Category: Women Leading for Peace
-
WILPF Addresses Changes to Defence Act
WILPF has submitted a letter to the Australian Government regarding the possible reforms to be made to current Defence legislation, addressing the changes and how the proposal will actually affect us. You can find more information about the reform here. We write representing the oldest global peace advocacy organisation Women’s International League for Peace and…
-
Penny Wong has inherited huge challenges as Foreign Minister
Our National President, Margaret Reynolds writes about the challenges Penny Wong has inherited in her role as Foreign Minister. She is surrounded by alpha males controlling the defence and security debate, convinced that only deadly military weapons can secure a safe future for Australia. She heads a department historically seen as weak and irrelevant by…
-
Australian women say NO to AUKUS on International Women’s Day
International Women’s Day 2023: Say No to AUKUS and another overseas war! We urge the Federal Government to listen to the voices of Australian women to guarantee peace and security. We reject those irresponsible and strident voices advocating an American agenda of increased militarization and preparations for war with China. Australian women need to speak…
-
Why I Will be Voting Yes for An Aboriginal and Islander Voice to the Australian Parliament
A Personal Reflection by Margaret Reynolds, President, WILPF Australia One of the frustrating experiences of ageing is watching how younger generations seem to ignore or avoid the lessons of history! At best younger policy makers try to reinvent the wheel or at worst they disregard aspects of older policy that might assist deal with new…
-
WILPF Australia to discuss fresh ways to resolve conflicts
WILPF Australia is determined to continue its strong advocacy for diplomacy and peace building in a new year when militarism and war continues to attract news headlines . Yet behind the scenes many Australians are troubled by recent announcements that our nation maintains its dependence on old allies, America and Britain, countries which have such…
-
Endorse our submission to the Defence Strategic Review
We must change the direction of defence investment. The way Australia invests in defence is currently under review. We have the opportunity to choose a new direction. WILPF has made a submission to the review panel, urging a comprehensive and integrated approach to this task. Our submission proposes that there is a broad range of…
-
Say NO to the Australian Defence Force in Ukraine
We must change the direction of defence policies. WILPF Australia has called on Australians to help change plans to send Defence forces to Ukraine to train their soldiers. Australia should have learnt from so many past overseas conflicts that this is just an introduction to military engagement overseas. It will drag young Australians into conflict…
-
Send a message to Clare O’Neil: Bring Australians home from Syria!
Our new Home Affairs Minister, Clare O’Neil, has the power to bring home Australians, who are stuck in refugee camps in Syria. Save the Children has estimated that more than 60 Australians, including 47 children, are located across the Al-Hol and Roj camps. Many are family members of men who travelled to Syria and Iraq…
-
WILPF welcomes the increase in women parliamentarians
Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF) welcomes the great increase in women’s representation in the Australian Parliament. With a few seats still in doubt, it is projected that the House of Representatives will have 37% women, and the Senate 58%. The new ALP Government is set to see women outnumber men for the first…
-
Women, Peace and Security and the End of the Korean War – what are the lessons?
On the Korean peninsula, women activists, religious groups, domestic and international civil society organisations have been working together for reconciliation for over seven decades to bring about the end of the Korean War. While the guns may have ceased firing 68 years ago, the “war” continues, and today the Korean peninsula continues to be affected…