Resolution Supporting UCP Passed by International Federation of University Women

The 65-nation International Federation of University Women (IFUW) passed a resolution while in Istanbul at their Triennial Conference in August, calling upon the members  to learn about and promote the use of unarmed civilian peacekeeping (UCP). Kathleen Laurila, current Nonviolent Peaceforce Grants Manger and advocacy volunteer, conducted a workshop on UCP and brought the proposed resolution to the floor of the conference where it was enthusiastically embraced.

IFUW was founded in 1919 on the premise that educated women had a responsibility to become equal actors in the quest for peace in the world. Certainly, the founders did not visualize that it would take until 2000 before the United Nations Security Council would pass their own resolution (SCR1325) addressing this need. However, from the very earliest years of IFUW, position papers and actions have called for the world to reduce weapons of war and to develop nonviolent methods of resolving conflicts.

Currently, all of the national affiliates of IFUW are being urged to write letters to their foreign affairs and defense ministries urging them to incorporate UCP into their policy strategies. These strategies should provide for protection of, and conflict prevention training for civilians, as well as unarmed training for military, police and civilian personnel deployed to international peace operations, especially in regards to women’s human rights, including prevention of and response to sexual and gender-based violence. 

By Kathleen Laurila, NP Grants Manager