Subject: [fem-women2000 533] Women's GlobalNet #157: UN Open Session on Women and Armed Conflict
From: iwtc <iwtc@iwtc.org>
Date: Mon, 02 Oct 2000 11:02:43 -0700
Seq: 533
IWTC Women's GlobalNet #157 Activities and Initiatives of Women Worldwide By Anne S. Walker and Felicity Hill October 2, 2000 HISTORIC UN OPEN SESSION ON WOMEN AND ARMED CONFLICT! On October 24, 2000 the United Nations Security Council will hold an Open Session on Women and Armed Conflict. Open Sessions of the Security Council are public and open to all member states of the UN, not just the 15 members of the Security Council. The Security Council will also hear from NGOs in what is known as an "Arria Formula Meeting" the day before the Open Session. (See COALITION OF NGOs PREPARING JOINT NGO STATEMENT FOR OPEN SESSION below). This is an historic occasion and we hope you will encourage your government to send a high level expert to read a statement in the Security Council. We especially encourage you to send a delegation of NGOs to visit your Foreign Ministry or the appropriate department that will be participating in the Open Session. The following are several "talking points" you could use when discussing the subject of women and armed conflict with your government and other NGOs. You will no doubt have many more that you want to discuss also. Some Suggested Talking Points: - Civilians account for the vast majority of those adversely affected in armed conflicts and are increasingly targeted by combatants. -While whole communities suffer the consequences of armed conflict, women and girls are particularly affected as members of the civilian population, refugees, internally displaced persons and as recipients of humanitarian assistance. -Many of the attacks on women and girls are of a gender-specific nature in situations of conflict world-wide. -There is a need for a more gender-sensitive approach to the protection of refugees and internally displaced persons. -There is a need for a more gender-sensitive approach to the administration of humanitarian assistance. -There is an urgent need for the role of women in the prevention and resolution of conflicts and peace-building at the community, national and international levels to be recognized and utilized. More information on "talking points" can be obtained from the WILPF office at the UN (see contact information below). COALITION OF NGOs PREPARING JOINT NGO STATEMENT FOR OPEN SESSION A coalition of NGOs that has been lobbying for this Open Session are preparing a first draft of a joint NGO statement which will be distributed widely for input and for signing, and which will be read at the Arria Formula Meeting. For further information about this statement, and for information about prepared materials for distribution to Security Council delegations and a summary of key documents on the subject of women and armed conflict contact: Felicity Hill, Director, Women痴 International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF)/United Nations Office, 777 United Nations Plaza, New York, NY 10017, USA. Tel: (1-212) 682-1265. Fax: (1-212) 286-8211. Email: wilpfun@igc.org. Websites: http://www.wilpf.int.ch and http://www.reachingcriticalwill.org IWTC Women's GlobalNet is a production of: International Women's Tribune Centre 777 United Nations Plaza 3rd Floor New York, NY 10017, USA Tel: (1-212) 687-8633 Fax: (1-212) 661-2704 Email: <iwtc@iwtc.org> You can subscribe to this list at any time by sending a blank message to iwtc-womensglobalnet-subscribe@igc.topica.com You can unsubscribe to this list at any time by sending a blank message to iwtc-womensglobalnet-unsubscribe@igc.topica.com WOMEN, INK. For quality, cutting-edge publications on women and development by, for and about women worldwide, see Women, Ink's catalogue at our web site: <http://www.womenink.org>. Or contact Women, Ink. at 777 United Nations Plaza, New York, NY 10017, USA. Tel: Yasna Uberoi (1-212) 687-8633 ext 212 or Mary Wong (1-212) 687-8633 ext 204. Fax: (1-212) 661-2704. E-mail: <wink@womenink.org> Women, Ink. is a project of IWTC ___________________________________________________________ T O P I C A The Email You Want. http://www.topica.com/t/16 Newsletters, Tips and Discussions on Your Favorite Topics _________________________________________________________________________ fem-Women2000@jca.apc.org for Women 2000, UN Special Session on Beijing+5 Searcheable Archive http://www.jca.apc.org/fem/news/women2000/index.shtml visit fem-net HomePage for other mailing lists http://www.jca.apc.org/fem