrument, and its substance has been depoliticised and diluted. The key implementation strategy of gender mainstreaming has lost its critical perspective and transformative purpose in terms of power relations and inequalities. Read the statement

19 July 2010: New Cross the Lines!

Cross the Lines Issue 39Cross the Lines-40 is now out! It contains a new article by José de Vries, Together for Transformation – Men, Masculinities and Peacebuilding,
On the occasion of the International Women’s Day of Peace and Disarmament (May 24).
As always, it also contains news, resources and a calendar relatated to women, peace and security.

Read Cross the Lines in English, Dutch, French, German, Russian or Spanish. For previous editions of this and other newsletters, visit our archives.

WPP news from the field: (read more)

24 June 2010: WPP Africa Desk

Le bureau Afrique de WPP a l’intention de tenir une semaine de formation sur les techniques de plaidoyer pour les femmes africaines artisanes et activistes de paix. Cette formation a pour but de renforcer les capacités de ces femmes en vue de plaider la cause du genre et de la non-violence et de raffermir leurs aptitudes à influencer les politiques publiques de sorte à redéfinir la paix sur le continent. Le plaidoyer est une technique qui peut être apprise, d’où le désir de WPP d’organiser cette formation.

Download APPEL A CANDIDATURES (UNIQUEMENT POUR FRANCOPHONES)

Download APPEL A FORMATRICES

23 September 2009: Advocacy training workshop in South Africa

Read the article in the Sunday Independent on the advocacy training that was organized in South Africa by the WPP Africa Regional Desk. The training aimed at enhancing the skills of women peace activists, so they are able to influence policies.

31 July 2009: Africa Desk Newsletter

This newsletter is a further demonstration of two years of visibility and active participation in the eEmpowerment of women towards increased political participation with particular orientation towards gGender and active non-violence. Read the second newsletter from the Africa Desk

13 July 2009: Call for applications: ToT Africa Desk

The WPP- Africa Desk intends to hold one-week Training in Advocacy skills for African women peacemakers /activists to enhance their skills in advocating for gender and nonviolence and, to strengthen their capacities to influence public policy at all levels so as to re-define peace on the continent. Advocacy is a skill that can be learnt, hence WPP’s desire to organize the training. Read more

29 June 2009: Police Bar Women Marchers - Zimbabwe

Speaking at the one-day conference, the national co-ordinator of WCOZ Netsai Mushonga said women wanted to take half of the positions available in the sub-committees that will spearhead the constitutional review process. Read more

 

May 27 2010: International Women's Day for Peace and Disarmament; Men, Masculinities and Peacebuilding

This year, the celebration of the International Women's Day for Peace and Disarmament (May 24) celebration took place on May 27 in The Hague. Approximately 60 people attended the expert meeting Together for Transformation in The Hague to discuss the relevance of including a masculinities perspective in debates about gender and peacebuilding and the contributions men can make in relation to the topic of women, peace and security.

Download a report on the day here

The seminar was broadcasted live. Please click here to view the seminar.

Together for Transformation - Men, Masculinities and PeacebuildingThe 2010 May pack is out:

Together for Transformation - Men, Masculinities and Peacebuilding!

This May 24 Pack hopes to contribute towards further understanding masculinities and the inclusion of a gender perspective within the peace and security agenda.

Overcoming Violence - Exploring Masculinities, Violence and Peace

Gender lies at the root of war and peace and it is increasingly being recognized that issues of masculinities need to be addressed in the field of peacebuilding and active nonviolence. WPP is convinced that in order to transform cultures of war and violence, women peace activists need to work together with male allies on these issues. Late 2009 the WPP organized a Training of Trainers Program “Overcoming Violence - Exploring Masculinities, Violence and Peace” for 19 pioneering activist men, from 17 different countries.

The training focused on gender-sensitive active non-violence, the theory of masculinities and its relation to violence, and participatory and gender-sensitive facilitation.

A first powerful outcome of the Training of Trainers is a statement “Together for Transformation: A Call to Men and Boys” produced by the ToT participants to affirm their commitment to gender-sensitive peacebuilding.

Participants’ first impressions of the Training of Trainers can be read via the blog: http://womenpeacemakers.blogspot.com/

"Men have a long history of not considering women in the equation and there is a danger in men getting involved in this area that we simply exercise another takeover bid." Read the article on the ToT written by Rob Fairmichael from Northern Ireland.

A comprehensive report on the training will be available early 2010.

Women, Peace and Security

Updates on United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325: (read more)

Click here to read more on National Action Plans on 1325

26 March 2010: Philippines adopts National Action Plan for UN Security Council Resolution 1325 and 1820

In compliance with two United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolutions, the Philippines has finally adopted a national action plan (NAP) for the protection of women during armed conflict. With this, the Philippines has become the first Asian country to come up with an action plan as required by the UNSC Resolutions 1325 and 1820 for UN member countries to implement measures to strengthen and protect the rights of women and ensure peace and security. Read more

08 November 2009: Statement by Asha Hagi Elmi Amin, on behalf of the NGO Working Group on Women, Peace and Security, at the UN Security Council Open Debate on Women, Peace and Security

"Women’s participation in peace processes is not optional: it is a requirement. However, it is not only the job of women to bring these voices and issues into all conflict resolution and rebuilding efforts. Men must also ensure that women’s rights and interests are meaningfully addressed in all peace processes, and included in peace agreements and conflict transformation planning, such as security sector and judicial reform, service provision, in addressing impunity, and in the truth and reconciliation process." Read the statement

01 October 2009: EU Comprehensive Approach to the European Union Implementation of UN Security Council Resolutions 1325 & 1820 on Women, Peace & Security 

The European Union has policy commitments to promote the role of women in peace building and to enhance the implementation of UNSC Resolution 1325 in its external actions. Building on these commitments, this document sets out a common EU approach to the implementation
of UNSC Resolutions 1325 and 1820. Read more

01 October 2009: Debate on Women, Peace and Security in October 2009

In October the Council is expected to hold an open debate on the implementation of resolution 1325 on women, peace and security. Read more

Campaigns and actions (read more)

24 June 2010: Call for immediate release of Aung San Suu Kyi and all political prisoners in Burma

Rights & Democracy calls on the leaders of Burma's military junta to release Aung San Suu Kyi and Burma's 2,100 other political prisoners immediately and without conditions. Read more

08 February 2010: World March of Women: Third International Action

"In 2010, we - activists of the World March of Women from all five continents - will be on the march once more. We will march to demonstrate our perseverance and our strength as collectively organised women with diverse experiences, political cultures and ethnic backgrounds, but with a common identity and goal: the desire to overthrow the current, unjust world order that provokes violence and poverty, and to construct the world we want based on peace, justice, equality, freedom and solidarity." Read more

07 February 2010: Call for Solidarity: Freedom and Gender Equality in Iran

"We (a group of Iranian feminists and women's rights activists) demand an end to state-led violence and repression, as well as the immediate release of all political detainees in Iran. We invite all women's rights defenders, activists, organisations, and networks worldwide to demonstrate their solidarity with the Iranian women's movement and the broader movement for democracy in Iran by organising initiatives under the slogan 'freedom and gender equality in Iran' throughout March 2010..." Read more

 

Be the change!

 

Other news items: (read more)

24 June 2010: Guatemala + Mexico Mothers Play Crucial Role in Fight for Justice

We are visiting Sobrevivientes, an organization that supports family and friends of femicide victims. Or, to put it bluntly, those whose mothers, daughters, or friends were murdered simply because they were women. Read more

11 June 2010: Women, Politics and Zimbabwe Crisis

Results are reported of a survey among 2158 women throughout Zimbabwe's 10 provinces in Nov-Dec 2009. The survey was undertaken to gauge their opinion of what women thought about elections, what they thought about violence, and about peace, and on the inclusive government. Read the document

10 June 2010: A law on gender parity - Senegal

A law on gender parity in electoral lists, approved by a large majority in Senegal's National Assembly, has been welcomed by women from diverse walks of life. Read more

24 May 2010: Women Making Peace - Korea

It has been two years and five months since the inauguration of President Myungbak Lee, and during the period we find that the inter-Korean relationship has worsened to the extent of being a “war crises.” Only two years has passed since the leaders of the two Koreas agreed to convert the West Sea into the sea of cooperation and now it has became the “sea of animosity and confrontation.” The governments of the two Koreas should be responsible for the current situation. Read the statement for the International Women's Day for Peace and Disarmament send by our colleagues in Korea.

Read the Statement on the Current State of Affairs for Peace on the Korean Peninsula

07 February 2010: Invest in Women - Do you see the opportunity?

The Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs presents the video clip ‘Invest in Women – Do you see the opportunity?’ This is the first video in a 3-part series of short videos about the MDG3 Fund. Central in this video are the chances and opportunities created by investing in women and girls. View the video

07 February 2010: UN: Beijing+15 Documentation

This resource provides Beijing+15 documentation, including background information and NGO statements. The documents are available in Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian, Spanish. Read more

31 January 2010: Margot Wallstrom of Sweden, Ban Ki Moon's choice for SRSG on WPS focus on Sexual violence

"I have informed the Security Council of my intention to appoint Ms. Margot Wallstrom, Vice-President of the European Commission--as my Special Representative to intensify efforts to end sexual violence against women and children in conflict areas." Read the full statement