E-FOR Meeting Opens in Alkmaar

What's new at the IFOR Office
by Stan Morris

On a sunny Friday afternoon around forty members of European IFOR BGA's, including a number of invited guests, descended upon the IFOR office in Alkmaar for the opening session of the European FOR Conference. Those in attendance were treated to coffee and tea and a “lekkere” lunch hosted by the IFOR staff and organized by Abe Thijs and Bertram Flesch of Kerk en Vrede... (more)

Photos of E-FOR meeting in Alkmaar!

Seminar 'Money for Women Peacemakers'

"24 May"
International Women's Day for Peace and Disarmament
(Learn more!)

Join pioneers in the field discussing the impact of financial investments in women activists on the establishment of true peace and justice:

Malalai Joya (former MP/Afghanistan), Etweda Cooper (activist, winner of the 1325 Award/Liberia), Asha Elmi Hagi (activist, winner of the Virginia Bell Award/Somalia) and Elizabeth Porter (academic/Australia).

IFOR GENDER POLICY

Why Does IFOR Need a Gender Policy?

IFOR recognises that there is a continuum of violence that must be confronted, from family violence in the private sphere to armed conflict in the public... (more)

Conclusions from the Gender Working Group

NEW! Spring Edition of IFOR in ACTION

Spring 2008, No. 46 (English version)
Hiver 2007, Nr. 45 (version Francaise)

In this issue: "Refl ections on the Confl ict in Colombia," by Heidi Andrea Restrepo Rhodes. On February 4th, hundreds of thousands took to the streets in Colombia...

SPECIAL REPORT—Peace Alert!

Update on Kenya – April 2008
by Joy K. Mbaabu

Inter-ethnic Marriages as a resource for Peace building.

This historic Pact was signed by the key protagonists (Kibaki and Raila) on 28th February 2008. The main highlight was the agreement to establish the National Accord and Dialogue Act, and to review the Constitution so as to entrench the Act.
This political solution is certainly a most welcome development. At the very least, it has rested the spread of violence and brought relative calm to the country.

However, it is not time to celebrate yet. Ending violence and resolving conflict are two different ball-games. Widespread loss and destruction has already... (more)

THE DALAI LAMA, An Appeal
April 2, 2008

I would like to express my appreciation and gratitude to the world leaders, Parliamentarians, NGOs and members of the public who have expressed their concern over the recent deeply saddening and tragic events in Tibet. I am also grateful for their efforts to persuade the Chinese authorities to exercise restraint in dealing with the peaceful protesters, while at the same time calling for meaningful dialogue to resolve the issue.

I believe the recent demonstrations and protests are a manifestation of the deep-rooted resentment not only of the Tibetan people in the so-called Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR), but also in the outlying traditional Tibetan areas now incorporated into Qinghai, Gansu, Sichuan and Yunnan provinces, where there exist substantial communities of ethnic Tibetans.... (more)

The big Kenyan question: Where do Internally Displaced Persons go?
by Joy K. Mbaabu

The Kofi Annan mediation talks are progressing and they have their high as well as low moments. Folks, from high officials to the ordinary men and women are expecting that the talks will yield a miraculous solution to the debilitating crisis. This high expectation is recipe for more disillusions. The political solutions will somewhat bring some calm. However, it will certainly not return Kenya.... (more)

More on Kenya and the Ballots to Bullets report at: http://www.hrw.org/reports/2008/kenya0308/