Category: Women Leading for Peace
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Women call for Australia to support international law as United Nations General Assembly Emergency Special Session debates need for Ceasefire and Humanitarian aid in Gaza
The Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom Australia (WILPF) has called on the Federal Government to show unequivocal support for international law as this weekend’s vote at the United Nations General Assembly approaches. The catastrophic loss of life and continued violence against innocent civilians in the Middle East is so devastating that the United…
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Prospects for Peace for Korea – what are the issues, the prospects and what we can do?
Prospects for Peace for Korea. WILPF Australia webinar, 55 minutes, abridged This year, 2023—the 70th anniversary of the Korean War Armistice—the Korean Peninsula continues to face the threat of war. With the tenuous ceasefire still the only formal mechanism in place to prevent armed conflict, tensions are again rising. Recognising the dire need for greater…
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AUKUS: A False Solution to a False Problem
In March this year, the Australian Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese, along with the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence, Richard Marles, unveiled a $368-billion-dollar plan detailing Australia’s acquisition of nuclear-powered submarines over the next thirty years (Office of the Prime Minister 2023). The plan is part of AUKUS, a trilateral security coalition formed by…
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WILPF Submission to Senate Select Committee into Australia’s Disaster Resilience
WILPF has submitted several recommendations to a Senate Select Committee for Australia’s Disaster Resilience regarding the possible reforms to be made to the Australian Governments disaster relief processes. The submission draws on a research report published by WILPF in 2020, Militarisation in Australia: Normalisation and Mythology. WILPF Australia welcomes the opportunity to make a submission…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…