Updated: 3/13/08 

On February 7, Advancing Human Rights committee member Tzili Mor addressed the U.N. Committee on the Rights of the Child in Geneva regarding U.S. violations of the Optional Protocol on Children in Armed Conflict:

"The nearly 14,000 boys and girls who actually sign up for military service represent only a tiny fraction of the youths targeted annually by military recruiters who have become an ominous presence in elementary schools, junior and high schools across the country where students as young as 11 can participate in Cadet and Training Corps. These are military funded school programs in which military instructors teach students about uniform inspection and drills (including ones using wooden guns or real firearms for the high school kids).  Even younger children are also allowed to attend the programs because they have older siblings in the program and they would otherwise have to walk home alone.

WILPF is calling on women across the U.S. to convene peace tables, or grassroots strategy sessions, in a strategic effort to discuss and develop a harmonized agenda to prevent war. We have created a toolkit to aid you in your discussions. These toolkits can be used as guides to help articulate and prioritize a framework for local call for actions. We hope that each women's peace table will be able to adapt the toolkit to the needs of their participants. We are currently publicizing this effort through the websites and newsletters of other national women’s organizations and at myriad women's meetings across the country and virtually.

The data and discussions from each peace table will be woven into a broader, national agenda for policy reform and best practices that could move our nation toward a future of sustainable peace with respect for the freedom and human rights of all. For centuries women have been working for peace, it's now time to hear their voices at the table.

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Updated: 2008-02-22 

The WILPF-UN Office in New York welcomes WILPF members to come to New York City to participate in the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) taking place 25 February - 7 March 2008.

This year's main theme on which governments will negotiate policy is:
"Financing for gender equality and the empowerment of women." The Commission will also be reviewing the implementation of previous CSW agreed policy on "Women's equal participation in conflict prevention, management and conflict resolution and in post-conflict peace-building" adopted at the 2004 CSW, to identify remaining gaps and challenges.

We look forward to welcoming delegates to attend the Commission, participate in WILPF's advocacy with governments around the CSW themes and to be involved in the various side events taking place.

But there is a lot each one of us can do to build momentum for a peaceful solution: quality and quantity of non-governmental organization preparation for and

Educate yourself—use this information packet, gather and use the resources listed here, follow the news, and analyze the news you read.

Educate others—request additional information packets to distribute, copy this packet, organize a public program using the suggested speakers (list included), write letters to your local paper (sample included), talk to your friends and family and neighbours.

Speak up loud and clear—raise the urgent need for a peaceful solution (suggested solutions included) at every opportunity and public forum on the Middle East, war and peace events, and especially at rallies and programs calling for an end to the War against Iraq. We need to add the call for a peaceful resolution to the Iran crisis to all anti-war mobilizations.

Six young black men are headed for 20+ year prison sentences in a clear case of Jim Crow "justice." Their families are fighting but need our support. Will you stand with them?

Last fall in Jena, Louisiana, the day after two Black high school students sat beneath the "white tree" on their campus, nooses were hung from the tree. When the superintendent dismissed the nooses as a "prank," more Black students sat under the tree in protest. The District Attorney then came to the school accompanied by the town's police and demanded that the students end their protest, telling them, "I can be your best friend or your worst enemy... I can take away your lives with a stroke of my pen."1
 
A series of white-on-black incidents of violence followed, and the DA did nothing. But when a white student was beaten up in a schoolyard fight, the DA responded by charging six black students with attempted murder and conspiracy to commit murder.

read our sign on letter for the Jena 6

Check out the Jena 6 website: freethejena6.org!

WILPF Statement on the situation in Burma

The Women’s 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.

a revision of the 1978 Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA)

September 17, 2007 Constitution Day

On July 17, 2007, the U.S.Senate, in a showdown over national security measures, voted to give President Bush expanded authority to eavesdrop on suspected foreign terrorists without court warrants.The House earlier rejected a Democratic version of the bill by a vote of 218-207.

President Bush signed the latest version on August 5.WILPF strongly opposes this further intrusion on our democratic rights to privacy and urges our members, legislators and concerned citizens to work against its implementation and a further erosion of people's rights that will move us closer to dictatorship and away from democratic process.