Resolution on Burundi
Women's International League for Peace and Freedom, July 2000

The Women's International League for Peace and Freedom's International Racism Seminar held July 26 - 29, 2000 in Berlin, understands that at this time protagonists in the conflict in Burundi are preparing to sign a peace agreement finalized with the help of former President of South Africa, Nelson Mandela. WILPF supports the principle of equal representation and participation of all groups at all levels of political, economic and decision making structures in Burundi. Tension in Burundi is very high, not unlike the similar situation in Rwanda immediately prior to the genocide, subsequent to the peace treaty.

The Women's International League for Peace and Freedom's International Executive Committee, meeting in Berlin, July 31 - August 4, 2000,

Notes with dismay the disproportionate and unequal resources, political emphasis and action to countries in conflict in Africa and those elsewhere on the globe, particularly Europe.

Calls on the Security Council to:

Learn from the horror of Rwanda and pay attention to all early warning advice available from the UN system and NGOs and dispatch an adequate peace keeping force including an adequate human rights observer mission while there is still peace to be kept;

Ensure that all peacekeepers and human rights observers undertake adequate gender and cultural sensitivity training given by women and men from Burundi and that at least 50% of the peace keepers are women;

Ensure an adequate post-conflict reconstruction program, including disarmament, demobilization and re-integration of combatants;

Calls on UNIFEM to continue and increase efforts in advocating for women's involvement in all peace negotiations considering that women were only observers in the recent negotiations, conflict prevention, conflict resolution, peace building and post-conflict reconstruction.

Calls on UNICEF to continue and increase efforts to address the situation of children in Burundi, especially addressing basic needs and trauma recovery.

Calls for the cancellation of Burundi's debt as an essential way of reducing tension on the national budget and calls on UNDP to solicit and direct funds to Burundi for poverty alleviation and post conflict reconstruction,

WILPF sections are called on to:

Lobby their governments to support and contribute to actions in support of peace in Burundi;

Create sisterly and cooperative relations with the WILPF Burundi group in order to transmit WILPF expertise on opposing war, supporting women in war situations, post conflict reconstruction, conflict resolution, poverty alleviation and trauma counseling.

Visit Burundi to support and learn and share skills with the women of WILPF Burundi in all their peace activities.

ACTION: Send to Burundi government and UN Missions, UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, UNICEF, UNIFEM, UNDP, IMF, World Bank.