Women, Peace and Security Initiatives: South East Asia/Pacific

Global Justice for Burma Petition
The Global Justice Center, All Day Buffet, Serene Communications, the 88 Generation Students, the US Campaign for Burma, the International Burmese Monks Organization, and New Words

Coinciding with the opening of the Beijing Olympics on August 8, 2008, this group of organizations will launch an international campaign to bring Burma’s General Than Shwe and the military regime in Burma to justice. This petition urges the United Nations Security Council to uphold its international legal obligations under Security Council Resolutions 1325 and 1820 on women, peace and security and 1674 on civilians in armed conflict by referring the situation in Burma to the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court in order to end impunity for Senior General Than Shwe and his military junta.

To sign the petition, please click here

To read more about the Global Justice for Burma campaign, please click here

Call for applications for 7th Leadership Course on Gender, Sexuality, and Health in Southeast Asia and China
August 25 - September 13, 2008
This 19-day course aims to provide the participants with context-specific and gender-sensitive knowledge on sexuality and sexual and reproductive health in Southeast Asia and China. The deadline for applications is 30 June 2008.

For more information:www.seaconsortium.net

5th Women Take Back the Night in South Korea!
July 4, 2008, 6:30pm, Naminsa madang, Seoul, South Korea (and many other cities in Korea)
Women Take Back the Night is an international event, with marches and rallies occurring around the world since 1976. In that year, in Belgium, women attending the International Tribunal on Crimes Against Women walked together holding candles to protest the ways in which violence permeates the lives of women worldwide.

In South Korea, we had a first national protest in 2004. At that time the consecutive murder incident against women was occurred. So through the catchphrase of “Under the moon light, Women Take Back the Night” we raised a question about sexual violence against women and the attitudes of mass media.

2008, this year, we will have 5th Women Take Back the Night. In this time we hope to make solidarity with Asia women. We invite you gladly.

If you want to be with us, please send your supportive message. And show your brave and wisdom. We will deliever your message in the event and share your support with women in South Korea. We will be waiting for your response. Thank you very much.

Contact information:
Niya (Korea University Girls Students Association Committee)
E-mail: murffy@hanmail.net

For more information, please click HERE

Regional & International Spotlight on Women
Peace and Security
femLINKPACIFIC
This article focuses on women’s involvement and participation in peace and security issues on the regional level in June 2008. In the beginning of the month, femLINKPACIFIC participated in the Forum Regional Security Committee (FRSC) and they worked to further advance women, peace, and security issues in official spaces. The following is an excerpt from the article:

"Our network was hoping that officials would recognise the need to support the further operationalization of “1325”. We hoped that they would…
Say “Yes” to ongoing collaboration and partnership with Pacific Peacewomen
Say “Yes” to an Annual Pacific Forum statement at the UN Security Council Open Debate
Say “Yes” to incorporate “1325” into the Biketawa Declaration
Say “Yes” to equitable representation of Pacific Peacewomen as advisers, envoys and eminent persons
Say “Yes” to implementation of recommendations from the 2006 Gender Conflict Peace and Security consultation and 2007 Women, Peace and Human Security Consultation
Say “Yes” to Women at the Peace and Security Table"

In addition, the article sheds light on the Security Council debate in June and how UNSC Resolution 1325 would be affected by the new resolution, UNSC Resolution 1820- End Sexual Violence in Conflict.

To read the article, please click HERE

Improve Women's Livelihoods in Rinjani, Indonesia
World Neighbors (sponsor)
Mount Rinjani is one of the largest volcanic mountains in Indonesia. Communities live on the margins of the forests surrounding the Rinjani area where high population density and population growth are found. Local farmers clear forests to cultivate crops and tree gardens together, in a region physically isolated and economically deprived. Men often migrate to Malaysia in search of jobs leaving behind their wives to take care of the household with little or no resources to sustain them. The project will use participatory methods to help women living in the forest margin areas, especially those whose husbands have migrated, to solve their priority problems. The program, which costs $12,000, will strengthen links between family planning, reproductive health & sustainable use of natural resources. The program will also enable women to have a greater voice in forest resource management and provide them with new opportunities. To learn more and/ or contribute to this program, please click here, or contact Mr. Stefan Wodicka, Area Representative, South East Asia, Ketut Tagen, Banjar Tarukan, J1 Raya Mas, No. 53 Desa Mas, Ubud, Gianyar, Bali, Indonesia. Tel: 011-62-361-975707.

"The Prophetic Mission of Women in the Asia Pacific Region" Conference
May 3-8, 2004
The Catholic Women’s League Fiji will host, jointly with the World Union of Catholic Women’s Organizations (WUCWO), the Conference on the Prophetic Mission of Women in the Asia Pacific Region. Discussions will ce centered around three focus areas: The Trafficking on Women and Children, Violence against Women and the Ongoing Education for Women. The Catholic Women’s League Fiji is looking to strengthen its work in the rural communities amongst its members. For more information contact the Catholic Women’s League Fiji.

Men Against Violence Against Women
August, 2003
Vanuatu Women’s Centre held its first Advocacy training for Men Against Violence Against Women, in collaboration with the Pacific Women’s Network Against Violence Against Women. The training was facilitated by Fiji Women’s Crisis Centre Coordinator, Shamima Ali. The topics addressed in the training included, Domestic Violence, Sexual Harassment, Rape, Child Abuse, Portrayal of Women in the Media and Cultural and Religious Attitudes in relation to Women and Children. All 25 participants made commitments to undertake activities to address violence against women within themselves, their families, workplace, community and their countries. For more information visit Fiji Women’s Crisis Centre.

CHAMPS - Safe Games Campaign
May, 2003
The Safe Games Campaign is a joint initiative between the Secretariat of the Pacific Community, the Fiji Ministry of Health, together with local and regional partners including AIDS Task Force of Fiji, Marie Stopes International Fiji, Fiji Red Cross, Reproductive and Family Health Association of Fiji, the Pacific Islands AIDS Foundation and the Forum Secretariat, among others. The aim of this campaign, which will benefit 22 Pacific Island countries, is to increase awareness about the risks and dangers of HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted illnesses (STIs). Click here to read the press release. For more information visit the Secretariat of the Pacific Community.

Southeast Asian Workshop on Emergency Contraception
October, 2002
Recognizing the urgent need to address the political, structural and cultural barriers to mainstreaming Emergency Contraception in the region, the Pacific Institute organized the first ever Southeast Asian Workshop on Strategies to Promote Access to Emergency Contraception from October 24 to 26, 2002 in Bangkok, Thailand. Due in large part to the lack of access to reproductive health information and services in the region, Southeast Asia alone accounts for 40% of the more than 500,000 maternal deaths that occur each year worldwide. Among those attending were more than 30 non-governmental leaders, medical and health service professionals and policymakers from the Philippines, Indonesia, Vietnam, Cambodia, Myanmar, East Timor, Thailand, India and Bangladesh. The purpose was to promote Emergency Contraception and women's sexual and reproductive health and rights. Click here for the Southeast Asian Manifesto. For more information visit the Pacific Institue for Women’s Health.