| Posted: April 13 2005,17:06 |
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PROGRESS: Has your organization seen
progress toward a culture of peace and nonviolence in your domain of
action and in your constituency during the first half of the Decade? |
Introduction
The
International Federation of University Women was founded in 1919
following World War I in the hope of preventing further such
catastrophes. Eighty-five years later the world still faces strife on
many fronts and promoting international cooperation, friendship, peace
and human rights remains a top priority in fulfilling the mission of
IFUW.
Our founders recognized the need for national
diversity. IFUW, with members in seventy-eight countries, does
not espouse the politics of any country or group of countries. We
do, however, firmly believe that our energies and expertise as educated
women must be directed toward the promotion of peaceful means of
resolving conflict. "Women: Agents for Change" is the IFUW programme
theme for the years 2004 - 2007. One of the three key areas where
action is needed internationally, nationally and locally is Human
security and Peace. All IFUW Affiliates are encouraged to continue
their involvement for a more secure and peaceful society (see IFUW
website at: http://www.ifuw.org/programme/index.htm).
Reports from IFUW national affiliates of progress in establishing a culture of peace and non-violence:
Reports of progress dealing with a number of issues were received from:
(a) The Australian Federation of University Women (AFUW),
(b) The Canadian Federation of University Women (CFUW),
(c) The New Zealand Federation of Graduate Women (NZFGW),
(d) The South African Association of Women Graduates (SAAWG),
(e) The University Women's Association of Singapore (UWAS),
(f) The Finnish Federation of University Women (FFUW),
(g) The Japanese Association of University Women (JAUW),
(h) The Mexican Federation of University Women (FEMU),
(i) The Nigerian Association of University Women (NAUW),
and
(j) The Carbondale, Illinois Branch of the American Association of University Women (AAUW).
(k) The Norwegian Federation of University Women
The
details of actions, obstacles, areas of action, types of action,
partnerships and future plans taken by each of these National
Federations and Associations (NFAs) are shown below under ACTIONS or
listed separately (see links under ACTIONS).
In addition to
these reports, in the International Federation of University Women
(IFUW) publication "IFUW in Action 2001-2004" published in August 2004,
under the chapter headed Human Rights, Human Security and Peace there
are reports of projects undertaken by several of the National
Federations and Associations (NFAs) named above in addition to the
following:
* The Moldovan Association dealing with the rights of
women held in detention and also protecting the rights of victims of
violence
* The Indian Federation of University Women (IFUWA) dealing with sexual harassment of women in the workplace
*
L'Association Française de Femmes Diplômées des Universités (AFFDU)
seeking solutions to counter sexual and sexist violence in schools;
bullying and aggressive, violent behaviour in schools
* The
Association Guinéenne des Femmes Diplômées des Universités (AGUIFEDU),
carried out a study, financed by UNESCO, of violence in middle and high
schools Conakry, Guinea.
* The Vanuatu Association of Women
Graduates (VAWG) developed material and educated people about changes
in the Magistrate's Courts and how they affect victims of domestic
violence;
* The Israel Association of University Women has
lobbied Parliament and Ministries for programmes and materials to teach
children how to avoid violence; for better implementation of sexual
harassment legislation and increased penalties for domestic violence.
*
The Sri Lankan Federation of University Women (SLFUW) has been a
partner in national efforts to obtain legislation on gender-based
violence.
At the 28th IFUW Triennial Conference held in Perth,
Western Australia in August 2004 the Interdisciplinary Seminar
Programme included a Seminar on a Culture of Peace in which individual
members of IFUW from 9 different countries (Cameroon, Costa Rica,
Ghana, India, Israel, Nigeria, Norway, Uganda, and USA) presented
papers that described efforts on the part of national governments,
local communities, educational institutions and private sector
organizations to:
* Promote gender issues,
* Empower women,
* Eradicate discrimination and violence against women
* Foster the values of tolerance and understanding among people
* Reduce conflict
* Create a culture of peace.
The executive summaries and, in some cases, the full paper from this seminar can be read on the IFUW website www.ifuw.org
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OBSTACLES: What are the most important obstacles that have prevented progress?
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Obstacles
differ from one region to another. See Japan below and separate
reports from Australia, South Africa and Singapore (links are below
under ACTIONS).
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ACTIONS: What actions have been
undertaken by your organization to promote a culture of peace and
nonviolence during the first half of the Decade?
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Details of individual National and Federation and Association (NFA) Actions undertaken and submitted for this report:
Click on the following for separate reports listed under the forums for:
(a) Australia
(b) Canada
( c ) New Zealand
(d) South Africa
(e) Singapore
(f) The Finnish Federation of University Women (FFUW)
The
FFUW has no national projects in relation to the Culture of Peace that
it initiates. Nationally all efforts by Finnish women are
coordinated centrally by the National Council of Women of Finland
(Naisjarjestojen Keskusliitto - Kvinnoorganisationernas Centralforbund)
Information about the work of Finnish women can be found at www.naisjarjestojenkeskusliitto.fi
(g) The Japanese Association of University Women (JAUW)
JAUW
has no national projects on a Culture of Peace. Two Case studies
undertaken by in one case a Branch of JAUW and in the other case a
Standing Committee of JAUW were submitted.
* Case One:
Seminars-on-demand on Gender Equality discussing 'ways to live
together' have been carried out by the Ibaraki Branch of JAUW.
Concern has been identified about suicide by middle-aged women,
juvenile violent crime, domestic violence and child abuse.
Seminar formats held during 2004 included:
- A joint seminar with another group with the same goal of gender equality
- A brainstorming session with township officers and the town's gender equality committee members
- A session targeted at middle-aged women in an apartment complex hall
- At a workplace with nurses
- Side by side with a symposium on marriage
- At a regular town hall meeting for both men and women.
*
Case Two: Carried out by the Education Committee of JAUW,
research is being carried out on helping Exchange students to
understand Japanese culture. Activities include theatre, museum
visits, kimono dressing, tea ceremony, concerts etc. The aim is
to increase understanding and tolerance between both Japanese students
and exchange students.
Obstacles:
In Case one it was
found to be difficult to translate equality into everyday, real-life
context for both men and women; also to secure all-out involvement of
local administration in gender equality. It was also felt that
when women's problems are put into a human rights framework they become
obscured.
In Case two having a membership large enough to
support the cost of the programmes was a problem because the exchange
students saw them as being very popular for whom there was no cost.
(h) The Mexican Federation of University Women (FEMU)
FEMU Actions have addressed the issue of Violence Against Children as follows:
*
By providing economic, medical, educational and psychological support
for abused women and children at a Centre for Comprehensive Assistance
for Abused Women, named Fortaleza, in Mexico City.
* By
assisting agencies of the state government and other NGOs with the
establishment of a similar house to the one above in the state of
Hildago.
* Is seeking to establish a similar refuge in Acapulco.
*
In 2004 FEMU published a book by Patricia Galeana, Coordinator of
Women's Human rights in Mexico. This included a 26 page Chapter
on Violations of Children's Human Rights in Mexico.
* In
November 2004 Femu organized an International 2 day Seminar at Sonora
University, on migration issues that included a Workshop on Children
Future
Plans include a Workshop on Infant Labour and the new Family Structure
in Mexico to be held in April 2005 at the Faculty of Policy Sciences at
the National University of Mexico.
(i) The Nigerian Association of University Women (NAUW)
Action undertaken:
The
years 2001-2002 were years, which saw an escalation of violence in
Nigeria due to ethnic and religious uprising and the introduction of
Sharia Law. The University students also were involved in
‘cult' clashes.
To address this NAUW organized
a National Workshop on "The Role of Women in Conflict Prevention and
Resolution". The purpose was to sensitise the public on the need
for peace and sustainable growth and the role of women in achieving
these goals.
The workshop was very successful because of the
large attendance and the patronage provided and also because a book
titled "Nigerian Women in Peace Education and Conflict Resolution" was
published. The workshop events were also well covered by the
media and the Project was recognized with second place in the 2001-04
IFUW Project Challenge Competition.
(j) The Carbondale, Illinois Branch of the American Association of University Women (AAUW)
*
The action taken by this branch was to host a 10 member Russian
delegation during October 2004 as part of the Open world Programme
sponsored by the US Congress. The aim was to promote peace and
understanding between the US and Russia through a short term training
programme, hospitality and cross-cultural exchange.
The
project, "Women as leaders in Elections 2005" included 2 facilitators
and 8 women who were leaders in their respective fields of work.
The project included familiarization with the US political
system, election and leadership issues and small business development.
(k)
The Norwegian Association of University Women planned a Seminar on
Peace in the autumn of 2003. Although they had excellent speakers
and financial support they were unable to proceed with it because too
few participants enrolled for them to be able to proceed. The
Norwegian Association believes that it is becoming increasingly
difficult to interest younger women in issues of a societal nature.
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ADVICE: What advice would you like to
give to the Secretary-General and the General Assembly to promote a
culture of peace and nonviolence during the second half of the Decade? |
The following advice is offered from University Women in South Africa and Singapore respectively:
a)
Raise awareness about the need to extend advocacy around a culture of
peace and non-violence among schoolboys. For example, through
such projects as SAAWG's Johannesburg Aurora project which addresses
confidence-development in schoolgirls.
Informal approaches to heads of boys' schools in South Africa have so far met with negative responses.
b)
Further consciousness-raising around the need to involve the world's
men in the annual 16-days of Activism against Violence and Abuse
international campaign, by extension advocating a 365-day worldwide
campaign.
* * * * * *
Promoting a culture of peace and
non-violence is a continuous effort, which should be a main focus in
education. It is vital to start with an education that subscribes to
values that promote life long learning that fosters positive
communication, creative problem solving and respect.
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PARTNERSHIPS: What partnerships and
networks does your organization participate in, thus strengthening the
global movement for a culture of peace? |
Partnerships
differ from one region to another. See separate reports from
Australia, Canada, New Zealand and South Africa (links are above
under ACTIONS)
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PLANS: What new engagements are
planned by your organization to promote a culture of peace and
nonviolence in the second half of the Decade (2005-2010)? |
Future
plans differ from one region to another. See report above from
Mexico and separate reports from Australia, Canada, New Zealand, South
Africa and Singapore ((links are above under ACTIONS)
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Postal address of organization
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8 rue de l'Ancien-Port, CH-1201 Geneva, Switzerland
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E-mail address of organization
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info@ifuw.org
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Website address of organization
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http://www.ifuw.org
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Highest priority action domain of a culture of peace
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Second priority action domain of a culture of peace
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Highest priority country of action (or international)
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INTERNATIONAL
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Second priority country of action (or international)
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