Dear RN list, As many people may know, the Hague Appeal for Peace takes place soon, May 11 - 15. It is "a world peace conference ... to identify an agenda for peace and international justice so that millions of people in the 21st centruy can be spared from the ravages of war..." Several people I know and respect from the peace movement will be going, and as one of them wrote to me, " Thanks for your good wishes in solidarity. Those who will be at The Hague need every good wish and prayer you can muster. We must find the road to a new vision of a world without war in the 21st century. Or else it will be a world without humanity (in both senses)." The messsage below offers us all a way to contribute, hopefully, to bringing about the daring vision of the Hague Appeal for Peace (HAP). all the best, jan PS HAP web site: www.haguepeace.org *********************************************************** Date: Tue, 04 May 1999 10:55:11 +1000 From: Lynette Dumble <•••@••.•••> Subject: [GSN] Women's Call to the Hague Appeal for Peace From: ROAL <•••@••.•••> [Women in Black, Spain] April 28th, 1999 Dear Friends, PLEASE GIVE ALL YOUR ATTENTION TO THIS APPEAL AND WIDELY CIRCULATE IT Last week at the UN Commission on Human Rights in Geneva, a number of women's human rights defenders, advocates and friends who had been in constant touch with each other as well as with our feminist pacifist friends in the Former Yugoslavia since the beginning of the war, finalized a statement in response to the recent catastrophe now happening in the Former Yugoslavia. The statement below was discussed by a number of women's groups and personalities in Geneva. It takes into account demands, analysis and statements that have been made in the past few weeks by feminists, pacifists and independent NGOs in Belgrade (some of which have been attached to our statement, as supportive documents), supported by their counterparts in others countries of the Former Yugoslavia. We urge all of you to send it to national organizations or networks for signature. This statement including the list of signatories will be brought to the women's forum at the Hague Appeal for Peace this coming May 11 - 15. SEND IT BACK TO US BEFORE MAY 9, 1999, AND INDICATE YOUR ORGANISATION AND COUNTRY. In solidarity, Marieme Helie Lucas International coordinator Women Living Under Muslim Laws WOMEN'S CALL ON THE FORMER YUGOSLAVIA TO THE HAGUE APPEAL FOR PEACE NO TO ETHNIC CLEANSING / NO TO BOMBING We refuse the unacceptable choice between a nationalism that promotes ethnic cleansing on the one hand and a politically and economically driven manipulation of human rights by NATO countries resulting in acts of war that violate recognized international law on the other hand. We demand an alternative that builds on the crucial role that human rights defenders, feminists, NGOs and peace-loving civil society play in all countries of the former Yugoslavia including within Serbia. Further, we stress the leading role of women in the promotion of peace, democracy and human rights, and in keeping alive human relations between different ethnic, religious and national entities. Therefore, the undersigned organisations make the following demands: - Cessation of Hostilities: - An immediate cessation of NATO/US bombing and all armed operations by all parties; - An immediate end to the ethnic cleansing and forcible expulsions in the region; - That the UN Security Council resolve to send in UN forces with a temporary mandate to protect civilians and to preserve evidence of war crimes and crimes against humanity for the International Criminal Tribunal for Yugoslavia (ICTY). - Peace process: - A resumption of the peace process with UN mediation at the regional (Balkan), European, and international levels; - The Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) take responsibility for working with countries in the region to find a peaceful, democratic and long term solution to the crisis; - Negotiations for a peaceful resolution include representatives of civil society, with women and women's organisations significantly represented amongst the negotiators; - Resolution of the conflict be predicated upon the recognition of all human rights on the basis of equality. - Reconstruction: - International support for reconstruction based on civil society and democratic movements within the region, with particular emphasis on facilitating the participation of women; - All returns must be voluntary in accordance with international law, and refugees enabled to return in conditions that respect their human rights; - Recognition of women's right to equality in all spheres, such as land and property rights; - Full recognition of the importance of economic and social rights, particularly as they relate to the construction of civil society; - Redress and the Application of Law: - The ICTY act swiftly to ascertain culpability and indict those responsible for war crimes and crimes against humanity committed by all parties, including prosecution of crimes of sexual violence; - Political leaders of both state and non-state forces be held accountable for commanding and/or condoning war crimes and other violations of human rights; - Milosevic be indicted and his arrest authorised and effected; - All States surrender those so indicted to the Hague; - Reparations for the victims of human rights violations by the culpable states and/or non-state actors. Signatories: Asian Center for Women's Human Rights (ASCENT) - Philippines Center for Women's Global Leadership - USA Malaya Colas - Philippines VAWW NET International (Violence Against Women in War Network) Women Living Under Muslim Laws (WLUML), International Solidarity Network Global Sisterhood Network Signatures are being collected to take to the Hague Appeal for Peace. SEND SIGNATURES UNTIL MAY 10 to: WLUML <•••@••.•••> or by fax: WLUML 334 67 10 91 67 * * * (Spanish and French Version available)
