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WOMEN'S INTERNATIONAL LEAGUE FOR PEACE AND FREEDOM
1325 PEACEWOMEN E-NEWS
Issue #93
September 2007
FOCUS ON BURMA
The Security Council unanimously adopted Resolution 1325 on women, peace and
security, 31 October 2000.
For the text of the resolution, visit: http://www.peacewomen.org/un/sc/1325.html
For the printer-friendly version of this newsletter and for past issues, visit:
http://www.peacewomen.org/news/1325News/1325ENewsindex.html
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THIS ISSUE FEATURES:
1. Editorial: Working
for Peace in Burma
2. Women,
Peace and Security News
3. Feature Statement:
WILPF Statement on the Situation in Burma
4. Feature
Initiatives: Womens League of Burma Postcard Campaign
5. Feature Analysis: Global
Justice Center: Security Council Obligation to Act to Stop Crimes of Sexual
Violence Against the Women of Burma
6. Feature Resource: Claiming
Rights, Claiming Justice: A Guidebook on Women Human Rights Defenders
7.
Translation Update: Burmese Languages
8.
NGO Working Group on Women, Peace & Security Update: Roundtable
Report: Integration of Gender Priorities in the UN Peacebuilding Commission
9.
Women, Peace and Security Calendar
PeaceWomen is a project of the Women's International League for Peace and
Freedom http://www.wilpf.int.ch
Please visit us at: http://www.peacewomen.org
1. EDITORIAL
The PeaceWomen Team
As we publish this September edition of the PeaceWomen 1325 E-News, the
attention of the world is turned to events unfolding in Burma. From our Feature
Statement from WILPF (Item 3), The Womens International League for Peace and
Freedom sends greetings, solidarity and support to citizens of Burma, who
courageously and non-violently stand up for peace and freedom in their
country. As also noted there, women have suffered in specific ways during the
course of the brutal military dictatorship in that country. Amongst the
violations suffered by women are the crimes of sexual violence to which
attention is drawn in this months Feature Analysis (Item 5). Here the Global
Justice Center to whom we are grateful for this insightful contribution
makes the point that the current violence which the world is noting now is not
new and has been used as a means to retain control over the people of Burma
for decades and the rape and torture of ethnic women has been and still is a
central component of this terror. The piece importantly notes the opportunity
presented for the Security Council to take seriously its commitments under
Resolution 1325 and decisively to act when sexual violence is perpetrated in
such circumstances. It is important that commitment to this vital tool be shown
in country-specific contexts and not merely in annual rhetorical debates.
Womens groups for their part continue to engage with the resolution and
efforts are continually being made to ensure its availability to local actors.
The PeaceWomen Translation Initiative is part of this effort and we have
included in this months Translation Update (Item 7) reference and links to the
8 Burmese language translations of 1325. As an extension of this effort we feature
our 1325 in Translation Initiative through which we examine the usefulness
and importance of having 1325 available in local languages and also seeks to
collect 1325 tools and materials in these languages.
The importance of engaging in concrete action and reaching beyond rhetoric
cannot be overstated. It is hoped, as we approach the seven-year anniversary
of 1325, that the Security Council finds ways to itself take action and to move
implementation efforts forward. An area in which the need to take action could
not be more urgent is that of sexual and gender-based violence. As a first
step, there needs to be better monitoring and reporting on such violence to the
Security Council and we hope to see mechanisms put in place to ensure that this
happens. While non-governmental groups continue to report on trends and
incidents of sexual and gender-based violence, the reporting to Council from
the Secretary General remains limited and wholly inadequate. Many actors are
working to consider ways in which to improve this state of affairs within the
UN system and the Security Council too must play its part. In the meantime, the
work of womens groups and others to document the use of sexual violence
remains critical. This is part of the larger contribution that womens groups
make to building sustainable peace. Burma provides many impressive examples of
such efforts. One of the many initiatives of the Womens League of Burma is
that featured in this newsletter (Item 4). We encourage concerned actors to
participate in their postcard campaign which asks the question Is Defending
Basic Rights a Crime? As we realize in the case of Burma, many women defending
basic rights are in fact persecuted or treated as criminals. The detention of
Aung San Suu Kyi is one important example of this but many other pro-democracy
and human rights activists are facing similar oppression as seen in items
featured in this months news section (Item 2) which highlight the issue in
Burma and elsewhere. The critical role of women human rights defenders is the
subject of this months Feature Resource (Item 6) a guidebook to acknowledge
their role in promoting and protecting rights and to further empower them. The
role of women in peacebuilding more broadly is the subject of several excellent
events featured in our Calendar (Item 9) and is also the topic of this months
NGOWG Update (Item 8). This features the report of a recent roundtable on
women, gender and the Peacebuilding Commission organized by the NGOWG on Women,
Peace and Security and International Alert.
The closing note to this months editorial is a personal one: the PeaceWomen
Team wish to extend a sad farewell to PeaceWomen Project Associate Milkah
Kihunah who is leaving us in October for new and exciting endeavors. Her
contribution to the Project over the last two years is deeply valued and she
will be sorely missed as a colleague and friend.
We continue to welcome contributions to the newsletters content. Contributions
for the October 2007 edition should be sent to enewssubmissions@peacewomen.org
by Thursday 18 October 2007.
2.
WOMEN, PEACE AND SECURITY NEWS
BURMA: WOMEN ACTIVISTS IN HIDING
September 27, 2007 (Irrawaddy.org) Among the Burmese pro-democracy activists
in hiding are many courageous and committed women who have played leading roles
in the recent demonstrations against sharp price increases in fuel, which began
on Aug 19. Authorities have been hunting down at least two dozen activists.
http://www.peacewomen.org/news/SouthAsia/Sep07/burmawomen.html
NOBEL WOMENS INITIATIVE: THE NOBEL WOMENS INITIATIVE CONDEMNS BURMA
ARRESTS
September 1, 2007 (Burmanet.org) The Nobel Womens Initiative condemns the
Burmese government for its continued suppression of the democratic rights of
its citizens and calls for the immediate release of all protestors arrested for
participating in demonstrations against the regimes exorbitant increase in
fuel prices. It is unacceptable that the citizens of Burma be denied the right
to free speech and peaceful protest.
http://www.peacewomen.org/news/SouthAsia/Sep07/Burmainiciat.html
AUNG SAN SUU KYI APPEARS AT PROTEST IN BURMA
September 23, 2007 (Telegraph.co.uk) A Buddhist monk in Burma has described how
Aung San Suu Kyi came out of her home and paid her respects to monks protesting
against the ruling military junta.
http://www.peacewomen.org/news/SouthAsia/Sep07/Avisit.html
FINLANDS PRESIDENT SUPPORTS CREATION OF NEW UN AGENCY ON GENDER ISSUES
September 26, 2007 (UN News) The President of Finland today backed the
creation of a new United Nations agency to deal with gender issues and urged
greater involvement of women in peacemaking and peacekeeping.
http://www.peacewomen.org/news/International/Sep07/Finland_GA62.html
SOUTH AFRICA: WOMEN, THE STATE AND AFRICA
September 21, 2007 - (Pambazuka News) Amina Mama writes, As South Africa
debates the political challenges associated with the ANCs year-end conference
at Polokwane, this is perhaps a good moment to think beyond immediate struggles
and to consider what women have achieved beyond the borders of this country.
http://www.peacewomen.org/news/Africa/SouthernAfrica/September07/SAwomenunite.html
MACEDONIA:1325 REASONS
September 21, 2007 - (OneWorld) On the occasion of September 21, the
International Day of Peace, the Journalists for Women and Children Rights and
Environmental Protection nongovernmental organization, in cooperation with the
French Caritas, launch the 1325 Reasons Why! campaign. The campaign aims to
pressure the Parliament of Macedonia to ratify the UN Resolution 1325 on Women,
Peace and Security.
http://www.peacewomen.org/news/CentralEasternEurope/September07/1325reasons.html
LAUNCH OF UN ACTION PLAN TO EMPOWER WOMEN
September 20, 2007- (MONUC NEWS) Wednesday September 19 2007 marked the
official launch in Kinshasa's Grand Hotel of UN resolution 1325 in the DRC,
entitled "Women, Peace and Security." The resolution envisages an
action plan aimed at empowering women in order to have gender equality and a
durable peace, where there is no impunity for sexual violence and other human
rights violations against women.
http://www.peacewomen.org/news/Africa/GreatLakes/greatlakes.html
BOTSWANA: WHAT OF WOMEN IN POLITICS?
September 20, 2007 (AllAfrica) There will be no special dispensation for women
as political parties go to the primaries in preparation for the 2009 general
elections putting into doubt the parties' commitment to women, empowerment.
http://www.peacewomen.org/news/Africa/SouthernAfrica/September07/botswanaparliam.html
BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA: FUNDAMENTALISM TODAY DEMOCRATIC AND FEMINIST
RESPONSES
September 18, 2007 - (OneWorld) Provoked by the threat of strengthened
ultra-right movements and use of religion to spread anti-democratic and
anti-women policies in the world, the Woman and Society Centre Sarajevo and
Women in Black Belgrade cooperate on a project designed to articulate
strategies of resistance to fundamentalism as biggest threat to democracy, human
rights and in particular women rights today.
http://www.peacewomen.org/news/CentralEasternEurope/September07/bihfunda.html
IRAN: 25 WOMEN'S RIGHTS CAMPAIGNERS ARRESTED
September 18, 2007 (Women living under muslim laws) An educational workshop
on womens rights in Khoram Abad was disrupted after police violently attacked
participants and took them into custody.
http://www.peacewomen.org/news/MiddleEast/September07/25iranian_activists.html
DRC: CALL TO ADDRESS SEXUAL VIOLENCE IN THE EAST
September 14, 2007 - (IRIN) The international community must take urgent action
to eliminate rampant sexual violence in war-torn eastern Democratic Republic of
Congo (DRC), Stephen Lewis, former UN special envoy for AIDS in Africa, has
said.
http://www.peacewomen.org/news/Africa/GreatLakes/Sept07/lewis_DRC.html
BURUNDIANS SAY PEACE MUST INCLUDE TOUGH RAPE LAWS
September 13, 2007 - (WOMENSENEWS) As postwar Burundi prepares for a
reconciliation process based on South Africa's, women's rights advocates say
the first step must be bringing the perpetrators of sexual violence to justice.
http://www.peacewomen.org/news/Africa/GreatLakes/Sept07/burundi_rapelaw.html
JORDAN: PROJECT LAUNCHED TO FIGHT VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN
September 12, 2007 (IRIN) Jordanian officials have joined hands with the
private sector to fight violence against women by launching a five-year project
that will attempt to rectify misconceptions about this phenomenon and provide
badly needed aid to victims, say women rights activists.
http://www.peacewomen.org/news/MiddleEast/September07/jordan_5yearproject.html
CΤTE D'IVOIRE: ALARMING UPSURGE IN REPORTED RAPE OF GIRLS, UN REPORTS
September 7, 2007 - (UN News Service) The most basic rights of children are
violated in Cτte d'Ivoire, the West African country split between the
Government-controlled south and the Forces nouvelles-held north since 2002, and
there is "an alarming degree of violence against children at the community
level," according to a new United Nations report.
http://www.peacewomen.org/news/Africa/WestAfrica/September07/cote_divoire_rape.html
MOROCCO: QUOTAS OVERPOWERED BY MACHISMO
September 7, 2007 (AllAfrica) When Morocco held legislative polls a decade
ago, just two women were elected to the lower house of parliament in this North
African country. Legal reforms enacted since have ensured that women will fare
better when the latest parliamentary ballot gets underway Friday. But for
activists, there is still a long way to go in bringing gender parity to the
Chamber of Representatives.
http://www.peacewomen.org/news/Africa/NorthAfrica/september07/marocco.html
NATO PROVINCIAL RECONSTRUCTION TEAMS NEED A GENDER POLICY, SAY AFGHAN
ADVOCATES
September 6, 2007 - (Advocacy Net News) Advocates for women's rights in
Afghanistan are urging NATO to develop a gender policy for NATO's 25 provincial
reconstruction teams (PRTs), in an effort to better address the needs of women
and bridge the gap between military and civilian reconstruction efforts.
http://www.peacewomen.org/news/MiddleEast/September07/afghan_nato.html
KENYA: WOMEN DEMAND GREATER SAY IN ODM DECISION MAKING
September 4, 2007 - (AllAfrica) The women in the Orange Democratic Movement
have called on the party's hierarchy to formulate rules conducive for more
women to venture into politics.
http://www.peacewomen.org/news/Africa/EastAfrica/September07/KenyaWomenDemand.html
SOUTHERN AFRICA: SADC SUMMIT POSTPONES SIGNING OF GENDER PROTOCOL
September 4, 2007 (AllAfrica) SADC leaders have deferred the signing of the
Protocol on Gender and Development because some member states need more time to
conclude internal consultations following late changes to the document.
http://www.peacewomen.org/news/Africa/SouthernAfrica/September07/genderprotocol.html
For more regional women, peace and security news, please visit:
http://www.peacewomen.org/news/countryindex.html
For more international women, peace and security news, please visit:
http://www.peacewomen.org/news/International/Index.html
3. FEATURE STATEMENT
WILPF Statement on the Situation in Burma
24 September 2007
The Womens International League for Peace and Freedom sends greetings,
solidarity and support to citizens of Burma, who courageously and non-violently
stand up for peace and freedom in their country.
A reign of terror has prevailed in Burma since 1962, the population being
brutally repressed by a military dictatorship; women have suffered in terrible
and specific ways.
The international community has tolerated this military junta far too long. Its
silence has protected a culpable economic exploitation by actors who must be
made to cease their profiteering and deal-making with the regime, currently
headed by General Than Shwe. The current culture of impunity must come to an
end, and those who have committed grave violations of international
humanitarian law must be justly prosecuted.
WILPF calls on all Member States of the United Nations to:
Refuse the credentials of the Myanmar delegation to the 62nd UN General
Assembly, recalling the precedent of the GAs refusal to recognise the
apartheid regime as representative of South Africas population on 13 November
1970 in Resolution 2636
Utilize the current meeting of the Human Rights Council to re-establish the
Special Procedure on Myanmar and call for implementation of the recommendations
of Special Rappoteur Mr. Paulo Sergio Pinheiro (Brazil)
Consider the reports of the Special Rappoteurs on Myanmar and call on the
regime to allow them access to the country for the first time since 2003
Demand that UN humanitarian actors be given access to provide needed assistance
to the estimated 500,000 internally displaced persons
Demand that Aung San Suu Kyi be released from house arrest and permitted to
exercise her political and human rights and freely enter the UN house
Exert pressure on the Than Shwe military regime that it respect the peaceful
demonstrations for democracy currently taking place in Burma
Call on the military regime to engage in immediate talks with the democracy
leaders, who maintain a long-held position of non-violence and support for
dialogue and negotiation.
The terror and profiteering in Burma must end the time for decisive action is
now.
For other WILPF statements, please visit:
http://www.wilpf.int.ch/statements/sindex.htm
4. FEATURE INITIATIVES
Postcard Campaign
The Women's League of Burma: Message to all our friends inside Burma and around
the World
Friends,
June 19, 2007 was the 62nd birthday of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, the Nobel Peace
Prize Laureate. She has now been in detention for nearly 11 years and 8 months
since 20 July 1989.
With the theme Is Defending Basic Rights a Crime?, WLB has launched a
postcard campaign against the Burmese military regime, the State & Peace
Development Council (SPDC), to oppose their unlawful detention of Daw Aung San
Suu Kyi, and other human rights advocates.
Please send the postcard to the nearest SPDC embassy in your area.
In solidarity,
Sisters from the Women's League of Burma
For more information, please contact: Nang Yain, General Secretary
+66 9 858 4668
To view the postcard, please visit: http://www.peacewomen.org/campaigns/Burma-Myanmar/postcard_campaign.pdf
For more Global & Regional Initiatives, please visit:
http://www.peacewomen.org/campaigns/global/index.html
For more Country-specific Initiatives, please visit:
http://www.peacewomen.org/campaigns/countriesindex.html
5. FEATURE ANALYSIS
The Security Council is Obligated under Resolution 1325 to Act Now to Stop
the Wide-Spread Crimes of Sexual Violence Against the Women of Burma
Global Justice Center
China
should be reminded that gang rape is not an Olympic sport, but a war
crime.
Janet Benshoof, President, Global Justice Center and long time Burma activist
The current violence being employed against the people of Burma by the ruling
military junta is not new. Violence has been used as a means to retain
control over the people of Burma for decades and the rape and torture of ethnic
women has been and still is a central component of this terror. The
recent uprising and violent response provides an opportunity for the Security
Council to carry out its own mandate under Resolution 1325, providing critical
leadership to a resolution which holds great promise for women that has yet to
be realized. Resolution 1325 should impose an independent and additional
obligation on the Security Council to intervene when acts of sexual violence
are being perpetrated against women in a widespread or systematic manner, as a
weapon of war or as an instrument of genocide.
Numerous reports by womens groups from Burma have documented the widespread
use of rape, sexual slavery and other forms of sexual violence. [See License to
Rape, Shan Women's Action Network ; Shattering Silences, Karen Women's
Organization; Catwalk to the Barracks, Mon Women's Organization; No Safe Place,
Refugees International; Poisoned Flowers, Palaung Women's Organization.] It is
time that crimes perpetrated by State Peace and Development Council (SPDC)
leaders are no longer buried under the rubric of human rights violations, but
called what they are: war crimes, crimes against humanity and potentially even
genocide. In addition to its obligations to act under its Chapter VII
mandate to maintain international peace and security as well as under
Resolution 1674 on the Responsibility to Protect, the Security Council has an
obligation to act to stop the wide-spread use of sexual violence against the
women of Burma under Security Council Resolution 1325.
Resolution 1325 remains today more a promise than a reality due in part to a lack
of enforcement and accountability mechanisms, but the use of SCR 1325 in a
legal context is undeveloped. The Security Council should take the lead
in enforcing what it so progressively took the lead in passing. The
Security Council should immediately take all actions necessary to stop the
murders of innocent people in Burma and hold the military junta commanders
criminally accountable under every means possible, including under Resolution
1325.
The Global Justice Center is an NGO based in New York that provides legal
representation for women leaders in developing democracies and transitional
justice situations to ensure strategic and timely enforcement of international
equality guarantees. (http://www.globaljusticecenter.net)
Claiming Rights, Claiming Justice: A Guidebook on Women Human Rights
Defenders
APWLD, September 2007
This guidebook is an important initiative to acknowledge the valuable
contribution of women human rights defenders in the promotion and protection of
human rights, and to empower them further in their role. It builds on their
achievements, including those attained in the framework of the three-year
international campaign on women human rights defenders.
To view this report, please visit:
http://www.peacewomen.org/resources/Human_Rights/A%20guidebook%20on%20HR%20defenders.pdf
7.
TRANSLATION UPDATE: LANGUAGES OF BURMA
1325 Translation Update: Total number of available translations: 80
Burmas official language is Burmese, which is spoken by approximately 65% of
the population. There are four major language families: Sino-Tibetan,
Austronesian, Tai-Kadai, and Indo-European, and a wide variety of languages are
spoken, especially by ethnic minorities. The following languages of Burma
are available:
Burmese
Kachin
Karen
Karenni
Kuki
Lahu
Pao
Rakhaing
Shan
The majority of the above translations were coordinated and produced by the
Women's League of Burma (an umbrella women's organization comprising 11 women's
organizations from Burma)
Email: wlb@womenofburma.org
Website: http://www.womenofburma.org/
To view available languages of Burma and other featured translations on the
Peacewomen website, please visit:
http://www.peacewomen.org/1325inTranslation/index.html
If you know of existing translations of 1325 which are not among the 80 on the
PeaceWomen website, or would like to volunteer as a translator, suggest
potential translators or add languages to the list for priority translation,
please contact info@peacewomen.org
Other languages currently on the priority list are:
Achehnese (Indonesia)
Acholi/Luo (Northern Uganda, W. Kenya, South Sudan)
Aymara (Bolivia, Peru)
Embera (Colombia)
Hmong (spoken in Laos, Thailand, Burma, Vietnam, and Southern China)
Luganda (Uganda)
Malayalam (South Indian)
Mongolian
Oshiwambo (Namibia)
Paez (Colombia)
Pashto (Afghanistan)
Pidgin (Papua New Guinea)
Quechua (Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, Northern Chile, Argentina, Southern Colombia)
Romani (or Romany)
Sangho (Central African Republic)
Shilook (Sudan)
Wayu (Venezuela)
Wayunaiki (Colombia)
Xhosa (S. Africa)
Zande (Sudan)
Zulu (S. Africa)
USING 1325 IN TRANSLATION
As part of its 1325 Translation Initiative, PeaceWomen is soliciting
information on how translations of Resolution 1325 are being used and the
impact of these translations on the work of women peace and security advocates.
We invite anyone who has used translations of 1325 for outreach, advocacy or
other purposes, or who may know how translations of the resolution are being
used, to provide us with information detailing among other things:
Which particular translation(s) of 1325 you have used or know are being used
Who carried out the translation (if known) or how the translation(s) was
accessed
The types of activities for which this translation(s) has been used (e.g.
workshops, radio programs) and your views about the impact of such activities
in promoting resolution 1325
What you believe to be the importance of translating Resolution 1325 into
local languages
Kindly contribute to the Using 1325 in Translation effort by responding to
these questions or submitting any other information on translating UNSCR 1325
to info@peacewomen.org
For more information on the using 1325 in translation initiative, please
visit:
http://www.peacewomen.org/1325inTranslation/using_1325_translations/index.html
8.
UPDATE FROM THE NGO WORKING GROUP ON WOMEN, PEACE AND SECURITY
Roundtable Report: Integration of Gender Priorities in the UN Peacebuilding
Commission
The Peacebuilding Commission can play a central role in the implementation of
SCR 1325 at the local and national levels, by coordinating, promoting and
supporting engagement with womens groups and in mobilizing political will at
the national level to further advance gender priorities and policy, including
in regard to Security Sector Reform.
In June 2007, the NGO Working Group on Women, Peace and Security, in
conjunction with International Alert initiated a roundtable focusing on the
gender dimension of peacebuilding in Sierra Leone and Burundi, entitled
Enhancing Security and the Rule of Law: How can gender be better integrated
into the priorities of the UN Peacebuilding Commission? The Roundtable was
sponsored by the Permanent Missions of the Kingdom of Norway to the United
Nations and the Permanent Mission of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to the
United Nations,
The outcome document prepared in response to the roundtable is now available.
For the full report, please visit
http://www.peacewomen.org/un/women_reform/PBC/PDF/Roundtable_5_June_07.pdf
For more information on the NGOWG & its events visit:
http://www.womenpeacesecurity.org/
9.
WOMEN, PEACE AND SECURITY CALENDAR
Examining Present Achievements, Building Future Peace and Justice
October 2-5, 2007 Armenia, NGO Democracy Today in partnership with Kwina
till Kwina
This conference will consist of bringing 30 female mayors and leaders from
border villages in Armenia and Artzakh (Nagorno Kharabakh) to convene in Hadrut
and Stepanakert (Artzach) for a three-day conference, to discuss specific roles
of women in sustaining stability and peace in complex situations in border
regions. The Conference aims at designing models of effective inclusion of
women in the peace process, taking into consideration local realities and
international experience. This Conference will also examine current problems
related to security and stability in situation of frozen conflict. The
participants will work on preparing recommendations to enhance security and
foster development in their communities. The format of the conference will
consist of an opening session, a series of panel discussions, and a concluding
session with a rollout of conclusions and recommendations.
Tel.: 3741531956; 3741565680 or mobile: 091424559
Email: Gulnara.Shahinian@gmail.com
Book Reading: Women Building Peace: What They Do, Why It Matters
October 30, 2007 at 5:30 pm in New York City at 777 United Nations Plaza
Celebrate the 7th anniversary of Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women,
Peace and Security with Sanam Anderlin. In her book, Sanam Anderlini
offers a comprehensive, cross-regional analysis of women's peacebuilding
initiatives around the world. Anderlini also traces the evolution of
international policies in this arena and highlights the endemic problems that
stunt progress. Her astute analysis, based on extensive research and field
experience, demonstrates how gender sensitivity in programming can be a catalytic
component in the complex task of building sustainable peace, and provides
concrete examples of how to draw on women's untapped potential.
For more information, please contact Cora Weiss at cweiss@igc.org
Responding To Trafficking For Sexual Exploitation In South Asia: A Regional
Conference In India
October 10-11, 2007, New Delhi, UN.GIFT
As the guardian of the UN Protocol against Trafficking in Persons, UNODC is taking
the lead on an initiative to produce a turning point in the fight against
trafficking in persons. It is called the UN Global Initiative to Fight Human
Trafficking (or UN.GIFT). To launch UN.GIFT in South Asia, UNODC is organizing
a major awareness-raising event in New Delhi. This Conference entitled
the South Asia Regional Conference on Human Trafficking will bring together
private sector leaders, government officials, civil society organizations, and
partnering UN agencies in order to generate strategies and declare support for
combating human trafficking, especially the trafficking of women and children
for commercial sexual exploitation. Aside from opportunities to network, share
best practices, and mobilize funds, one key result of the event will be the
announcement of a Delhi Declaration, which will lay the foundation for
post-conference follow-up. The Government of India (through the Ministry of
Home Affairs and the Ministry of Women and Child Development) is partnering
with the UNODC for the October conference.
For more information, please visit:
http://www.giftasia.in/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=40&Itemid=210
54th Jane Addams Childrens Book Awards
October 19, 2007, 2:30 pm at 777 United Nations Plaza (2nd Floor), New York
This annual event offers a memorable afternoon of presentations, responses by
honorees or their representatives and an opportunity to meet and talk with each
honored guest. This year, we are expecting honorees Cynthia Kadohata, Amy Lee
Tai, Felicia Hoshino, Elizabeth Winthrop, Tim Tingle and Jeanne Rorex Bridges.
A reception and book signing will follow the presentations, with the honored
books available for purchase.
For more information, please visit http://www.peacewomen.org/frame/calendar/October07/JABookAwards.html
Gender, War, and Militarism-An International Conference
October 25-26, 2007, Alice Paul Center for Research on Women, Gender, and
Sexuality, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
For more information, please click visit http://www.sas.upenn.edu/wstudies/gwmconference/
2-Day International Conference-Gender, Rights and Empowerment In Southeast
Asia
October 30-31, 2007, Bangkok, Thailand
The aim of this conference is to analyze women's socio-economic roles, their
changing contexts and opportunities, and the efforts made by governments and
NGOs to enhance their contributions.
Specifically, the objectives are:
For more information, please visit
http://geocities.com/wari9/conference2006.htm
For the complete calendar, visit: http://www.peacewomen.org/frame/calendar/calendar.html
The PeaceWomen is a project of the Women's International League for Peace and
Freedom: http://www.wilpf.int.ch/.
Previous issues of 1325 PeaceWomen E-news can be found on-line at
http://www.peacewomen.org/news/1325News/1325ENewsindex.html
Questions, concerns and comments and other submissions should be directed to:
enewssubmissions@peacewomen.org.
Best Wishes,
PeaceWomen Team
Sam Cook, Milkah Kihunah and Susi Snyder
Women's International League for Peace and Freedom
United Nations Office
777 UN Plaza, New York, NY 10017, USA
Tel: 1.212.682.1265
Fax: 1.212.286.8211
Email: enewssubmissions@peacewomen.org
Web: www.peacewomen.org
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