WILPF Movement

Each year, WILPF members and partners actively participate at a variety of high-level events, conferences, and international platforms dedicated to feminist solidarity and movement building. With these events come unique opportunities to raise our collective voice for gender justice and re-affirm WILPF’s commitment to the Women, Peace and Security Agenda and feminist peace.


WILPF shares information about our past and present engagement at international platforms in our monthly newsletters as well as below. Follow along, and join us!

Perpetual war in Iraq. WILPF's position

  • Wednesday, July 13, 2016 - 00:00

    This is the statement that WILPF released on 13 June 2016, condemning the attack on a crowded market in Baghdad in the midst of the Eid celebration:

    "We at WILPF are deeply disturbed by the horrific crime that took place last Saturday in a crowded market at the center of Baghdad.

    A lorry packed with explosives was detonated as families were shopping for the Eid celebration. The use of explosive weapons in highly populated areas is an all too common crime in Iraq and is yet to receive adequate attention under codified and customary international law. A research by WILPF on the impact of such weapons on women showed that when they are used in markets, an average of 93% of the casualties are civilians, most of which are women and girls.

    These attacks are not happening in an otherwise safe society. The US-led invasion in 2003 and a series of subsequent failures by the occupying states, the international community and the Iraqi government left the Iraqi society exhausted by structural dysfunctions and sectarian tensions that gave rise to sectarian militias and made such crimes a daily agony for Iraqi civilians.

    The impact of this notorious crime will go far beyond its 250 victims as survivors fail to receive adequate medical and psychosocial support and aid workers and services suffer immensely to cope with the exponential demand.

    As the security situation worsens, women will suffer a great burden due to the absence of adequate health care services, the domination of discriminatory laws and legal practices and the proliferation of small arms that reaffirm patriarchal hierarchies of power, strengthen harmful traditional practices and limit the freedom of movement of women. In addition, women who are fleeing scores of brutality by ISIS and other militias cannot obtain legal identification in the absence of a male family member which increases their vulnerability to violence and discrimination.

    We at WILPF reiterate our full support to our Iraqi partners who work around the clock to bring freedom, peace and equality to the devastated Iraqi community. We call on the Iraqi government and the international community to take clear and active measures to protect and support the Iraqi civil society, particularly women-led organisations, and put them at the heart of the planning and implementation of response strategies as they are in the best position to bring into the process the needs and concerns of all people affected by the crisis and ensure appropriate and effective response and prevention measures."

    Read here the statement from WILPF's website.

Greetings to WILPF Sisters on our 101st Birthday!

  • Thursday, April 28, 2016 - 15:00 to Thursday, May 12, 2016 - 15:00

    Celebrating the 101st anniversary of WILPF, Edith Ballantyne and Felicity Ruby reflect on current challenges and how to remain optimistic about changing broken structures and defeating reactionary mentalitites. 

International Affairs Special Report: Reintroducing Women, Peace and Security

  • Friday, April 22, 2016 - 17:00

    This special issue of International Affairs, launched on International Women’s Day 2016, explores the potential and limits of the Women, Peace and Security agenda, a global policy architecture supporting gender equality and today a significant reference point in the management and resolution of, as well as recovery from, violent conflict.

Figures for 2015 Show Increase in Excessive Military Spending

  • Friday, April 22, 2016 - 09:30

    By WILPF

    The Stockholm Institute for Peace Research (SIPRI) today announced that global military spending totaled at $1676 billion in 2015, which represents an increase of about 1 % in real terms from 2014, the first increase since 2011. The figures again show that the world continues to waste far too much money on weapons instead of investing in peace.

    The release of these figures marks the beginning of the Global Days of Action on Military Spending (GDAMS), a two-week campaign during which peace groups around the world hold events challenging excessive military spending and militarist cultures and calling for resources to be put towards more peaceful ends.

    THE TRENDS

    Much like last year, in 2015 the top 10 countries with the highest military spending are: United States of America, China, Saudi Arabia, Russia, United Kingdom, India, France, Japan, Germany, and South Korea.

    SIPRI explains, “Military expenditure in North America and Western Europe fell again in 2015, but at a slower pace than in previous years. Military expenditure decreased in Africa, breaking an 11-year trend of spending increases. Spending in Latin America and the Caribbean also declined. In contrast, spending in Central and Eastern Europe continued to rise sharply. There were also substantial increases in Asia and Oceania and in those countries in the Middle East for which data is available.”

    MAKING MONEY

    Inextricably linked with military spending is the irresponsible sale of arms, which exacerbates the humanitarian situation in conflict zones such as Syria, Yemen, and Ukraine, as well as situations of armed violence around the world.

    A February 2016 Control Arms report found that a number of states parties to the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) have reported licenses and sales to Saudi Arabia worth nearly $25 billion in 2015 including drones, bombs, torpedoes, rockets, and missiles. The bloody conflict in Yemen between the Houthi militia and the Saudi-led coalition has seen serious violations of international humanitarian law and international human rights law by all parties to the conflict. Continuing to sell arms to Saudi Arabia, the largest importer of arms in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, is a clear breach of ATT states parties’ legal obligations under the Treaty.

    YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR

    For the first time SIPRI also published a background paper that discusses on the one hand government priorities comparing military and health expenditure (over the past 15-20 years) and on the other what could be achieved at the global level by moving the money towards the realisation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

    While the comparison of health and military spending shows a trend increased priority of states to public health expenditure over the past 20 years and a reduced priority to military spending, the Institute does not find that “the rise in health spending and decline in military spending as a share of GDP represents some sort of deliberate ‘peace dividend’ policy aimed at redirecting resources from the military to health.”

    According to SIPRI, reallocating only around 10 per cent of world military spending as suggested by the Global Campaign on Military Spending to finance key SDGs “would be enough to achieve major progress, supposing that such funds could be effectively channeled towards these goals and that major obstacles, such as corruption and conflict, could be overcome.”

    MOVE THE MONEY

    Consequently, States should be investing in peace and humanitarian needs rather than overindulgent military spending and weapons trading. Finding alternative solutions to conflict means prioritising different approaches to our social, political, and military organisation. It demands diverting money from the military towards social and economic justice and equality.

    The city of Cambridge in Massachusetts, USA, has decided to do just that. On 2 April, Mayor Denise Simmons announced that the Cambridge City Council has unanimously decided to divest their city pension fund from nuclear weapons production. This effectively removes US$ 1 billion from possible investment in the companies most heavily involved in producing and modernising nuclear weapons. This is a great example of actions that can and should be undertaken over the next two weeks and beyond.

    To see the original WILPF article, see here. For more on the SIPRI report, see here.

New Gender Equality Project in Colombia

  • Friday, April 22, 2016 - 09:00

    In 2016, WILPF Colombia (LIMPAL in Spanish) launched the project “Go Women! – For our rights in San Cristóbal” in the capital city of Bogota. The project was launched in cooperation with the local town council of the district of San Cristóbal, which is one of the 22 districts in the capital city that has high levels of poverty, violence against women, presence of forced displaced people and ex-combats from previous disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration (DDR) processes. The aim of the project is to raise awareness on gender equality and help women survivors recover from the violence experienced from the on-going armed conflict.

    The project includes a series of local activities, including training on women’s rights, public events, film screening and discussions on gender-sensitive topics, group discussions with men and boys on non-violent masculinities, a public fair of women entrepreneurs to promote their products, and other artistic and musical activities that promote women, peace and security.

    The most important part of this project is how women are enjoying learning from the workshops on Gender, Development and Public Policy, which helps them to develop political awareness and empowerment for their rights. This activity evolves around three central themes: violence against women, political participation and peacebuilding, and each session begins with a preliminary work on self-confidence, self-help and self-expression through artistic ways.

    Although the project brings the participation of the general public (men and women) through the commemoration of events in memory of the victims of gender-based violence, the most innovative part is the School of New Masculinities. This is the first time that WILPF/LIMPAL Colombia includes men and boys in its work in such strategically way. Through a series of debates with local groups of men and boys on how they experience their roles of masculinity and manhood, these activities generate a deep reflection on the need to commit to personal and collective transformation towards gender equality and the elimination of gender-based violence.

    Through actions at local and national levels, WILPF/LIMPAL Colombia is contributing to the work of women’s empowerment for political participation in peacebuilding in three regions of Colombia: Bogotá, Bolivar and Meta, bringing men and boys, women and girls into dialogue for sustainable peace with a gender perspective.

    See full article http://wilpf.org/new-gender-equality-project-in-colombia/http://wilpf.org/new-gender-equality-project-in-colombia/

WAYS SYRIAN WOMEN MUST BE INCLUDED IN THE UPCOMING PEACE TALKS

  • Thursday, January 21, 2016 - 00:00

    The WILPF intiative focuses on the Syrian peace talks and the need for women to be included in them.  WILPF points to numerous reasons why the inclusion of Syrian women in the talk could lead to a fuller, richer peace.  As numerous studies have shown, the substantive inclusion of women in peace talks makes them more likely to be implemented and last.  Some options stated in which women can participate are at the negotiating table, in formal and informal discussion, and as part of the mediation team.

WILPF condemns New Year's Eve violence against women

  • Friday, January 8, 2016 - 00:00

    On 5 January 2016, reports of large-scale violence against women perpetrated by a group or groups of men on New Year’s Eve in Cologne and other cities in Germany were published. Later, the Cologne police reported that of more than 120 filed complaints with them, about three-quarters are including sexual harassment claims and in two cases rape.

    This is the statement that WILPF issue with the aim to condemn the events that happened in New Year's Eve (2015) in Cologne, Germany.

WILPF AT COP21

  • Monday, November 30, 2015 - 10:00 to Friday, December 11, 2015 - 17:00

    Our WILPF delegation has landed in Paris. It is time for the UN Conference on Climate Change (COP21), which is taking place in Paris from the 30 November and until the 11 December. Do you want to know more about the WILPF delegation in COP21? Please stay tuned and check our website!

    Please find all details on our COP21 webpage >>

     

     

Voices from the Field -- Prelude to the Peace Forum. Call to Action

  • Wednesday, October 21, 2015 - 10:00

    This is a call to action letter. It is time to take personal, political, and international action, to promote policies that ensure local action for demilitarisation, conflict prevention, women’s human rights, and sustainable peace and gender justice.

    Join us! It is time to move our world forward together.

     

Faultlines, refugees, and the law

  • Sunday, September 27, 2015 - 11:45

    The refugee crisis in Europe has challenged many accepted truths, and shown that the solution lies in applying international human rights law to override political maneuvering.

    For the refugee ‘crisis’ this narrative went along predictable lines: reports of numbers and the response of States. The inability of Greece, Macedonia, and then Hungary to ‘cope’, and the defensive measures taken to stop the ‘invasion’. The generic term used was ‘migrants’ ‘Syrians’ ‘refugees’ - depersonalising. Although there were some personal stories, there was no analysis as to who they were: men, women, children, age? 

     The ultimate solution to the current refugee’ crisis’ is to end the war. That must be the end game. Traditional narratives and the policies and knee jerk reactions that follow, have failed. A different approach is needed and this crisis has perhaps shown us the way forward: there is a new and positive image of masculinity which favours peace over war; there is a tide of good will and common humanity across borders, languages and cultures, which has shown that our governments can be swayed by citizen engagement-democracy. Above all, and to meet the demands of the immediate situation now, there is a legal framework which  can guide States through this if they only drop their political rhetoric and seek practical ways forward. 

The UN: are development and peace empty words?

  • Thursday, September 24, 2015 - 13:15

    High level government leaders are gathering in New York for the UN Sustainable Development Summit on 25–27 September, where they will adopt the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which follows on from the largely unrealised Millennium Development Goals adopted in 2000.

    The 2030 Agenda commits governments “to foster peaceful, just and inclusive societies which are free from fear and violence.” It declares: “There can be no sustainable development without peace and no peace without sustainable development.” Yet despite this emphasis on peace and freedom from violence, the Agenda only includes one goal related to weapons - to significantly reduce illicit arms flows by 2030 (goal 16.4).

    While weapons are considered to be men’s business, men and adolescent boys are the most frequent direct victims of weaponised violence.  Viewed through the patriarchal lens, this is rarely presented as evidence of their weakness, as is the case when 'women and children' are characterised as victims of violence. The ground-breaking aspect of SCR 1325 was its recognition that men and women experience wars differently and that women are not just victims but agents of change: women’s full and equal participation in all aspects and stages of peace processes is essential to building sustainable peace.  

    The arms trade, the use of explosive weapons, the possession of nuclear weapons, gender perspectives in disarmament, and equitable participation of women are all crucial issues to grapple with in order to effectively deal with the major security challenges we face today. The next two months at the UN provide an opportunity to take up these challenges with renewed resolve.

     

Open Letter to the International Community: Call for Solidarity

  • Monday, August 31, 2015 - 00:00

    While the Western nations now have turned their focus to ‘resolving the migration crisis’, we the peace activists from Bosnia and Herzegovina, call upon our government to open our boarders for free movement of refugees and/or migrants, and to grant asylum for those who chose to stay. We call upon our fellow citizens to show humanity, solidarity and empathy with them while resident in our country.

    Also accessible online HERE.

The Solidarity of Women's Movement: WILPF Spain's Contribution

  • Wednesday, August 12, 2015 - 00:00

    A few weeks ago, Spain underwent a review by the CEDAW Committee and was held accountable for its compliance to women’s rights under the CEDAW Convention. WILPF Spain was there!

    Many strong concerns affecting women in Spain have been brought up by Spanish NGOs to the Committee, notably, the burden of austerity measures that has been heavier on women’s shoulders, persisting gender-based violence and gender equality policies relegated to a sub-thematic under the Ministry of Health. WILPF Spain of course echoed these concerns and supported other NGOs in their advocacy.

The Politics of Human Rights and the United Nations

  • Monday, August 10, 2015 - 00:00

    A Message from WILPF Secretary General Madeleine Rees, this article highlights the need for the United Nations to take a stronger stance on child sexual abuse scandals. For those in the UN system who are prepared to compromise on human rights, and hence on legal obligation, the challenge of senior official at the UNOHCHR, Anders Kompass is his success in pursuing the alternative model – a model that is actually at the core of the United Nations Charter and subsequent instruments. Instead of attacking him, they should embrace his approach and actually apply it- imagine the difference it would make!

#R2P10: The Impact of the Syrian Conflict on Women

  • Wednesday, June 17, 2015 - 11:45

    The international community has begun to recognize the disproportionate impact of conflict on women and girls, and the necessity to include women in the prevention and resolution of crises. In 2000, the UN Security Council adopted historic Resolution 1325 – the first resolution on Women, Peace, and Security (WPS). Since then, the UN Security Council has adopted Resolutions 1820(2008), 1888 (2009), 1889 (2009), 1960 (2010), and 2106 (2013), which address sexual violence in conflict, and Resolution 2122(2013), which focuses on women’s participation, empowerment, and human rights.

    The scope and purpose of the WPS agenda and the Responsibility to Protect (RtoP) are different. Nevertheless, there are several ways they overlap and have the potential to reinforce one another. Firstly, gender-based human rights violations can serve as early warning indicators for atrocity crimes. Secondly, RtoP crimes and violations have a disproportionate impact on women and girls, and can amount to atrocity crimes as recognized in UNSC Resolution 2106. Thus, both agendas also work to strengthen mechanisms to prevent such violations from occurring. Additionally, WPS and RtoP seek to increase the recognition of women’s role in the prevention and response to mass atrocities.

Infographic: 9 Strategic Policy Recommendations for the Global Study

Women's Power to Stop War

  • Friday, May 29, 2015 - 03:00 to 11:00

     

    In its centenary conference held at University House in Canberra, WILPF Australia celebrated 'Women’s Power to Stop War'. Keynote speaker Madeleine Rees, Secretary General of Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom, presented on the spirit of the Hague meetings, and Australia's Ambassador for Women and Girls, Natasha Stott Despoja, presented on 'A Global Agenda for Women, Peace and Security'. The Conference also featured panellist presentations on feminist perspectives, disarmament, the power of women's collaboration, and the next 100 years of WILPF action.

    For more information and to check out the complete final program, please see here.

2015 Women's Walk for Peace in Korea

  • Sunday, May 24, 2015 - 18:00

    Thirty women peacemakers from 15 countries made a historic crossing of the two-mile wide De-Militarised Zone (DMZ) from North to South Korea on 24th of May, the International Women’s Day for Peace and Disarmament. They called global attention to the need for a peace treaty to finally end the Korean War; to reunite families long separated by Korea’s division; and to assure women’s participation in the peace process. Because most citizens of North and South Korea are not allowed to cross the DMZ, international women crossed the DMZ on their behalf in solidarity with Korean women’s desires for peace and reunification of Korea. This document is the final outcome statement of the 2015 Women's Walk for Peace in Korea. 

Infographic: Investing in Women for Peace: Good Practices

Forum: Pacifist Women and Anti-militarists in Colombia: History and Challenges

  • Friday, May 22, 2015 - 02:00

    On 22 May 2015, WILPF Colombia held an event at the National University in celebration of WILPF's 100th anniversay. Carmen Magallon, of WILPF Spain, was a guest speaker presenting on the history of pacifist feminism in the world and providing her analysis and reflections on the role of women in peace building. 

    For more information please see the WILPF 100th Colombia anniversary invitation and event program.

Video Highlights from the Women's Power to Stop War Conference: You are the Movement

  • Friday, May 8, 2015 - 14:45

Grand Opening Anniversary Video

  • Friday, May 8, 2015 - 14:30

     

     

    This video opened for the four Nobel Laureates, Leymah Gbowee, Shirin Ebadi, Mairead Maguire and Jody Williams, who spoke at the Grand Opening of the conference.

WILPF 100: A Feminist Playbook for Peace: Re-Owning 1325

  • Monday, April 27, 2015 - 16:30

    If our goal is to create a more just, gender-equitable and sustainable peace, what elements are missing from the UN WPS Resolutions and the WPS Agenda?  What should be a “Feminist Playbook for Sustainable Peace” include that is not in the current WPS Agenda? 

    This break-out session in the WILPF's centennial anniversary addresses explored, analyzed, and evaluated these issues. 

     

Voice Republic's WSW Conference Archive

  • Monday, April 27, 2015 - 15:00

    Voice Republic created a valuable library of the talks, engagements, and meetings, including the plenaries, from the Women Stop War Conference. Their 41 archived files can be found here.

Post2015 Development Agenda - Toward Sustainable Development Goals

  • Monday, April 27, 2015 - 14:00 to 14:45

    Post2015 Development Agenda - Toward Sustainable Development Goals

    WILPF Peace Summit Civil Society Review

    Monday, April 27, 2:00-2:45PM, World Forum (Oceania Room), the Hague

    On 28 April 2015, WILPF PeaceWomen and the Post 2015 Women's Coalition held a WILPF 100 event, "Post2015 Development Agenda - Toward Sustainable Development Goals." This event brought attention to feminist sustainable development as a key tool for conflict prevention and peace.

    With the United Nations (UN) and Member States in the process of defining a post-2015 development agenda, the WILPF100 Post-2015 event took place at a most opportune time.  The event provided the space for civil society peace leaders and activists to highlight peace and conflict prevention as critical elements for sustainable development; address the historical gaps between security and development; discuss political opportunities for leveraging the SDGs to strengthen conflict prevention work for gender justice and; promote stronger transnational feminist linkages with women peacemakers across the world.

    Selam Tesfaye of the Post2015 Women’s Coalition shared the coalition’s work on promoting feminist sustainable development goals and reaffirmed that feminist, sustainable development is human development. She noted challenges continue, including ensuring that the promotion of a holistic approach that connects the dots between peace, governance, justice, conflict prevention and post-conflict peacebuilding and sustainable development policy promotes human security rather than militarizing development debates. She also highlighted a gap in the sustainable development discourse between gender inequality and militarization. The Post-2015 development agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially Goal 16 on stable and peaceful societies, provide an opportunity to address these.

    Gesa Bent of the Global Partnership for the Prevention of Armed Conflict (GPPAC), shared good practice on how regional organizations can link peace and development. In Fiji and the Pacific Islands region for example, women’s CSOs have engaged at the country level and with the regional Pacific Islands Forum to lobby for the implementation of UNSCR 1325. The resulting process of the development of the Pacific Regional Action Plan on Women Peace and Security (WPS) can serve as a model for women civil society organizations in setting regional targets and creating linkages between WPS, the SDGs and national and regional peace work.

    Abigail Ruane of WILPF PeaceWomen highlighted the importance of recognizing that feminist development is sustainable development. She invited participants to use development tools at the local to international levels to address conflict prevention as a key gap area in the Women, Peace and Security agenda. She outlined the pledges of the Post2015 Women’s Coalition to connect the dots between women’s human rights and development activism and women’s peace activism, and to raise the bar in strengthening feminist leadership for transformative change.

    Zarin Hamid of the Center for Women’s Global Leadership facilitated a discussion where participants discussed how to strengthen connections between sustainable peace and development activism and how to link international, national and regional peace advocacy. Participants committed to continuing to act in solidarity to amplify the voices of women in key policy spaces such as the ongoing post-2015 negotiations and at the regional and national levels. In doing so, participants committed to strengthening collaborations and feminist architecture for sustainable development, peace and gender justice.

     

Photo and Video Highlights from 2015 WILPF Centennial

  • Monday, April 27, 2015 - 12:15

     

     

     

WILPF 100 Conference - Women's Power to Stop War

  • Monday, April 27, 2015 - 08:00 to Wednesday, April 29, 2015 - 13:15

    WILPF’s centennial peace conference, which took place April 27-29th, 2015 in the Hague’s World Forum was a cross-cultural, multi-generational event, where participants protested the current state government war economies, and strategized to create an international system of accountability, peace, and gender justice.

    The Conference was organized into three plenaries, and opening and a closing, and more than 40 break-out sessions. Day one analyzed the power structure dynamics of patriarchy, capitalism, and racism.  The WILPF Manifesto affirmed: “Male dominance is tightly intersected with the class inequalities of capitalism and the racialist domination of some nations and ethnic groups by others. Together they perpetuate war.” Activists explored innovative ways to challenge and overcome patriarchy by transforming social and cultural norms in relation to both masculinities and femininities.

    Day two focused on conflict and violence prevention. Participants affirmed that nonviolence —rather than violence—is heroic.  Activists recognized that violence and weapons are disempowering, and  rejected government’s assumptions that their citizens have given implicit consent for militarism, war, and violence. They demanded disarmament, demilitarization, and active nonviolent resolution of conflicts to transform personal to international order.

    Finally, day three recognized the internal and external actions required to bolster a strong, diverse, and transformative movement. Activists reaffirmed their unity in opposition to patriarchy, capitalism, racism, and militarism. They also affirmed strength in diversity of experiences which enrich universal goals that  recognize the diversity of feminisms while focusing on the common peace and justice goals. Externally, the social movement sought more effective multilateral systems and changes in existing structures and cultures, recognizing the need for continued engagement with conditions. Reforming multilateralism will require agitation for inclusion of gendered analysis, more independent and comprehensive investigations into the use of force, and documentation of its consequences.

    An Outcome Report will be published later this month and will address each day’s major themes: global gendered power; power, war, and weapons; and organizing and actions for change.


    Basic Conference Need to Knows:

    When: April 27 – 29, 2015
    Where: World Forum, The Hague, Netherlands

    Open to all!
    This is the place to be if you want to be a peacemaker in the 21st century!


    Please see the website for further information: http://www.womenstopwar.org/ 

    Read WILPF's Manifesto here

    Read about WILPF 100th' Break out session- Feminist Playbook for Peace 

    Read about the WPS High Level Review

    Read about the Post-2015 Sustainable Development Goals


    Read the following articles on the WILPF 100 Conference:

    World disarmament? Start by disarming masculinity - Click here

    There are more of us who want peace than want the killing to continue - Click here

    “To Leave Untried No Method": Women Peace Activists Then and Now- Click here.  

    Shirin Ebadi: 'If books had been thrown at the Taliban instead of bombs … we would not have Isis' - Click here.

WILPF 2015 Manifesto

  • Thursday, April 16, 2015 - 16:00 to Monday, April 16, 2018 - 16:00

FEMINIST VICTORY STOPS SWEDISH MILITARY DEAL WITH SAUDI ARABIA

  • Wednesday, March 11, 2015 - 13:00

    On March 11, 2015 By WILPF International

    Last night presented a major victory for WILPF Sweden and other disarmament and women’s rights activists, as the Swedish government declared it will not continue a heavily criticised military cooperation agreement with Saudi Arabia.

    While the agreement did not include explicit provisions on specific arms deals, it has been a key driver for Sweden’s increased arms sales to the Saudi regime the last decade. We’re very hopeful that last night’s decision will stop this trend.

    NO MILITARY COOPERATION WITH A REGIME VIOLATING HUMAN RIGHTS

    WILPF Sweden has been working hard with other civil society organisations to place respect for women’s human rights at the centre of the debate about the so-called “Saudi agreement.”

    WILPF has engaged in advocacy, built a social media campaign, and published op-eds arguing that Sweden cannot have far reaching military cooperation with a regime that systematically and brutally violates women’s rights.

    One of our recommendations when the Human Rights Council for its second Universal Periodic Review reviewed Sweden, was that Sweden must stop its arms sales to states that violate human rights.

    DESPITE THE INTEREST OF ECONOMIC PLAYERS, WE WON THE FIGHT

    Powerful players, mainly from the private sector, have highlighted export incomes from trading with Saudi Arabia and argued that Sweden must continue the military cooperation.

    While little information has been released about the government negotiations between the Social Democratic Party and the Greens, it has been very uncertain whether they would take the step to stop the agreement. While the Greens have a history of opposing arms trade in general, the Social Democrats, on the other hand, have traditionally been very protective of the Swedish arms industry.

    But as last night showed, despite the clear interest of major economic players to keep the agreement, the disarmament activists and the women’s rights defenders won this round.

    SWEDEN’S FEMINIST FOREIGN POLICY

    WILPF Sweden has declared this a feminist victory. Sweden’s minister for Foreign Affairs, Margot Wallström, stated in her first day in office that Sweden will run a feminist foreign policy, and the government has highlighted the gender provisions of the UN Arms Trade Treaty. It would have been impossible to motivate how a feminist policy can entail military deals with Saudi Arabia.

    STOPPING SWEDISH ARMS TRADE TO HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSERS ONCE AND FOR ALL

    While we’re excited about last night’s news, there is still a more critical debate to be had around Swedish arms exports and human rights.

    In April, a parliamentary committee will propose new regulations for Swedish arms exports with the aim to sharpen export controls towards non-democratic states. The pressure is on. The public debate these last weeks has shown a very strong support for putting human rights and gender equality front and centre. Swedes do not want to arm human rights abusers.

    Much hard work remains. But last night was a feminist victory that will give us the energy we need to stop Swedish arms trade to human rights abusers once and for all.

    For original blog, click here >>

Interview with Edith Ballantyne

  • Monday, March 2, 2015 - 15:30

    The modern peace movement arose from the horrors of World War I. It was in 1915 in the midst of this conflict that the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF) was formed. WILPF, celebrating its 100 year anniversary this year, continues its mission to bring about social and political equality and economic justice by nonviolent means to ensure real and lasting peace and true freedom. Peace and nonviolence is a core value underpinning green thinking around the world.

    The Global Greens Charter includes a commitment to nonviolence and striving for a culture of peace and cooperation between states, inside societies and between individuals, as the basis of global security. Green thinking posits that security should not rest mainly on military strength but on cooperation, sound economic and social development, environmental safety, and respect for human rights.

    Edith Ballantyne was Secretary General of WILPF from 1969 until 1992, and its International President from 1992 until 1998. Born in 1922, Edith and her family fled their home in Bohemia in the face of Nazism, and settled in Canada as refugees. She moved to Geneva in 1948 and lives there still.

    Edith Ballantyne and Felicity Ruby discuss the mission and history of WILPF along with what it takes to bring about peace in the world in this fascinating interview. You can read the edited transcript or listen to the interview here.

Women's Power to Stop War Webinar Series Episode 7: Men, Masculinities and Militarism

  • Wednesday, November 26, 2014 - 18:00

    November 26, 2014

    In this webinar, Claire Duncanson, Lecturer International Relations at the University of Edinburgh, discusses the role of men and masculinities in sustaining militarism and war. The particular focus is on the challenges-both theoretical and practical-of transforming militarised masculinities as one crucial route to achieving peace and security.

    Watch the webinar here >>

    Or here:

Women's Power to Stop War Webinar Series Episode 6: Gender, Violence and the State in Asia

  • Thursday, October 9, 2014 - 18:00

    October 9, 2014

    Assistant Professor Amy Barrow examines how the perpetuation of gender-based violence is often shaped by distinct cultural norms, laws, and policies, using examples from within Asia. The webinar considers how states in Asia have responded to international legal instruments including CEDAW and the Security Council Resolution 1325.

    Watch the webinar here >>

     

Regional Conference in Chad on ''Promotion of Women's Participation in Conflict Prevention Mechanisms, Research, Consolidation and Peacekeeping"

  • Monday, September 8, 2014 - 18:00

    September 8, 2014

    The regional conference on the promotion of women's participation in conflict prevention mechanisms, research, consolidation and maintenance of peace in Central Africa and the Sahelian region took place in N'Djamena - Chad, from September 2 to 5, 2014. The goal of the conference was the launch of a high-level advocacy for the promotion of African women’s participation in decision-making on peace and security. Specific objectives included improving and enhancing the knowledge of the participants on the issues and challenges of peace in Central Africa and the Sahelian region, analyze responses, systems and initiatives to combat security threats and mainly examine the role and contribution of women in peace initiatives.

    Read more here >>

Women's Power to Stop War Webinar Series Episode 5: Political Economy of Violence against Women

  • Thursday, August 21, 2014 - 17:45

    Professor Jacqui True outlines a feminist political economy approach that helps to identify the linkages between sexual and gender-based violence against women, gender inequalities, and the global/regional structural processes that exacerbate violence and conflict. She also shows that these structures are modifiable and policy changes could be devised to significantly reduce incidence of sexual and gender based violence  in both ‘peaceful’ and conflict-affected societies.

    Watch the webinar here >>

     

WILPF Secretary General Madeleine Rees Receiving the Award of The Order of the British Empire for Services for Human Rights

  • Monday, June 16, 2014 - 18:00

    June 16, 2014

    Congratulations to Madeleine Rees, Secretary General of Women's International League for Peace and Freedom, on receiving an extraordinary honor of Officer of The Order of the British Empire for her work on women's rights, international peace and security and her contribution to the Preventing Sexual Violence Initiative. This amazing recognition is well deserved!

    Read the press release and find out more about other amazing individuals whom have also been recognized for their work here >>

Women's Power to Stop War Webinar Series Episode 4: Sexual Violence in Conflict

  • Thursday, June 5, 2014 - 17:45

    In our fourth episode Professor Janie Leatherman discusses the causes and consequences of sexual violence in contemporary armed conflict. She addresses the new trends in conflict-related sexual violence and arising challenges in humanitarian responses, reflecting on current strategies of prevention, protection, and caring.

    Watch the webinar here >>

     

Women’s Power to Stop War Webinar Episode 3: Translating International Law to Grassroots Activism

  • Saturday, May 3, 2014 - 17:45

    In the third episode of our Women's Power to Stop War Series, Vanessa Farr takes on four major international instruments; Security Council Resolutions 1325, 2122, the Arms Trade Treaty and the new CEDAW General Recommendation 30.

    Watch the webinar here >>

     

Women’s Power to Stop War Webinar Episode 2: Disarmament in Africa, A Feminist Perspective

  • Thursday, February 20, 2014 - 17:00

    The third episode of WILPF’s Women's Power to Stop War Series tackles the topic of Disarmament in Africa from a Gender Perspective, particularly in Nigeria. Joy Onyesoh discusses issues of Human Security in the context of the Women, Peace and Security Agenda, including the topic of food security in Africa.  


    Watch the webinar here>>

     

Women’s Power to Stop War Webinar Episode 1: Introduction to the Women, Peace and Security Agenda

  • Wednesday, November 27, 2013 - 16:45

    November 27, 2013

    In this webinar, Cynthia Enloe, a Research Professor at Clark University and an engaged WILPF member, introduces the Women, Peace and Security Agenda, brings a feminist perspective and discusses the relevance to anti-militaristic politics of 1915 to 2015. Cynthia is a pioneer in the field of feminist international relations.

    Watch the webinar here >>

     

16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence Campaign