PeaceWomen- Working to monitor and advocate for the full implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1325

The Security Council unanimously adopted Resolution 1325 on women, peace and security, 31 October 2000.

For the full text of the resolution, please CLICK HERE

To receive the 1325 PeaceWomen E-Newsletter, send an email to subscribe@peacewomen.org with "subscribe" as the subject heading.

For past issues of the newsletter, CLICK HERE.

The items in this month’s 1325 PeaceWomen E-News centre around the theme of Protection. This month’s News (Item 2) reflects various protection needs across all regions – ranging from issues related to sexual violence, to those linked to humanitarian crisis and crime. These issues cannot be considered in isolation and do, of course, impact women’s opportunities and capacities to fully participate in public life. But women are not mere hapless victims and as agents of change need to be included in decision making processes including those related to their own protection and peace and security issues more broadly. That being said, protection remains one of the key pillars of the women, peace and security agenda and one that is reflected in various aspects of Resolution 1325. The resolution is, however, only one part of the broader women, peace and security agenda and is but one tool in moving that agenda forward. It is thus useful to consider links with other tools and, for example, to consider the Resolution’s links with the broader work of the Security Council. Considering women, peace and security issues in relation to specific countries on the Council’s agenda is a crucial part of this. There is, however, much to be gained by considering and making use of links to the work of the Council in other thematic areas such as that of Protection of Civilians on which the Security Council this week held an Open Debate. The PeaceWomen Project monitored this and the Open Debate earlier in the month on the theme “Building Sustainable Peace: Post-Conflict Stabilization.” Our Feature Events section (Item 5) highlights the statements of Member States within those debates on women, peace and security themes. One of the important areas of concern within the Protection of Civilians agenda is that of the use of cluster munitions. Several Member States discussed these weapons and called for the abolition of their use because of their devastating impact on civilian populations.

This discussion was particularly timely given the almost simultaneously consideration of a convention to ban their use at the Dublin Diplomatic Convention on Cluster Munitions. WILPF work on disarmament contributed to the campaign to ban such weapons and, in particular, work was done to ensure the reflection of gender issues in the convention. As is noted in our Feature Statement (Item 3), “[g]ender influences the role an individual plays in their community, in their social and economic activities, and their likelihood of becoming a cluster munitions victim as well as their access to medical attention and risk education and awareness programmes.” Women and girls are often disproportionately affected by cluster munitions and, even if not direct victims, face severe economic consequences when they lose male relatives or husbands. The call for the definition of victims in the convention to include both direct and indirect victims was thus an important one. These issues are further discussed in the paper by WILPF on “Cluster Munitions and Gender” which is this month’s Feature Resource (Item 4). This section of our newsletter also highlights the adoption of the Convention on Cluster Munitions on May 28th and we are pleased to note the broad definition of victims and that the preamble makes reference to Resolution 1325 and to the need for gender sensitive assistance to victims.

Another important aspect of the Protection of Civilians debate that is directly linked to the 1325 agenda is that of sexual and gender-based violence. As is noted in our review of the Open Debate, several Member States particularly condemned this violence and there was also much discussion of the very serious problem of sexual exploitation and abuse committed by the very people who are sent to protect communities. A report released this week by Save the Children, featured in our Gender and Peacekeeping Update (Item 7), notes that this problem of sexual exploitation and abuse by UN personnel remains serious and underreported. As Costa Rica noted in the debate, the UN’s “zero tolerance” policy needs to be more than a slogan and should also stimulate Security Council efforts to ensure enforcement of this policy on UN staff.

This need to move beyond rhetoric was also noted in relation to sexual violence in conflict more broadly. The Under Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, John Holmes, too observed that “further robust action was needed to prevent and respond to sexual violence in armed conflict” and Austria called on the Security Council to mainstream the fight against gender-based violence throughout its work and make full use of the range of available measures and tools. This call is echoed in this month’s Feature Initiative (Item 6) – a call for UN and, in particular, the Security Council to act decisively and take action to end rape in war. As we move into June and the Presidency of the United States, we look forward to the Security Council heeding these calls to action and to its taking seriously its important role in ensuring that the protection needs of women are met.

UN PEACEKEEPING CHIEF: MORE FOR MISSIONS
May 29, 2008 (Washington Times) - On Thursday, day of the 60th anniversary of U.N. peacekeeping, Jean-Marie Guehenno pleaded with the international community to address gaps in support for peacekeeping missions. Head of UN Peacekeeping Department also said that rooting out [sexual] abuse by peacekeepers would require "a cultural change" among troop contributors.

IRAQ: IRAQI PRIME MINISTER ARRIVES IN SWEDEN FOR UN CONFERENCE
May 28, 2008 - (IHT) Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki arrived in Stockholm amid tight security Wednesday ahead of a U.N. conference that will review the political and security progress in his country. Feminist organisations show concern about Iraqi women's representation at the meeting.

KUWAIT: IN KUWAIT, FEMALE CANDIDATES MAKE A SECOND TRY
May 14, 2008 - (WOMENSENEWS) Twenty-eight Kuwaiti women are running to break into the all-male National Assembly in the May 17 elections. One of the strongest contenders says their chances depend heavily on the support and influence of their elite families.

BELGIAN WOMAN WAGES WAR FOR AL QAEDA ON THE WEB
May 27, 2008 - (Herald Tribune) She calls herself a female holy warrior for Al Qaeda. She insists that she does not disseminate instructions on bomb-making and has no intention of taking up arms herself. Rather, she browbeats Muslim men to go and fight, and rallies women to join the cause.

UNITED NATIONS: MORE ACTION NEEDED TO COMBAT CIVILIAN DEATHS
May 27, 2008 - (Reuters) Much more needs to be done to prevent the killing and displacement of civilians in places such as Darfur, Somalia, Israel and Columbia, U.N. humanitarian affairs chief John Holmes said on Tuesday. Sexual violence is one of the most recurrent forms of violation against civilians.

THE CRISIS IN ZIMBABWE: A GENDER PERSPECTIVE
May 9, 2008 - AWID interviews Shereen Essof, a Zimbabwean feminist living in Cape Town, and Thoko Matshe, a feminist, women's rights activist and poet - about how gender compounds the already appalling social and political spheres inside Zimbabwe.

COTE D'IVOIRE: VICTIMS OF WAR STILL PAYING THE PRICE
May 14, 2008 - (PlusNews) The people of Bouake are still suffering the consequences of the political crisis that split the country in two in 2002, but the promise that the political situation would stabilise after the main protagonists signed an agreement in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, in March 2007, has not put an end to sexual violence.

SOUTHERN AFRICA: SADC MINISTERS ACCELERATE PROGRESS TOWARD GENDER EQUALITY
May 13, 2008 – (Southern African News Features) Ministers responsible for Gender and Women's Affairs met recently in the Namibian capital, Windhoek, to discuss their draft Protocol on Gender and Development. The objective of the meeting was to prepare for presentation of the protocol to the Summit of Heads of State and Government of the 14-member Southern African Development Community (SADC) in August.

SOMALIA: AMNESTY REPORT "SCRATCHES SURFACE OF ATROCITIES"
May 7, 2008 - (IRIN) The Somali government denied claims by a rights group that its forces and their Ethiopian allies were committing atrocities against the civilian population - even as a civil society source said the report did not go far enough.

FIJI: WOMEN TO BE REPRESENTED IN NATIONAL PEACE AND SECURITY MATTERS
May 6, 2008 – (Fiji Government) The representation of women in all aspects of national peace and security matters is critical. In view of this, Cabinet has agreed that the Minister responsible for women, gender and development, be part of the National Security Council.

BURMA: $3 MILLION REQUESTED BY UNFPA TO HELP WOMEN AND GIRLS DISPLACED BY MYANMAR CYCLONE
May 9, 2008 – (UNFPA) UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund, is appealing for $3 million to address the urgent humanitarian concerns of cyclone-affected populations, particularly women and girls, in Myanmar's Ayeyarwady and Yangon regions.

WOMEN AND THE 2008 GHANA ELECTIONS
May 5, 2008 - (Pambazuka News) A look at the ways in which women are being locked out of the democratic processes in Ghana and argues that societies "cannot claim to be committed to the principles and ideals of democracy and the universal values of equality" if groups within are marginalized.

AHEAD OF DONOR CONFERENCE, SUDANESE WOMEN EXPRESS GRAVE CONCERNS ABOUT WOMEN’S SITUATION AND LACK OF FUNDING
May 5, 2008 – (UNIFEM) Ahead of the second Sudanese Donors’ Consortium, to be held tomorrow and on Wednesday in Oslo, Norway, Sudanese women today expressed grave concerns about the situation of women in Sudan and sent an urgent appeal to donors for resources to specifically address women’s needs.

BRAZIL: LEAVE OR BE KILLED
May 1, 2008 - (Amnesty International The Wire) Women living in Brazil’s shantytowns struggle to survive against a backdrop of gang and police violence, discrimination and state neglect. Across the country, in thousands of favelas and marginalized communities, millions of Brazilians live under the control of criminal gangs. The absence of the state has created a vacuum, which has allowed these gangs to dominate every aspect of life.

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For more international women, peace and security news, CLICK HERE

Ensuring Women and Gender are reflected in the Cluster Munitions Treaty
Statement in preparation for Cluster Munitions Treaty negotiations in Dublin
Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom

As the world’s oldest women’s peace organization, the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF) brings over 90 years of work towards disarmament to the campaign to ban cluster munitions. WILPF welcomed the signing of the February 2007 Oslo Declaration and has since closely monitored efforts to develop an international convention.

Our members looks towards the May 2008 negotiations in Dublin with hope and expectation for a strong and clear Treaty that a) contains a total ban on cluster munitions, b) supports the clearance and reconstruction efforts in all affected communities, and c) provides comprehensive assistance to victims of these indiscriminate weapons.

WILPF strongly believes there is a need for greater awareness of the unique problems facing women in affected communities – in barriers to medical care and risk awareness programs, social stigmatization and psychological trauma, divorce and abandonment, providing for dependents with little access to employment, and risks of extreme poverty.

WILPF therefore calls for the inclusion of a specific reference to UN Security Council resolution 1325 on Women Peace and Security in the preamble of a treaty on cluster munitions, in addition to the reference to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, already included in the present draft. This will help ensure that gender mainstreaming and gender balance issues are duly considered in the formulation and implementation of cluster munitions policies and programs at all levels.

Men, women, girls, and boys are affected differently by the presence of cluster munitions in their communities, with women and girls often disproportionately affected. Experiences from the landmine process have shown that women are less likely to receive medical care, prostheses, and access to mine risk education. Women victims face divorce, abandonment, or stigmatization. Even when they are not victims themselves, the loss of a male relative or husband has severe economic consequences for women in many affected communities.

Gender influences the role an individual plays in their community, in their social and economic activities, and their likelihood of becoming a cluster munitions victim as well as their access to medical attention and risk education and awareness programmes. Data should be disaggregated by sex and age, in order to gain a more comprehensive and representative picture of the effects of cluster munitions on all individuals in affected countries. Women should have equal access to risk education programs.[1]

WILPF calls for the definition of cluster munitions victims to include both direct and indirect victims; persons injured and maimed, as well as their families, and their local community. A broad definition will facilitate the development of programs that reach women, who all too often risk becoming “invisible” secondary victims. Implementing gender perspectives and considerations in the process will improve the effectiveness of a future instrument and its ability to protect civilians.

Prohibiting cluster munitions resonates deeply within communities of activists promoting women's rights and human rights as well as disarmament. Governments can depend on strong civil society support for their efforts to ban cluster munitions, a weapon that causes indiscriminate harm and leaves a legacy of mutilation and death long after conflicts are declared over.

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Security Council Open Debate on Peacebuilding “Building Sustainable Peace: Post-Conflict Stabilization”

This Security Council debate was held on May 9th, 2008 at the initiative of the United Kingdom presidency. The theme of the meeting was based on a concept paper prepared by the UK aimed at bringing international attention to the possible initiatives that will guarantee more effective stabilization and recovery efforts in the period following a ceasefire or peace agreement. According to the UK’s analysis, there are three critical areas of concern which are currently impeding international efforts to help countries emerging from conflict to stabilize and build sustainable peace:

During the open debate, Members States placed significant emphasis on the three critical gaps that were raised by the UK, particularly civilian capacity building in post-conflict situations. Yet, only a handful of Member States stressed the importance of enhancing women’s roles in all levels of decision-making regarding peace processes and post-conflict reconstruction. The UK presidency did not make any references to UNSCR 1325 and related issues concerning women and gender either in their concept paper or during the open debate; however, a few Member States did mention the following gender-related themes:

Women’s Participation in Peace Processes & Decision-Making:
France was the only Member State that explicitly highlighted the need to “strengthen the implementation of UNSCR 1325 (2000) on women, peace and security”, saying that “women’s role in peace actions should be guaranteed, and regional organizations also be involved.” Slovenia, as well as Mexico stressed the “vital role of women’s participation at all levels in post-conflict reconstruction.”

Gender perspectives in resolutions, mission terms of reference, mandates & reports:
Bangladesh insisted on the “empowerment of youth through education and employment, and integration of a gender perspective in all aspects of peace operations.”

SGBV-Assistance to victims:
Panama viewed as crucial for the Council to “establish clear and viable mandates for the future establishment of integrated missions that would include early-on disarmament, demobilization and reintegration programmes; conflict resolution techniques; promotion and protection of human rights; and assistance to victims of sexual abuse.”

Continued education of girls by UN agencies:
Papua New Guinea mentioned the success of the peace process in their region and acknowledge the continued commitment of the United Nations on delivering services, such as the education of girls, in the post-conflict period.

Conclusion
There was a lack of reference to women and gender in the open debate despite the participation of 60 speakers. Only 5 Member States, which was less than 10% of the 60 speakers, mentioned women and gender in varying degrees in their statements.

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During the open debate held in the Security Council on the ‘protection of civilians in armed conflict’ on May 27th 2008, a large number of states made specific reference to sexual and gender based violence in armed conflict. The following is a brief summary of the discussion that took place.

Presentation by Mr. Holmes
Mr. John Holmes, Under Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs observed that further robust action was needed to prevent and respond to sexual violence in armed conflict. Mr. Holmes gave special attention to the DRC as a result of the pervasive nature of SGBV cases in the country. Mr. Holmes called for increased action by the government of the DRC to investigate and prosecute sexual crimes, and reiterated the Secretary General’s recommendation for consideration to be given to the establishment of ad hoc judicial arrangements to prosecute sexual violence cases, and the use of targeted sanctions in response to sexual violence. Mr. Holmes also made specific reference to sexual crimes affecting civilian populations in Southern Sudan and Côte d’Ivoire.

Statements made during the debate

Some countries limited their statements on sexual violence to condemning such crimes (Nigeria, Burkina Faso, Vietnam). There were a number of strong statements that made reference to sexual and gender based violence, sexual exploitation by UN personnel and Resolution 1325.

Prosecution of SGBV crimes
A large number of states strongly condemned SGBV as a weapon of war and called for action to address, combat or prosecute such crimes (Italy, Costa Rica, Peru, Mexico, United States, France). Norway gave support to the Secretary Generals’ recommendations to establish ad hoc judicial arrangements to address sexual violence in the DRC.

In addition, a number of states called for such crimes to be prosecuted by the International Criminal Court, with some countries calling for the Security Council to send a clear message on deterrence by referring these crimes to the International Criminal Court. (Slovenia, Norway, Austria)

Sexual exploitation and abuse by UN personnel
As a result of the recently published report by Save the Children on sexual exploitation and abuse by UN personnel, Costa Rica observed that, “the more important evil was the fate of the children and adult victims of those terrible acts.” The Costa Rican representative also noted that the UN’s ‘zero tolerance’ policy should be more than a slogan, and should also stimulate Security Council efforts to ensure enforcement of this policy on UN staff.

Other countries which called for the zero tolerance policy included Switzerland, Slovenia and Norway, who specifically noted that it was totally unacceptable that United Nations officials should be “an inactive witness to such atrocities, or even worse, be part of such acts.”

Reference to 1325
There was some reference made to the implementation of Resolution 1325, by South Africa and Austria. In addition, Austria called on the Security Council to mainstream the fight against GBV throughout its work and make full use of the range of available measures and tools.

Cluster Munitions
During this debate on the ‘protection of civilians,’ the discussion turned to the use of cluster munitions. Following the lead of the Under Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs, a number of countries called for the suspension and even abolition of the use of cluster munitions because of the devastating impact of these munitions on civilian populations. These countries include Costa Rica, Burkina Faso, France, US, Norway, Libya (in the Gaza Strip), Belgium, Croatia, Indonesia, Slovenia (speaking on behalf of the European Union) and Austria.

Of those that raised the issue, the United States noted that its government did not believe that such weapons could be “completely eliminated,” rather it was important to maintain the distinction between combatants and civilians in order to prevent deliberately targeting civilians.

Conclusion
In the unanimous presidential statement, which was issued after the meeting, the Security Council “expressed its concern that civilians continue to account for the majority of victims,” for crimes including sexual and gender based violence.

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UN: Take Action Against Rape in War
Security Council Can Correct Historic Inaction on Sexual Violence
Human Rights Watch

New York, May 27, 2008 – The United Nations Security Council has a unique opportunity to correct its historic failure to address sexual violence against women and girls in conflict, Human Rights Watch said today. On May 27, 2008, John Holmes, UN under-secretary general for humanitarian affairs, is to address the council on the protection of civilians in conflict, and is expected to call for more consistent and better-coordinated action to prevent sexual violence.

“Many recent conflicts on the Security Council’s agenda show exactly how sexual violence is used as weapon of war, to terrorize people,” said Marianne Mollmann, advocacy director for women’s rights at Human Rights Watch. “But the council’s response has too often been: ‘Not our problem.’”

Since 2000, the Security Council has in principle recognized the relevance of sexual violence to its work, but has done little to effectively prevent and address such violence. In recent actions on Côte d’Ivoire and Sudan, for example, the Security Council failed to raise sexual violence at all as an issue of concern, despite overwhelming evidence that rape and other forms of sexual abuse against women and girls have been committed by various groups in the conflict. The main exception to this has been the council’s most recent resolution on the conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where it raised serious concerns about widespread sexual violence in that country.

In May and June, the Security Council will have several opportunities to take decisive steps to prevent and address sexual violence. On May 27, Holmes speaks at an open meeting at the Security Council while at Wilton Park in the United Kingdom, military peacekeepers from several countries meet to discuss how the United Nations can provide more effective protection for women in war, and what peacekeeping forces need from the Security Council to achieve this. And the United States, which holds the council presidency in June, has indicated its intention to bolster action at the Security Council to prevent sexual violence in conflict, with US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice leading the council in a discussion on this topic on June 19.

The focus on this relatively neglected issue could lead the council to adopt concrete measures to address sexual violence more decisively and coherently. The most effective way to do this would be the establishment of a permanent subsidiary body or other mechanism linked directly to the Security Council, with a mandate to report on and monitor instances of sexual violence in conflict. In 2005, the Security Council set up such a mechanism to monitor and report on, in particular, the recruitment and use of child soldiers. While this mechanism has not escaped criticism, it has certainly increased Security Council attention on the issue of child soldiers.

“The Security Council now says it wants to end sexual violence in war, but good intentions aren’t enough,” said Mollmann. “Women and girls who’ve been abused don’t need words from diplomats, they need action. It’s now time for the Security Council to meet the challenge of ending rape in war.”

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7. Gender & Peacekeeping update

No One to Turn to – The under-reporting of child sexual exploitation and abuse by aid workers and peacekeepers
Save the Children, May 2008

This report focuses on ways to improve the international community’s response to the sexual exploitation and abuse of children by aid workers, peacekeepers and others acting on their behalf in emergencies. The report draws particular attention to the problem of the under-reporting of such abuse and addresses a range of related issues. The report also puts forward a number of proposals to better protect children.

To read the full report, please visit:
http://www.peacewomen.org/resources/Peacekeeping/peacekeepingindex.html

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8. Translation update

UKRANIAN, XHOSA & ZULU TRANSLATIONS NOW AVAILABLE

Total number of available 1325 translations: 87

Ukrainian is the official language of Ukraine and around 51 million people speak the language in the country. It is closely related to Russian and Belarusian since it is an Eastern Slavonic language. In addition, it is spoken in neighboring countries such as in Poland and Slovakia.

Xhosa is one of the 11 official languages of South Africa. It is the second most widely spoken language in South Africa and almost 18% of the country’s total population speaks it. One of the most distinctive features of the Xhosa language is the use of click sounds.

In South Africa, Zulu is the most widely spoken language and it is one of the 11 official languages as well. It is also spoken in other African countries such as Zimbabwe and Swaziland. Zulu and Xhosa are closely related since they are Bantu languages; however, Xhosa uses click sounds while Zulu does not.

The Ukrainian translation was completed by the Women's Information Consultative Center through the coordination of Olena Suslova.

Jan Greyling (University of the Orange Free State Department of African Studies) coordinated the Xhosa and Zulu translations. Mr. Greyling was born and raised in Northern Cape in South Africa. He graduated from Orange Free State Technikon in Bloemfontein in 1983.

For more information on the translators, visit: http://www.peacewomen.org/1325inTranslation/sources.html

Ukrainian, Xhosa (S. Africa), Zulu (S. Africa) are among the languages identified as a priority for translation by women, peace and security advocates.

Other languages currently on this priority list are:
Achehnese (Indonesia)
Acholi/Luo (Northern Uganda, W. Kenya, South Sudan)
Aymara (Bolivia, Peru)
Bari (Sudan)
Dinka (Sudan)
Embera (Colombia)
Hmong (spoken in Laos, Thailand, Burma, Vietnam, and Southern China)
Juba Arabic (Sudan)
Luganda (Uganda)
Malayalam (South Indian)
Mongolian
Nepali
Nuer (Sudan)
Oshiwambo (Namibia)
Paez (Colombia)
Pashto (Afghanistan)
Pidgin (Papua New Guinea)
Quechua (Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, Northern Chile, Argentina, Southern Colombia)
Sangho (Central African Republic)
Shiluk (Sudan)
Tajik
Wayu (Venezuela)
Wayunaiki (Colombia)
Zande (Sudan)

If you know of existing translations of 1325 which are not among the 87 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

To view the 87 translations, visit: http://www.peacewomen.org/1325inTranslation/index.html

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For more information on the “using 1325 in translation” initiative, click HERE

9. Women, Peace and Security Calendar

The Global Week of Action Against Gun Violence
June 2-9, 2008

The Global Week of Action Against Gun Violence highlights the international campaign to stop the proliferation and misuse of small arms.
Each year activists around the world use the Week of Action to raise awareness, campaign for better gun laws and push for stronger regulation of the international arms trade.
In 2007 events were held in more than 60 countries, ranging from a workshop in Cambodia to a rap concert in Mali, from a football match in El Salvador to a photo exhibition in the Czech Republic.

For more information, please click HERE

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2nd moderated E-Discussion Forum on the Gender Quotas as a Mechanism for Promoting Women in Politics
June 4-11, 2008
International Knowledge Network of Women in Politics

This E-Discussion will focus on strengthening the knowledge base about gender quotas, the implementation of gender quotas around the world, and their impact on women's political representation. It will also provide a forum for the exchange of ideas, experiences, and cases related to the following key issues:

1. Quotas and Their Implementation Mechanisms
2. Quota Types and Electoral Systems
3. Resistance to Quotas and How to Overcome It
4. Advocating for Quotas

The E-Discussion will be held between June 4-11, 2008, and will engage women leaders, practitioners, activists and their supporters from around the world.
iKNOW Politics looks forward to receiving your responses to the above mentioned discussion questions as well as to learning about your experiences related to gender quotas. You may contribute to the E-Discussion in English, French or Spanish, and participate at your own convenience.

For more information on and register to the E-discussion, please click HERE

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Global Summit of Women 2008
June 5, 2008, Asia, Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), Viet Nam at 09:00-21:00
GlobeWomen

The Global Summit of Women is a unique global gathering of women influencers and opinion leaders from government and business.

For more information, please click HERE

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Hitting the Ground Running: Research, Activism and Leadership for A New Era
June 5-7, 2008, New York, NY
The Kimmel Center at New York University (NYU)
The National Conference for Research on Women, co-sponsored by The Center for the Study of Gender and Sexuality at NYU

Please join leading scholars, researchers, advocates, and policy makers from across various disciplines and fields June 5-7, 2008 at the Kimmel Center at NYU for The National Conference for Research on Women's Annual Conference. Share information and resources; learn about cutting edge and emerging research on women, gender, and girls; and strategize about ways to work across communities and fields of study.

For more information, please click HERE

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Fellowship for International Leaders
June 5-June 24, 2008, New York, NY

Each year, a group of 20-24 emerging leaders from different regions of the world are selected to become Ford Fellows of the 92nd Street Y. Participating countries change each year. For the 2009 Fellowship, applications are accepted from Azerbaijan, Cambodia, Estonia, Ethiopia, Israel, Latvia, Liberia, Lithuania and Uruguay.

The program includes a three-week residency in New York City and ongoing communication before and after the residency via telephone and email. Fellows are expected to complete assignments prior to their residency to maximize the value of their Fellowship experience and after their residency to evaluate its impact and success.

Applications for the 2009 Fellowship must be postmarked, faxed, or emailed no later than June 30, 2008

For more information, please click HERE

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European Feminist Forum
June 13-15, 2008, Poland

The European “F” Forum builds an open and diverse dialogue, organizes an energetic space for talking about women, and will make change happen in Europe. It takes place on the web, and in real time connection.

For more information, please click HERE

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Women Wielding Cameras Film Festival
June 14, 2008, San Francisco, CA, USA
San Francisco Public Library’s Koret Auditorium, 11am - 5pm

International Museum of Women’s Women Wielding Cameras
International filmmakers Kimberlee Acquaro and Marlo Poras are among the filmmakers who will speak and answer questions about their award-winning films screening at I.M.O.W.'s Women Wielding Cameras free Film Festival in the San Francisco Public Library's Koret Auditorium on Saturday, June 14.

For more information, please click HERE

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Reproductive Health (RH) in Emergencies Conference
June 18-20, 2008, Speke Conference Centre, Munyonyo, Kampala, Uganda
RAISE Initiative in collaboration with the RHRC Consortium

Reproductive Health (RH) in Emergencies Conference 2008 will bring together a wide range of actors from the fields of RH in emergencies, reproductive health, humanitarian assistance and development to contribute to the expansion of comprehensive RH services in crisis settings.

For more information, please click HERE

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3rd African Women in the Diaspora Conference
June 20-21, 2008, Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States at 09:00-21:00
Minnesota African Women's Association, MAWA

MAWA promotes the health and well-being of African refugee and immigrant women and their families in the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul through research, education, advocacy and programming.

For more information, please click HERE

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Peace by Piece Conference
June 24–26 2008, Belfast, Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland is a society emerging from 30 years of conflict. This three day conference will be to reflect, share, strengthen and celebrate the positive role of women internationally during conflict, stepping into transition and moving towards a future of peace where women participate equally on a political, social and economic level. The conference will be based around three themes: women living in conflict, women moving into transition, and women contributing to peace-building.

For more information, please click HERE

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CEDAW: 41th Session of the UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women
June 30- July 18, 2008, New York, USA
Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR)

The Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women will examine the country reports from the following States Parties: Finland, Iceland, Lithuania, Nigeria, Slovakia, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Yemen.

For more information, please click HERE

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For the complete calendar, CLICK HERE

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Best Wishes,
PeaceWomen Team

Sam Cook 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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