Report on WILPF Australia’s Activities Related to Security Council Resolution 1325
WILPF (Australian Capital Territory- ACT) branch, Canberra, June 2003

Two years ago, the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF) Australian Capital Territory (ACT) branch in Canberra began working on Resolution 1325. Over the past two years they have made presentations and conducted workshops at the local level and also at national and international conferences, representing the WILPF Australian Section. In addition, they have received a grant to develop educational /informational packages on Resolution 1325.

It is not only the ACT branch that is actively working on Resolution 1325. The WILPF Australian Section adopted Resolution 1325 as its top priority for education and action at its Triennial Conference in Brisbane in May 2003. In addition, WILPF branches in Brisbane and Adelaide have also held workshops on Resolution 1325.

The WILPF ACT branch sent PeaceWomen a list of their activities over the past year related to Resolution 1325. Below are excerpts from this list:

• June 2002: WILPF members made a presentation on the relationship between the struggle for women’s suffrage and the birth of WILPF as an international movement as background to a workshop on 1325 at the National Women’s Constitutional Convention, Canberra. The final workshop recommendations included:

-Target policy and decision makers (including aspiring candidates) at local, state and federal levels - educate them on UN Conventions, treaties and resolutions and their ongoing accountability for implementation and monitoring.

-Write to the Australian government (as a UN member state), via respective federal Minister/s seeking feedback as to action the Government intends to take with regard to Resolution 1325; particularly the participation of women in decision-making and peace processes. Follow up with letters to all elected members of State, Territory and Federal legislatures.

• October 2002: WILPF initiated a workshop on 1325, attended by women doctors, lawyers, scientists and journalists, most of whom were also mothers. This led to

-The development of a Statement for Peace and against War, endorsed by the WILPF Section, affirming the goals of 1325 which was placed on the WILPF website and circulated around Australia in hard copy, and tabled in the Senate with over 6,000 signatures in March 2003

-A letter to the Prime Minister and the various Ministers requesting information about the way in which 1325 was being forwarded across all Government portfolios. Replies were received from Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister; Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade; Senator Robert Hill, Minster of Defence; Department of Health and Aging; and Hon Dr Nelson MP, Minister for Education, Science and Training

These replies were very supportive in principle of the Resolution and indicated how it was being enacted in each portfolio.

• April 2003: WILPF National Section obtained a $10,000 grant for developing two educational packages designed for the general community and secondary school students and an information package for Federal parliamentarians on 1325 from the National Office of the Status of Women via the Womenspeak consortium convened by the YWCA

• May 2003: WILPF Section at its Triennial Conference in Brisbane adopted Security Council Resolution1325 as its top priority for education and action. WILPF branches in Brisbane and Adelaide have since held workshops on 1325

• June 2003: Members of WILPF ACT have begun consultations with Federal MPs, in relation to the proposed information package for Federal Parliamentarians. WILPF ACT, in its consultation efforts, has support from women in all parties.

• July 2003 WILPF women attending the International Women’s Summit in Brisbane will be distributing material about 1325.

For more information about this report, contact Margaret Bearlin, WILPF ACT branch at: mbearlin@effect.net.au or call 02 6251 4607.

To contact the WILPF Australia national office, call (+61 7) 3800 3749 or email mdziesak@bigpond.com.