| Posted: April 29 2005,03:30 |
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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? |
We
think to observe changes in a stronger resistance to violence and
injustice and more attention for violence against women (and children).
So the practice of circumcision of women is on today’s agenda.
Noteworthy is also the increased attention for the consequences of
violence and wars such as posttraumatic stress-disturbances.
After
Theo van Gogh was murdered the dialogue between the different religions
and cultures in the Netherlands has increased as well as the attention
for the consequences of the so called 'us-them' pattern of thinking
Within the peace movement the attention is focussed on the responsibility (to feel and to be).
In
the society there is an increase of mediation and conflict resolution
in different ways. In vicinities, schools, educational institutes,
companies. In policework and divorce cases, mediators and mediation
techniques are used more and more.
The use of computers, Internet,
e-mail, websites is increasing and has a huge influence. It is easier
now to communicate at large distances and to give and ask for
information. Granting micro credits to women in developing countries
(except for conflict areas such as Palestine and Afghanistan) has
increased.
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OBSTACLES: What are the most important obstacles that have prevented progress?
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Each week, one child in the Netherlands dies as a consequence of child abuse.
The media are more focussed on violence, sensation, stress, conflicts, blood and war.
The Netherlands is number eight on the top ten list of the world weapon trade.
The
convention to prevent the use of child soldiers has not been ratified
and adults younger than 18 years can join the Dutch army. The Dutch
government is following the US; for example the decision to send
specialised groups to Afghanistan who, under USA command, will hunt
terrorists. We find it alarming that there is still a depot of
American nuclear weapons in the Netherlands.
On the request to
establish a National Committee for a Culture of Peace and Non-Violence
the Dutch politicians and authorities have reacted negatively. They are
not interested; money or other resources are not available.
We are
worried about the development of the fortress Europe, which is an
economic blockade. The influence of the market economy has increased
and the means for care and social security have decreased.
The fear for terrorism in the Netherlands has a.o:
- caused a strong division which the 'us and them' thinking (enemy thinking) has increased
- caused an increase of dislike of and hate against refugees and migrant workers (especially Poland)
- led to the introduction of the identification law and possible registration of all messages via telephone and
computer.
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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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The
Newsletter of Women for Peace (6 editions a year) gives much
information and inspiration to our constituency for actions and
activities. For example for actions on the 24th of May, International
Women day of Peace and Disarmament, the yearly memorial day of the
nuclear bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki and the different informative
meetings, seminars, lectures, demonstrations, vigils and peace tours
which are organised locally and/or nationally. Most of the local Women
for Peace groups (or individual peace women) are active in local
platforms and organisations in the area of human rights (refugees,
Amnesty International, World shops), environment and peace. Women for
Peace Ridderkerk, for example, supports financially different
international peace projects by selling second hand goods. Vive Zene (a
therapy centre for women and children in Bosnia) has been supported in
this way already for many years. At the initiative of Women for Peace
Nijmegen last year the exhibition ‘Forgiveness’ has been bought.
Women
for Peace also actively supports the project for a Women’s House in
Kabul (for and by women from Afghanistan) an initiative of one of our
members.
The political working group (in co-operation with the
International Women’s League for Peace and Freedom) follows closely the
Dutch government’s policies in the area of defence (military), foreign
and European politics and gives comments and advice to political
responsibility and our women.
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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? |
·
It is important that the resolutions passed by the General Assembly are
also implemented and put into actions. The same goes for the proposals
from the Nobel Peace price winners and other experts for example to
stimulate an International Non-violent Peaceforce.
· Reorganisation of the UN with more accesses and influence of Non-Governmental Organisations in the decision-making.
· To press governments to install a National Commission for a Culture of Peace, whereby also money is made available.
·
The awareness that we all live on the same planet and that we are all
children of the earth, drinking the same water, breathing the same air,
should grow stronger.
· Developing a global sign language could
increase the understanding and enrich the communication between people.
Research proved that the use of sign language makes it possible to
communicate with very young children (0-1). The biggest part of the
communication between people takes part on the non-verbal level
although the use of written and spoken words has increased.
Developing a global sign language (with help from non-hearing or poorly
hearing people) could teach people in a simple way to understand each
other better.
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PARTNERSHIPS: What partnerships and
networks does your organization participate in, thus strengthening the
global movement for a culture of peace? |
The
Platform for a Peace-culture (Platform Vredescultuur), Platform Against
the New War (Platform tegen de Nieuwe Oorlog), World Women’s March
(Wereldvrouwenmars), Women for Peace on the Moluccans (Vrouwen voor
Vrede op de Molukken), Turn the Tide (Keer het Tij), Dutch Social Forum
(Nederlands Sociaal Forum), Women in Black (Vrouwen in het Zwart),
Amnesty International, Dutch Union for the United Nations
(Nederlandse Vereniging voor de Verenigde Naties), Dutch
Expertise Centre Alternatives to Violence (NEAG, Nederlands
Expertisecentrum Alternatieven voor Geweld), Multicultural Women
Peaceworkers Netherlands, Women’s International League for Peace and
Freedom, Nuclear-weapon consultation group (Kernwapenoverleg),
Workinggroup Netherlands-Srebrenica, Hiroshima committee local,
Jubilee, Being +10, platforms and co-operation connections.
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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)? |
·
We will continue with our standard activities. Our annual national
Women for Peace day will be in collaboration with the Multicultural
Women Peacemakers and has as theme “
"WORK TOGETHER TOWARDS A PEACE CULTURE"
· We want to intensify the contacts and co-operation with women from other cultures who live in the Netherlands
· Together with other organisations we want to generate a structural money stream for peace (activities).
·
We will continue to ask attention for the Decade, and are committed to
lobby for a National Commission for a Culture of Peace.
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Postal address of organization
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postbus 963, 3800 AZ Amersfoort, the Netherlands
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E-mail address of organization
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vrouwenvoorvrede@antenna.nl
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Website address of organization
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www.vrouwenvoorvrede.nl
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Highest priority action domain of a culture of peace
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Understanding, tolerance, solidarity
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Second priority action domain of a culture of peace
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Equality of woman in the Netherlands and elsewhere.
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Highest priority country of action (or international)
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Women
for Peace Netherlands is mainly nationally active and supports
international campaigns, activities of women’s groups in (former)
conflict area’s for example: Afghanistan (realisation of a women’s
house), Bosnia (Vive Zene, therapeutic centre for women and children)
and women of Palestine and Israel.
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Second priority country of action (or international)
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