General Women, Peace and Security

Regional Dialogues on Women Building Peace

'Strengthening Women Building Peace in South Asia', Kathmandu, June 25-28, 2001

Moved by the sufferings, human rights violantions and inhuman conditions reigning in their country, the National Union of Sahara Women urged individuals world-wide, humanitarian organizations and the international community, particularly the United Nations, to assume their responsibility in the protection of human rights in the occuppied territories of Western Sahara.

The Union of Saharawi Lawyers (USL) launched on the International Day of Solidarity with the Dissappeared Saharawis, an appeal urging the international community, and the United Nations Mission for a Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO), to asssume their responsibility regarding the human rights violations of Saharawi citizens in the occupied territories of Western Sahara, and the Moroccan government to stop its crimes against humanity.

We, the representatives of women's organizations in Sri Lanka came together in Colombo, Sri Lanka on 7 June 2002 to make recommendations regarding women, conflict, and the peace process. In our deliberations we came to the following conclusions:

Women in Security, Conflict Management and Peace (WISCOMP) invites applications from South Asian professionals and scholars under the age of 45 for its Scholar of Peace Fellowships awarded for academic research, media and special projects. WISCOMP is a South Asian research and training initiative that seeks to promote an inclusive, gender sensitive discourse on issues related to peace and security in South Asia.

Part 2 of the "Akkini Paravaikal" (Volcanic Birds) of Nitharsanam Women Unit of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) was released in Trincomalee Friday evening. Trincomalee district political head of the LTTE Mr.S.Elilan handed over the first copy of the CD to the mother of a LTTE martyr at the event held in Trincomalee Town Hall.

The Women's Network for Peace and Freedom is dismayed by the deteriorating situation in Sri Lanka, and by the failure of the parties to the conflict to respect and abide by the 2002 ceasefire agreement. Particularly of concern are the deaths - and, in some cases, targeting - of innocent civilians and the displacement of people, and the failure of the international community to take effective action to bring an end to this conflict.

Dear All,

The Womens Network takes this opportunity to condemn the assassination of Jaffna District Tamil National Alliance (TNA) parliamentarian Nadarajah Raviraj on Saturday the 10th of November.

Women in Security, Conflict Management and Peace (WISCOMP) organized a roundtable to address the issue of human security in Pakistan. A group of young Pakistani scholars and professionals shared their views and concerns regarding refugees, displaced persons, and sustainable development, among others.