March 15th 2008
On this day, dedicated WILPF members across the nation got together to debate, reflect and recall achievements, annual highlights and pressing matters at the AGM. We were lucky to have Krishna Ahooja Patel, President of India WILPF, as keynote speaker presenting "Women's International Resistance to Conflict".
Krishna touched upon the lack of economic distribution from business' to the rest of society and how women are true victims of war. The link between poverty and conflict opened my eyes to the irresponsibility of so many large corporations who do little in sustaining development. With the increase number of conflicts across the world, there is also an increased number of violence made against women. In the 21st century, people wonder why women's peace organisations still exist - because equality and peace still hasn't prevailed. Women even in the UK are continually being raped, discriminated against, and in extreme cases, being trafficked across the world. If the world was so safe today, then why are millions of women in Africa being raped by militias and rebel forces over the fight for resources?
Krishna said, "Globalisation has not led to globalised wealth but to globalised poverty" meaning development is required in every country to improve's women's situations. This means educating not only women in society but also men. We need more men to be involved in women's organisations to enforce these understandings and empowerment of women in society and homes.
After the AGM, I attended Amy Barrow's workshop "Working through the United Nations". I didn't find this as insightful as the rest of the group did. I already know quite a bit about the UN, at that time writing a thesis about Japan and the UN. However, I managed to contribute to the group discussion, making suggestions to how WILPFers needed to be educated about the UN so that we can have a more effective relationship with our international office in UN Geneva. Without understanding the system, lobbying the government and changing policies will be a challenge, when members don't know what is already in place and how changes come about.
Well done for Finn Mackay in presenting a very moving speech regarding our Emergency Resolution on prostitution. This moved me to become an activist for WILPF's Violence Against Women working group.
My focus is researching exit strategies for women coerced into prostitution, with a particular focus on training and putting women back into 'respectable' roles at work. Time to contact a few reporters, trade unionists and job centres on their views.
Written by Talyn Rahman
Wednesday, 15 April 2009
Monday, 6 April 2009
WILPF UK Blog is here
Congratulations UK WILPF. First, a drastic update to the WILPF website, now an interactive blog for all of our members (and non members alike) to contribute and comment on WILPF campaigns and current issues.
My name is Talyn Rahman - YWILPF Coordinator for the UK - and it gives me great pleasure to create this blog. I joined WILPF due to its incredible long history (94 years and running) but its interaction with the United Nations and 37 other countries. For those who know nothing about politics and grassroot campaigning, the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom is an excellent start. Many are skeptical with why a women's organisation still exists today.
In the UK, we have democracy, great paid jobs, social services etc. What more can we ask for? Things may have improved since 1915, but new issues have arised. Now we are faced with the threat of a new Cold War, women's rights in developing countries and areas in conflict are undermined and truly under-developed, women in the West are threatened with the risk of being raped or sexually harrassed... the list goes on. As a student of business and culture, I was a skeptic, but am now on a road to a political career, having been accepted to a Masters programme in Diplomacy.
An all rounded background of WILPF can be founded on our website: www.ukwilpf.org
We encourage comments, participation and a lively discussion on our posts so please feel free to blog with us.
My name is Talyn Rahman - YWILPF Coordinator for the UK - and it gives me great pleasure to create this blog. I joined WILPF due to its incredible long history (94 years and running) but its interaction with the United Nations and 37 other countries. For those who know nothing about politics and grassroot campaigning, the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom is an excellent start. Many are skeptical with why a women's organisation still exists today.
In the UK, we have democracy, great paid jobs, social services etc. What more can we ask for? Things may have improved since 1915, but new issues have arised. Now we are faced with the threat of a new Cold War, women's rights in developing countries and areas in conflict are undermined and truly under-developed, women in the West are threatened with the risk of being raped or sexually harrassed... the list goes on. As a student of business and culture, I was a skeptic, but am now on a road to a political career, having been accepted to a Masters programme in Diplomacy.
An all rounded background of WILPF can be founded on our website: www.ukwilpf.org
We encourage comments, participation and a lively discussion on our posts so please feel free to blog with us.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)