Report of the Secretary General

1. Report of the Secretary General Susi Snyder 23 July 2007

2. Structure of this Report • Report on the work of our offices • Items that can be taken on by WILPF for coordinated advocacy- national and international • Our Committees and working groups • Staff

3. Current Work • Our projects- UN Office • PeaceWomen • Reaching Critical Will • Secretariat • Programmatic work • Servicing WILPF

4. Monitoring and advocating for the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1325 in International bodies 1325 Security Council Monitor- Resolution & Report Watch Women & UN Reform Gender, Peacebuilding & Peacekeeping PeaceWomen Project

5. Monitoring Implementation • Monitoring SC & GA debates on country specific and thematic issues and providing online index of what countries are saying or not saying on women, peace and security issues • Monthly PeaceWomen E-news • Regular contributions from UNIFEM, NGO Working Group on Women, Peace and Security, practitioners and peacebuilders • Focus on a specific implementation issue each month • Thousands of subscribers - NGOs, governments & UN • Sign up and share it

6. Online Advocacy • www.PeaceWomen.org • Features a wealth of information, resources & advocacy tools • Receive & post information from advocates - we welcome input from WILPF sections - what are you doing on 1325? send it. We will post it! • Use the website to create conceptual links & for advocacy • Needs restructuring and a technical upgrade - in process - let us know what parts you find most useful

7. Advocacy for Implementation • Engagement with governments and the UN system • Strong relationships with the women’s entities of the UN system & the UN Taskforce on Women, peace & security • Ongoing relationships with governments and other decision makers- including Security Council • Currently advocating for a SC mechanism and monitoring and reporting on SGBV in conflict • Contributed to the revision of the UN system-wide action plan for the implementation of 1325 • Advocacy at the CSW on an annual basis to ensure women, peace and security issues considered • Ongoing engagement with partners in specific situations to ensure the inclusion of women and a gender perspective • Contributing to panels and discussions on women, peace and security issues • Training of Staff of missions of countries on the SC on 1325

8. Translation 78 currently available online - for translations we need Aymara & Quechua! Tracking translations Initiative - how are these being used, by whom and with what results Looking for contributions from WILPF sections - how have you used the resolution in your language? Have you translated other 1325 resources or tools? Can we post them? Would you be willing to write a few paragraphs about how you use it?

9. 1325 Security Council Monitor • A PeaceWomen Project Initiative to Monitor the Security Council's Efforts to Incorporate 1325 into its day-to-day work • Includes: • Compilation of language on women & gender issues in Security Council Resolutions - online and searchable by country and by theme • Women, peace & security language in Security Council Reports • Checklist on Women’s Participation and Gender Perspectives in Security Council Resolutions • A resource for governments, NGOs and the UN system - it is used for the Secretary-General’s annual report on women, peace and security

10. Gender and Peacebuilding & Peacekeeping • Establishment of peacebuilding commission & ensuring PBC takes into accounts the views of civil society women • Monitoring how peacebuilding plans take 1325 into account • Engagement with C34- Committee on peacekeeping & DPKO

11. Women and UN Reform • Fully engaged in the work of the system wide coherence panel- from the time of CSW 2006 • Now looking at advocacy towards new women’s entity - Gender Equality Architecture • Part of upcoming global campaign - Gender Equality Architecture Reform (GEAR) & looking for sections to become engaged on regional level

12. Looking Ahead • Gender Equality Architecture • Continue Institution building work • Continue to be at the forefront of international women’s advocacy • Increased focus on Security Council - monitoring country specific actions & activities • Increased attention to Sexual & Gender-based violence in conflict • Better connections with the Geneva based human rights intern • Especially important with CEDAW’s move

13. Reaching Critical Will • Increasing the quality and quantity of NGO engagement in multilateral disarmament processes • UN General Assembly First Committee • Conference on Disarmament • UN Disarmament Commission • Nuclear Non proliferation Treaty processes

14. UN General Assembly First Committee • Publish weekly report and analysis of what is happening- First Committee Monitor • Coordinate working group of organizations that monitor and do advocacy during 1com • Coordinate calendar of events that organizations put on during 1com • Saw substantial progress for NGOs in 2006- NGO speakers addressed the 1com for the first time, including WILPF member Merav Datan

15. Conference on Disarmament • Only NGO in the world that regularly monitors and reports on this body • This is the only body in the world mandated to negotiate disarmament treaties • Demonstrated expertise, primary information source for NGOs, academia and government • This year closer to a programme of work than ever before • Need to engage better with sections for coordinated and strategic lobbying on certain issues • Present annual International Women’s day statement to the CD- what is the theme that we should look at for 2008?

16. UN Disarmament Commission • Body of the UN General Assembly designed to consider and make recommendations on various disarmament questions. • Currently focusing on recommendations for achieving the objectives of nuclear disarmament and nuclear non-proliferation; and practical confidence-building measures in the field of conventional weapons. • No other NGO monitors the UNDC or reports on it

17. Nuclear Non Proliferation Treaty • 2007 NPT outcomes included an agreed agenda for 2008, 09 • NGO access was increased- continued advances made in 2004, 5 • Published daily News in Review, read by more than 2500 subscribers globally, excerpts have also been reprinted, including to the UK Ambassadors personal blog.

18. Recent publications • Model Nuclear Inventory • A comprehensive review of all nuclear weapons capable countries and their fissile materials holdings as well as their political positions taken in various disarmament fora • Nuclear Disorder or Cooperative Security • A review of the Weapons of Mass Destruction Commissions recommendations a suggestions for implementation in the US context

19. Looking ahead • Iran • Advocacy Materials- online and mailed to all sections • Continued monitoring and advocacy at Security Council and IAEA. • Corporate Connections • Outer Space • New research published on the RCW website • Keep Space for Peace Week, October- creating more materials to make global advocacy stronger • War Profiteers • Updated research on RCW site about nuclear weapons related corporations- the dirtiest dozen • NPT • Just concluded the first meeting, next meeting end of April 2008 in Geneva.

20. RCW staff has changed- Jennifer Nordstrom concluded her contract at the end of June this year, after two years with the project.

21. New RCW Staff • Ray Acheson is currently working half-time as acting project associate • It is necessary to have a full time person in place in September, and funding exists to make this possible

22. In Geneva • Secretariat work • Information hub- what you tell us we tell others • Communications • Committees and Working Groups • Programme advocacy work • Human Rights • Disarmament • Economic Justice

23. Information Hub • Key element in many section reports- what is happening in other section? How do we best find out? • When you tell us, we can tell others • Working on upgrading the website (ongoing needs funding) to allow for sections to post their own information and maintain their own sites if they don’t already have them • Monthly updates provide programme information on what WILPF is doing at the international level each month • Have been rather sporadic, but regularized again • Hoping to have this in a better e-newsletter format soon, as a compliment to the International Peace Update

24. Communications • Last year set up electronic list serves for all the committees and working groups • Happy that the IEC is now beginning to use their list • Some, but not all committees are using them • Working with the communications committee to figure out how to improve what is there and best meet the needs expressed and facilitate communications • Grateful for the work of the communications committee • This committee needs a new convenor- any volunteers?

25. Human Rights Council • Institution Building- first year just concluded • Balance between Economic Social Cultural rights and Civil & Political rights- they go hand in hand • Developing educational materials on the human rights covenants and treaty bodies for members • Emphasize the links between peace and human rights

26. Economic Justice • Ongoing research and development of the EPZ website- women at work • Links to WTO, ILO, other international bodies • Shows where the export processing zones are, what labor laws are applicable, what companies are operating there and more

27. Disarmament • Monitor all Geneva disarmament discussions • Biological weapons • Conventional weapons • Conference on disarmament • Chemical weapons • Coordinate annual 8 March Seminar • Coordinate annual NGO statement to the CD • Work with the International Campaign to Ban Uranium Weapons- following up from 2006 8 March Seminar

28. Upcoming political opportunities • Cluster munitions • Biological weapons • Gender equality architecture • Local level 1325 implementation responsibility to CEDAW, linkages can be made also with increasing women’s human rights • 2008 CSW

29. Cluster Munitions • Coming out of the Certain Conventional Weapons meeting, Norway offered to begin a process to negotiate a treaty banning cluster munitions (that cause indiscriminate harm) • First meeting was in Oslo. Working with the Norwegian Section, WILPFer Katherine Harrision attended and wrote the definitive report of this meeting • Second meeting in Lima, Katherine attended again (funded by the cluster munitions coalition) and again provided the definitive NGO proceedings of the meeting. • WILPF Switzerland arranging opportunities for speaking to members and parliamentarians on this issue • Next meeting in Austria, and then in Geneva. Early 2008 in Dublin. • Opportunity for WILPF sections to advocate locally for their governments to sign-onto the Oslo Declaration • Great cooperation with WILPF Norway & WILPF Switzerland on this, thank you!

30. Biological Weapons • At the 2006 Review Conference, organized a panel with members of WILPF US to discuss the local resistance to new bioweapons labs • Expert group meetings are coming up, opportunity to continue implementing the 2005 IEC resolution on the subject

31. Gender Equality Architecture • Since CSW 2006 have been following these discussions closely & have been heavily engaged in advocacy with other NGOs • Now need to continue monitoring & advocacy at the UN - PeaceWomen staff, and advocating for a strengthened gender equality architecture & for governments to commit resources at the national level • Part of GEAR campaign to be launched shortly and looking for WILPF engagement on regional & national level • Excellent on the PeaceWomen website

32. 1325 on the National level • Many countries are working on national implementation plans for 1325 • This is good, but distracts from the greater obligations in CEDAW & UN implementation of 1325 • WILPF needs to continue to be strong, and work for full adherence to CEDAW, national action plan on 1325 can be a step in that process but is by no means the end

33. CSW 2008 • Will review the issue of Women in Armed Conflict in regard to women’s participation • WILPF is best placed to have a strong presence at this meeting, we have a lot to offer • Materials are currently being developed so that national level implementation can be reviewed and advocacy can take place in preparation for the CSW, whether or not women attend the meeting itself in NY.

34. CEDAW moves to Geneva • Provides an excellent way to link the work of PeaceWomen in the UNO to the Human Rights advocacy work done by the intern in Geneva • Opportunity to highlight the necessity for all countries to sign and ratify this convention • Opportunity to highlight the recent work done linking 1325 and CEDAW

35. Coalitions • Work with many other orgs on many issues, these are just some: • Conference of NGOs (CONGO)- recently nominated to the board • NGO Working Group on Women, Peace Security (NY) • NGO Working Group on Peace (GVA) • NGO Committee for Disarmament (GVA- we hold presidency) • NGO Committee on the Status of Women (both NY and GVA) - Sam Cook on Executive & chair of new subcommittee on women, peace and security • Abolition 2000- we sit on the Global Council • Mayors for Peace- we are on the advisory board

36. Staff • Currently: Marie Boroli, International Office Manager, Geneva • Sam Cook, PeaceWomen Project Associate NY • Milkah Kihunah, PeaceWomen Project Associate, NY • Ray Acheson, Reaching Critical Will Acting Project Associate, NY • Carole Shaw, six month (now concluded) WILPF UN Liaison, part time only. • We need a UN office director • Currently the SG is attempting to do the work of the absent UNO director, and this is not healthy, not sustainable, not good for WILPF and has been going on for nearly an entire year. This is a result of a hiring freeze. This position has only been filled for a total of 9 months since January 2005.

37. Interns • In NY, many short term interns that facilitate the maintenance of the websites, do research and support the projects in innumerable ways • In GVA- two long-term paid interns: • Disarmament: Katherine Harrison • Human Rights: Julia Federico • We encourage all sections to nominate candidates for these internships • Swedish Cooperation • The Swedish section has provided a number of interns to both offices- these women work for approximately 10 weeks in the Stockholm office and then come to either NY or Geneva. This cooperation is beneficial to both the section and international. Previous Swedish interns in Geneva remain actively engaged in the work of the section, as well as internationally. • While interns do take a time and energy investment on the part of staff, we have found this to be highly rewarding for all, and maintain relationships with departed interns, even so far as to develop a WILPF Alumnae network, where former interns keep in touch with one another and with what they are currently doing with WILPF and other activist work where they are.

38. Standing Committees • Constitution • Finance • Organisational development • Personnel • Communications

39. Constitution Committee • Proposed amendments to be discussed at this Congress from Sweden, the UK, Denmark and Norway • The sections that have proposed amendments should meet with the Constitution Committee during the Congress to try and find consensus on proposed changes

40. Standing Finance • Committee works well, but is missing representation from most sections • Need to find a new convenor • Recommendation that the convenor and treasurer be different people • Treasurer provides information, keeps the link between officers and committee • Convenor facilitates policy discussions and decisions

41. Organisational Development • Wants more input from the IEC and other WILPF members specifically on the mandate and direction the committee should take • Requests accurate reporting to the international meetings of section membership, with unpaid supporters listed separately in order to best assess the health of sections • Have faced difficulty in maintain communications among the members of the committee, though have been using the list serve • Needs additional members, currently have 6

42. Communications • Needs new convenors • Want to be better consulted on publications of WILPF, including the IPU • Recently published communications guidelines for WILPF, which was circulated to all sections • Seeks to look at how WILPF can better use the media, encourage more contributions to the monthly section mailings, hopes to facilitate exchange of section newsletters

43. Personnel • Convenor has resigned • Committee has been basically non-functional for at least two years- this has led to the escalation of problems that could otherwise have been addressed and solved • Request made in 2005 to update the international personnel policies, to take into consideration the increase in staff since they were written, and the impacts on JAPA (the employer of record for the UNO). This has not yet been done, but still needs to be. • Need to find members who are located nearer to the offices, in order that the staff have a representative of a functional committee to go to for questions and guidance.

44. Working Groups • Peace and Security • Environmental Sustainability • Global Economic Justice

45. Peace and Security • Edwina Hughes and Carol Urner have been doing an incredible job trying to cover a mandate that is just too big • Working Group could function better if it perhaps established sub-groups, these might be: • Security Council Resolution 1325 • Outer Space • Multilateral Nuclear Disarmament- formalize the advisory board for the Reaching Critical Will Project • Conventional Weapons- including cluster munitions, small arms and light weapons, and more

46. Environmental Sustainability • Active at the Commission on Sustainable Development for the last several years • Provided support for participation from the global south, arranged panels for the last few years • Advocated for nuclear not to be included as sustainable energy in the CSD outcomes • 2006 IEC WG decided to focus on military impacts on the environment • This supported statement on military impacts on environment to the Human Rights Council, May 2007

47. Global Economic Justice • EPZ project is evolving and being worked on- preliminary website is online now • Resolution that could be presented to the Economic and Social Council on women’s participation in economic decision making was sent to officer’s meeting in March, still needs additional discussion and strategizing • How will we present it? • Who are the friendly governments that will push this forward? • How can we build support?

48. Our Sections • We have been losing members in some sections and others are growing. We still do not have accurate membership numbers from many sections, though requested - this is also something that the organisational development committee hopes to have to help evaluate sections that are having trouble • We need to come up with strategies for supporting sections that are having problems, before they are in crisis • The UK has an excellent model for growing membership and retaining new members- the Connect Days • This is a model that can be used in other sections, there will be a workshop on this • Secretariat is preparing generic membership materials that could be used by all sections, working with the communications committee

49. Section Coordination • Coordinated action- across all sections, is a way that we can increase our visibility, we can increase our membership, we can increase our presence in the world. We should consider picking a few days and themes (no more than 3) in the year that all sections organize something to promote WILPF. • We would like to prepare specific materials to achieve this from the secretariat. • Section-Section partnerships are functioning fairly well. The cooperation projects between Norway/Lebanon, Norway/Colombia, Sweden/Costa Rica and others are ways to strengthen solidarity and share resources to achieve common goals.

50. 100th Anniversary • Mans van Zandbergen is the current focal point for preparations • Will this Congress decide to rearrange our Congress schedule so that we can have a Congress in 2015? • This Congress should send an official request to the Netherlands WILPF to host this event, an opportunity to recall our history and launch our future. • Presentation of the Manifesto- if that is agreed at this meeting