IFOR supports Egyptian Conscientious Objectors

IFOR is standing with an international coalition of organizations supporting the movement against compulsory military service in Egypt. The International Secretariat joined the IFOR branches in Austria, and Belgium as well as our historic partner War Resisters International in a statement of solidarity with the No to Compulsory Military Service Movement and with the Egyptian conscientious objector, Mark Nabil Sanad. The coalition called on the Egyptian government to

“respect international standards and meet the obligations to which it has committed itself. This includes recognizing the right of Mark Nabil Sanad to conscientious objection to military service.”

To read the full statement or find out more information about the No to Compulsory Military Service Movement in Egypt you can visit their website here.

Supporting the Rowntree Charitable Trust

IFOR Joins FOR England in supporting the Rowntree Charitable Trust

In recent weeks, the Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust has come under increased scrutiny by and pressure from British authorities due to it’s funding of a controversial organization in the United Kingdom.  The JRCT is a Quaker organization that has a history of supporting peace and reconciliation including work supporting Conscientious Objection through IFOR and others. IFOR joined FOR England in a public letter expressing support for the Trust. 

Learn More about the JRCT

The BBC Reports on the JRCT Controversy. 

Read the letter of support for the JRCT that was published in the Times.

Dutch Peace Activist on His Time with Dr. King

Dutch peace movement veteran speaks on video about his time with Dr. King

Start the link below at 36:29 to hear an IFOR veteran of the peace movement speak about his time with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The footage switches between Dutch and English.

http://www.rtlxl.nl/#!/rtl-late-night-301978/45632d5f-edd2-30dc-86d6-293755dc9c19

IFOR's Centennial Celebration

100 Years of Peace Work

Reflecting on the violence of the past and addressing the challenges of today, approximately 150 delegates from IFOR member organizations across the globe gathered in Konstanz, Germany 100 years after the outbreak of World War I. World-renowned nonviolence experts, representatives from like-minded peace organizations, and members of the general public joined IFOR in mourning, celebrating, and envisioning the future.

Photos from the Centennial

All photos by Jérôme Peraya

Thanks to our sponsors for your generous support!

Philippines Branch AKKAPKA CANV Updates

Base Group Assembly & Core Group Seminar

February 28^th and March 1^st, 2015

AKKAPKA CANV held its base group assembly and core group seminar. During the assembly, AKKAPKA launched a new program using solar panels and bulbs to assist the poorer members of its base in the Philippines on Alabat Island, Quezon Province, southern part of Luzon. Five families of our base groups received a donation of solar panel package (each package contains a solar panel, two light bulbs with charge controller, charger and battery) as part of our partnership with a group of electrical and electronics engineers in our promotion of renewable source of energy.

Now, these families will have lights in their homes and they will no longer have to pay for the high cost of electricity. Their package also includes a charger for their mobile phones which is also sourced from the solar panel. They intend to propagate this hopefully throughout the island at the same time making the project a source of income for the base groups. This and other projects demonstrate that one cannot work for peace while ignoring poverty.

Photos from the Base Group Assembly

Base Group Assemblies are held every two months, this one being held at Bgy. Guinhawa, Alabat Island, Quezon Province.

Photos from March 1st's Core Group Seminar

The seminar was held at the Training Center of Quezon Municipality, Alabat Island, Quezon Province, where AKKAPKA CANV awarded two of the poorest women members with the solar packages.

FOR India's Nonviolence Education & Training Programs

Gender sensitization, mediation & youth empowerment

Dr. Suseela Mathew from the FOR India facilitated the trainings and provided the following summary:

“This training-meeting of women activists and leaders held during January and February 2015, was a part of a series of five conversations and analyses which led to a re-evaluation of bigotries and prejudices and all the demons within standing in the way of women empowering themselves. The issue of gender in the context of relationships, understanding and viewpoints articulated by participants drawing from their own life and experiences gave an insight into reality visited as a group in a safe, free, learning environment. In order to change the reality, women need to be aware of their capacity and potential. Central to the discussions was the pointed reference to violence and lawlessness which diminishes and endangers the lives. Nil tolerance to domestic violence and abuse of women is essential. Women need to discover the sadness of their silence in this age of rapid growth of literacy and digital access. This silence must be decoded and the message and the nuances of this silence has to be interpreted to make known that women can contribute to their own well-being and growth and to their family well-being and growth. Women can contribute to every field where visible and invisible barriers exclude their inclusion. ”

The following are a few photos from the trainings. The first was a program conducted for adolescent children in life skills and nonviolent peer mediation. About fifty girls and boys participated.

The second program was for physically challenged  adolescent children to empower them to use the possibilities and opportunities  available to them. Gender sensitization was another component of the training.