WILPF 2015 Conference: Women's Power to Stop War

This panel will amplify the voices of survivors of sexual violence in conflict and their key messages to the leaders of the world. They will provide specific recommendations on what’s needed to end this scourge and bring peace to their communities. Produced by Voice Republic For more podcasts visit http://voicerepublic.com

Reckless exploitation and unsustainable consumption of natural resources degrades the biosphere and worsens climate change. This session will explore how militarism and the military industrial complex, sustained by corporate, political and special interests, contribute. International dependence on production, research and development of weapons and other military requirements both initiates and exacerbates war and inequality worldwide. We will address ecological, societal and political dimensions considering human security needs and the measures, remedies and action required, reflecting efforts to get peace and disarmament into the UN Post 2015 Development Agenda. Our speakers will provide short inputs on; toxic remnants of war, weapons production, global exploitation of natural resources including minerals and extraction, food and water security, gender, health, climate, land, space and energy. You will bring and share perspectives and expertise. We will endeavor to draw conclusions for concrete action, through our movements, which address the vital needs to consider militarism on global sustainability agendas. Produced by Voice Republic For more podcasts visit http://voicerepublic.com

The event will address why women are still excluded from participating in decision-making in peace and security and transition processes. What are the consequences of their exclusion and what happens when they are included? The speakers will look at existing policy frameworks, academic research and experiences from Yemen, Syria, Bosnia and Ukraine. Produced by Voice Republic For more podcasts visit http://voicerepublic.com

The session will share dynamic history of Pakistani women’s struggle for peace and human rights and provide a context to understand the challenges Pakistani women face in 2015. Geo- politics, armed extremism and militant Islam view will be discussed. Strategies will be discussed for involving women from other countries to support women in Pakistan. Produced by Voice Republic For more podcasts visit http://voicerepublic.com

Impunity surrounds the work of Transnational Companies and human rights violations go unpunished and victims are redressed. Currently, there are international initiatives to regulate accountability mechanisms that will set standards and will enable victims to claim justice and redress. In particular, indigenous peoples are affected by human rights violations form transnational companies and in many instances they are not consulted before they are given permission to exploit the land that they live in. This session will provide examples of these human rights violations, will inform on the current situation of the international initiative for accountability and will especially analyse the implications for indigenous peoples and the prominent role that indigenous women are carrying out in this struggle. Produced by Voice Republic For more podcasts visit http://voicerepublic.com

Agricultural and chemical corporations falsely portray factory farming, mono-cropping for commodity export and genetic modification of seeds to withstand heavy herbicide and pesticide use as the solution to world hunger. Accelerated destructive land grabs for commercial agriculture and bio-fuels for export increase global warming and climate disruption, poverty of the dispossessed, migration, and armed conflict. The answers offered by this panel lie in community-controlled agro-ecology that respects local sovereignty and culture and food and worker safety.   Produced by Voice Republic For more podcasts visit http://voicerepublic.com

The Grande Finale will pull together all we’ve heard from the different plenaries, sessions and other activities of the Conference in one coherent, strong message. In our Chair’s Summary, we will firstly outline the path forward for our fellow activists and civil society at large, at the hand of commitments made throughout the three conference days by speakers and particpants. As we know peacemaking starts at ourselves, these commitments are aimed at strengthening the peace movement like never before and focus on becoming the change we want to see in the world. Secondly, we will put forth a clear, time-bound set of demands for change to the world’s leadership and governments as suggested by all our participants and speakers throughout the Conference. These will make clear that after 100 years of activism the women’s peace movement is clear on what we want, need and demand. In this way, we will forge the new peace agenda of the 21st century together, and hope there will be no need to celebrate WILPF’s 200th Anniversary! Voices of the Grande Finale: Madeleine Rees OBE , Secretary General of the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom, Presentation of Conference Summary Edith Ballantyne , Long-standing Member of WILPF New WILPF International President Produced by Voice Republic For more podcasts visit http://voicerepublic.com

Feminist peace activist/academics are uniquely positioned to mentor new generations of activists. Our students can also teach us about the opportunities and the social, political, cultural, economic and religious barriers they face to become engaged. This session will help us to refocus our collective efforts and foster the needs of a new generation of activists, who will carry forward the work of the peace and justice movement. Produced by Voice Republic For more podcasts visit http://voicerepublic.com

This moderated interactive panel discussion with international experts and grassroots women’s rights activists will examine violence against women in fragile and transitional states in Africa, with a particular focus on the experiences of women in Democratic Republic of Congo, Eritrea, Kenya and Uganda. Produced by Voice Republic For more podcasts visit http://voicerepublic.com

Addressing SVC  is on the international agenda in a way not seen before. The UK Preventing SV Initiative is at the basis of groundbreaking commitments by the UN GA, the G8, and many other actors after the 2014 London SVC Global Summit. The landmark “Policy Paper on Sexual and Gender Based Crimes” published by the Office of the Prosecutor of the ICC provides procedural guidelines for investigating and prosecuting sexual and gender-based crimes and hopes to serve as a guide to national authorities. How do these commitments translate into tangible changes? We will give an introduction to the recent international developments, followed by a case study on accountability for conflict-related sexual and gender-based crimes in Colombia, ending the session by contextualising the challenges in light of the persisting impunity worldwide and the role of the EU in promoting the fight against impunity for sexual and gender-based crimes. Produced by Voice Republic For more podcasts visit http://voicerepublic.com

This session offers a unique and timely opportunity to engage with locally-based Iraqi and Syrian women activists working across sectarian lines, as well as with international experts, to address the crisis of women’s human rights in areas controlled by the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS). Produced by Voice Republic For more podcasts visit http://voicerepublic.com

Peace is Loud will present scene selections from The Trials of Spring, a full-length documentary film and series of online shorts that share the stories of women’s leadership in the 2010 and 2011 uprisings in Egypt, Tunisia, Syria, Yemen, Bahrain, and Libya. The intersecting stories reveal the vital and underreported role women play in shaping the region’s future. A discussion will follow the screening, featuring members of the film team and women activists from the MENA region. Produced by Voice Republic For more podcasts visit http://voicerepublic.com

What power do activist, advocate and changemaker have? Building the Movement Plenary will examine organizing and mobilising for change locally, nationally, regionally and internationally. How to bring nonviolent voices into policy making processes to deliver more sustainable peace and conflict prevention. Voices of peace leaders in current and past conflicts from Syria to Northern Ireland will share the reality. We will hear from different perspectives about systems and tools and how to reform and use these to strengthening implementation. Making the multilateral United Nations system work more effectively for peace will be discussed. How civil society builds more than an agenda but a movement for change to prevent conflict and violence including the crisis we face such as environmental degradation. Voices of this Plenary: Nawal Yazeji , Syrian Peace Advocate and Leader, Syrian Women’s League Bronagh Hinds , Participant in Northern Ireland Peace Negotiations, DemocraShe Radhika Coomaraswamy , UN first Special Rapporteur on Violence Against Women- 1994-2003, Lead Author UN Global Study Women, Peace and Security Hakima Abbas , African Feminist Activist, Popular Educator, Movement Builder and Strategist, Association for Women’s Rights in Development (AWID) Moderator: Charlotte Bunch , Activist, Author and Movement Organiser I support Women’s Power’s to Stop War:  Adilia Caravaca , WILPF Costa Rica and  Zala Žbogar , Young WILPF Produced by Voice Republic For more podcasts visit http://voicerepublic.com

The Women’s Power to Stop War Festival is the time to leave panels and workshops behind and celebrate the work of 100 years of peacemaking. The Festival will be filled with poetry, theatre, song and dance, followed by a short reception. We hope all participants join us for this joyous occasion on WILPF’s actual birthday, and party through the night with us! The Festival is open for everyone, so bring along your friends, family, colleagues or people you know will get excited joining us during this glamourous night! Produced by Voice Republic For more podcasts visit http://voicerepublic.com

 SPEAKERS Shirin Ebadi, Nobel Peace Laureate – Nobel Women’s Initiative Zahra’ Langhi, Cofounder and Director – Libyan Women’s Platform for Peace Amal Basha, Chairwoman – Sisters Arab Forum for Human Rights Azza Kamel, Executive Director – ACT Fatima Outaleb, Board of Directors Member and Shelter Director – UAF The event will address the diverse and complex role of women organisations in addressing peace and security issues across the region. Women human rights defenders will share how they are organising to change and provide solutions to the challenges of the current security framework by using different strategies and frameworks Produced by Voice Republic For more podcasts visit http://voicerepublic.com

This four-part workshop series tackles how to ensure international instruments are implemented at the local level and actually make a difference on the ground. Aimed at local practitioners and activists, these are not to be missed if you want to learn how to advocate succesfully!  Universal Periodic Review The purpose of this workshop is to discuss and share good practices in grassroots women’s activism at the international level. It will explain how local actors can participate in the UPR mechanism with the help of international actors, and what their participation at the international level could change at at the local and national level.   Produced by Voice Republic For more podcasts visit http://voicerepublic.com

This four-part workshop series tackles how to ensure international instruments are implemented at the local level and actually make a difference on the ground. Aimed at local practitioners and activists, these are not to be missed if you want to learn how to advocate succesfully!  Arms Trade Treaty This workshop will focus on national implementation of the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) and its gender-based violence provision. It will focus on WILPF’s work to prevent gender-based violence and promote women’s participation within disarmament and arms control, and will share practical advice and expertise from a national perspective.     Produced by Voice Republic For more podcasts visit http://voicerepublic.com

 SPEAKERS Annie Matundu Mbambi, President and Founder – WILPF DRC Maria Butler, Women, Peace and Security Programme Director, PeaceWomen – WILPF Joy Ada Onyesoh, President and WILPF International Executive Committee Member – WILPF Nigeria Sylvie Jacqueline Ndongmo, President and Founder – WILPF Cameroon West and Central Africa as a region is currently facing several violent conflicts. The panel will share their expertise and the work they do together across national borders which is crucial to reach long-term sustainable peace. WILPF is growing stronger in the region and are critical agents for peace, disarmament, and women’s participation. Produced by Voice Republic For more podcasts visit http://voicerepublic.com

Cordaid and the Global Network of Women Peacebuilders will present a new initiative to generate more financial resources for the accelerated implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security, particularly National Action Plans and alternative mechanisms of implementation. Produced by Voice Republic For more podcasts visit http://voicerepublic.com

 SPEAKERS Jens van Tricht, Director – eMANcipator Josephine Wambui, Programme Officer – Oxfam Novib Somalia Liesbeth van der Hoogte, Conflict and Humanitarian Adviser – Oxfam Novib Nikki van der Gaag, Independent Consultant This session provides a buzzing and interactive meeting in small intimate groups. Instead of rotating among potential lovers, participants switch between different professionals in the peace movement. It offers a chance for professionals to exchange experiences and knowledge with one another, while newcomers can learn first-hand what’s it like to be working for sustainable peace. Hosted by the WILPF Wageningen Student Group, this is one not to miss for newcomers! Produced by Voice Republic For more podcasts visit http://voicerepublic.com