IKFF

PARTIENES FREDSBAROMETER

WILPF Middle East statement on Gaza - January 2, 2008

We, the members of the Women’s International League for Peace Freedom, are horrified at Israel’s bombing of Gaza.

We join with millions around the world in protests and call for an immediate cease fire.

We are profoundly distressed, knowing that the continuous bombardment will lead to further civilian deaths and suffering, and this massive escalation of violence could spiral out of control and engulf the whole region in war.
The massive air attack is a crime against humanity as it comes on top of the two-year inhumane siege that Israel has imposed on the one and a half million people living in Gaza, the world’s largest prison.

As US citizens, we call on our own government to use its decisive influence on Israel to stop the bombing and pledge not to do a ground invasion of Gaza.

We condemn “Operation Cast Lead,” which began around 11:30 A.M on Saturday, December 27, as 64 aircraft delivered over 100 tons of explosives upon 50 to 100 suspected Hamas targets in the Strip, and
is the largest Israeli operation on Gaza since 1967. This operation represents major violations of International law, which forbids the collective punishment of a whole population, the targeting of civilian populations and civilian infrastructure, and the disproportionate use of military attacks against a civilian population which has no national army.

We condemn US complicity, as described by Phyllis Bennis:

“The United States remains directly complicit in Israeli violations of both U.S. domestic and international law through its continual provision of military aid. The current round of air strikes have been carried out largely with F-16 bombers and Apache attack helicopters both provided to Israel through U.S. military aid grants of about $3 billion in U.S. taxpayer money sent to Israel every year… In short, Israel’s lethal attack today on the Gaza Strip could not have happened without the active military support of the United States.”
(Phyllis Bennis, Institute for Policy Studies, December 28,2008.
http://www.unitedforpeaceandjustice.org/article.php?id=3994 

We also call on President-elect Obama to use his influence to make a positive change in this situation.

We support the demand of the Middle East Quartet for an immediate 48 hour cease-fire fully respected by both sides. We support their call “for all parties to address the serious and economic needs in Gaza and to take the necessary measures to ensure the continuous provisions to address the serious humanitarian crisis.”

We call on the UN to adopt and enforce a binding resolution to ensure an immediate ceasefire, to lift the blockade of the territory imposed by Israel, and to provide immediate humanitarian aid.

As of this writing, more than 400 Palestinians have been killed and over 2000 have been wounded, the majority of whom are women and children, which is the natural consequence of bombing one and half million people enclosed in an area in which 50% of the population are children and 70% are refugees.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gaza_Strip#Demographics 

While we recognize the incredible military advantage of Israel, we also recognize the need for Hamas to cease firing rockets into Israel, as this threatens the lives of Israelis civilians and is used as a pretext to continue bombing.

We urge all parties to come to the peace table to negotiate an agreement that would restore a just peace, address injustices, and build long-term economic prosperity that would benefit all people living in the region.

Our WILPF Palestinian sisters state: “Israel and the International community should recognize the democratically elected representatives, and lifting all the economic siege imposed on the Palestinian government and people, and the release of all political prisoners among them 45 Palestinian Parliamentarians. Without these measures peace cannot flourish and Hamas cannot abide to the demands of the international community”.

The Israeli Women’s Coalition for Peace, which includes WILPF, states:
“The dance of death and destruction must come to an end. We demand that war no longer be an option, nor violence as strategy, nor killing an alternative. The society we want is one in which every individual can lead a life of security – personal, economic, and social.”

WILPF International’s pages 

Educational and professional capacity building for and by young Lebanese women

Applicant organisation in Norway: Internasjonal Kvinneliga for Fred og Frihet
Contact person: Hanna Schanke/ Elin Christiansen
Address: IKFF, Postboks 8810, Youngstorget, 0028 Oslo
Ph: 23010340
E-mail: ikff@ikff.no

Project partner(s) abroad:
Address: Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom  (WILPF)
P.O. Box 14-5496, Beirut
Ph: (+961 1) 703 854
Fax: (+961) 86 36 36
Email: Zeina Bou Fakhreddine (zeina_17_7@hotmail.com)
Web: none

Project name (Norwegian and English): Educational and professional capacity building for and by young Lebanese women/ Utdanningsmessig kompetanse utvikling av og for unge kvinner i Libanon

Project number (to be filled in by FOKUS):

Project period (1 to 3 years): 2 years, 2006-2007.

1. Reasons for choice of project partner(s) abroad:

WILPF Lebanon has been a partner of WILPF Norway since 2001, so there is an existing partnership between the two sections. Thanks to this cooperation, we are familiar with the members and how the section works. This makes it a good starting point for the new project. Secondly, it is WILPF policy to strengthen the sections in the south, which is an indirect objective of this project.

2. Short description of the project:

This is an educational program in a post conflict situation, especially designed for young women.

Through this project we want to emphasis and highlight the varied roles of young women in a post conflict situation, and in this case, use the young women as a resource and encourage them to make a change in the situation of women who are directly affected by the conflict. Young women in Lebanon are, either directly or indirectly victims of the conflict that has been going on for over 20 years.

The target group is the women on the ground, those who are the stakeholders in the post- conflict situation in Lebanon. The project focuses on the grass root level both in terms of impact and participation as well as competence building.

The first five months of 2006 will be used for a pre-study, planning the project, through research and meetings. In this period, the aim is to find girls who are in the target group, and willing to participate. The young WILPF members involved will also use this time to develop a suited way of teaching English. An integral part of each course, mainly at the second level, will be to ensure that the participants are able to write adequate applications for both jobs and universities. The development of the courses will happen through brainstorming among the members, and consultation with professionals and other competent people.

In July 2006, the first courses were supposed to commence. Due to the current situation in Lebanon, among other reasons, we are unsure as to what extent this has been the case (see attached letter). Each course was intended to have two levels, and run for 3 months. The courses will be taught by the five chosen, voluntary members of WILPF Lebanon. Each class will have five students. After every three months, there will be a month break, so that the involved members will have the time to study for their own exams.

In the second year, the courses will continue, hopefully with the assistance of some of the girls who have already completed the programme, so as to ensure continuity (training of trainers).

Educating women in English can/ will ensure that women with a public school background can participate on more equal terms compared to women with a private school background. In addition the project will strengthen the young participation in WILPF Lebanon and the work it doing for peace and freedom.

Young members in both sections will manage the project.

3. Overall development goals:
Educational capacity building and empowerment of young women with a public school background.

Furthermore, recruitment and strengthening the sections is goal, through involving young members in both sections, offering leadership development.

4. Target group:
Women with a public school background in Bhamdoun between the age of 17- 25.

5. Geographic location:
Bhamdoun, Lebanon.

6. Rationale of programme or project:

The civil war in Lebanon had a great impact on the economy of both the government and the individual citizens. One area that was neglected because of this, was the public educational system. As the economy of individuals worsened, the number of students enrolling in public schools increased dramatically, with the result that a larger proportion of the country’s young gets education with a lower quality. Furthermore, as has been showed in earlier empirical studies in other areas, when the economy of a family decreases, the girls are down-prioritised. Beirut was chosen mainly because that is where WILPF Lebanon and the majority of its members are located.

The capacity building of young women is in line with Security Council resolution 1325, on women, peace and security, which is an integral part of WILPF policy.

7. The goals of the programme or project :
(a) pre-study of 6 months.
(b): capacity building in the English language as this will increase their chances to enter the universities and the professional life.
(c) : Recruit new members for the two sections.
(d): capacity building for existing members.
(e); To combat the growing wedge between the western and Arab world

8. Activities and expected results for the year (quantitative and qualitative):
(a) : in relation to the pre-study, conduct a research and hold meetings in order to develop a teaching programme, strategy and recruit participants.

(b) : Hold 5 courses of 2 hours a week lasting three months each. Courses at level one will be conducted for a total of 5 semesters, and courses on level 2 will be conducted for a total of 4 semesters.

(c): inform participants of WILPF and the work it does. Integrate 1325 in the curriculum; so at the same time you learn English, you learn about 1325.

(d): involving young members in the two sections and giving them experience on project management.

(e): the cooperation that the project demands, especially project visits between the two sections, will ensure that western and Arab women get to know more about each others cultures.

9.    Total budget per year and estimate for the period:
Budget:                                                       2007    2008

Capital expenditure:                         NOK    0    0
Operating expenditure                         NOK    2 100    0

Activities:                                                         NOK    42 000    0
materials (pens, papers etc)                        10 500    0
transport of participants
and Wilpf members *                        31 500    0

Project visit (to follow up project)**         NOK    12 000    0
Norwegian- Lebanese meeting        10 000

Evaluation:                                         NOK    0    0
Audit i Norge:                                         NOK    5 000    0
Total project expenditure:                         NOK    71 100    0
+ adm. godtgjørelse (8%)                         NOK    5 688    0
Total application TV campaign                         NOK    80 148    0

* Covering the travel expenses of the participants is a precondition for the execution of the courses, as the participants will be from different parts of the area and from low income families.
** Covering travel expenses for two members from both the Norwegian and the Lebanese section.

Detailed budget for the project and total budget for the partner organisation abroad must be attached. Contributions to the organisation from other donors must be specified.

(b)  Estimated budget for total project period:

Own contribution        NOK
NORAD’s contribution        NOK

(c) Estimated total (total application NORAD and own contribution)
each year in the total project period.

Year
Total (NOK)

(d)  Reasons for field visit for Norwegian partner organisation:

It will be easier for both WILPF Lebanon and WILPF Norway to learn from each other, and to ensure the success of the project, if we can meet once a year.

10. Assessment of:
Maximum 5-6 lines per question

(a)    Relevance in relation to national plans and priorities (for example PRSPs, sector/district plans, etc.):
Even though education is a priority for the Lebanese government, the number of students reduces the quality of training for the students, as is seen in the public education system in many countries.

(b)    Relevance in relation to Norwegian development assistance goals (for example environment, HIV/AIDS, gender dimension, civil society, etc.):

The training given is relevant in order to support young women who are not given the sufficient training and education due to the conflict. Through offering this training by WILPF Lebanon, the project indirectly strengthens the civil society in Lebanon, at the same time focusing on women and gender awareness.

In other words, the project is relevant to the goal of including a gender dimension and strengthening civil society.

Expected risk (probability that the project will achieve its goals):

Due to the dramatically changed situation in Lebanon in the summer of 2006, and the challenges the project has been facing, described in the attached letter, we estimate that the risks are higher and different than estimated in the initial application.

We still believe the project has a chance of reaching the goals set out, but we will not for certain until we have discussed the future of the project with our partners in the beginning of September 2006.

(c)    Sustainability (technical/administrative/economic):

Technical: drawing on experience and advice from other women and organisations that have worked with similar courses will avoid the project doing avoidable mistakes.

We are offering training on 2 levels, possibly three, considering the development of the project. The participants will have more knowledge of languages and will be able to take part in a network of women (i.e. WILPF)

Economic: the material required is a one-time cost, and thus can be used time and time again. Therefore, it is possible to continue with the training even after the project period is over if WILPF Lebanon decides to do so.

(e)    The grant recipient’s contribution to local partner(s) beyond financial assistance
(What kind of added value does the grant recipient provide the partnership with?):

WILPF Norway will take on an advisory function.

11. Performance monitoring and evaluation

(a)    Has the organisation an evaluation plan for the period?

The first evaluation was intended to take place after the 6 month pre-study. After every six months there will be an internal evaluation.

However, due to the situation described earlier in the application and the attached letter, the first  evaluation has been postponed until the before mentioned meeting in September 2006.

Then, there will be evaluation after every 3 months (i.e. after every course has been finished), conducted by the members of WILPF Lebanon with the assistance of WILPF Norway -written in English. These evaluations will focus on how the project has developed (both the process and the results), and a thematic evaluation in relation to the courses given. There will also be an evaluation of the course given by the participants after haven completed the course.

(b)    List any evaluations that the organisation has planned during the year and financing of these (project evaluations, thematic evaluations, organisational reviews or other):

WILPF Lebanon is in contact with the Norwegian researcher Kari Karame at NUPI. WILPF Lebanon underwent an evaluation in 2003, in relation with the Norad supported project “Economic and political capacity building and empowerment for women in Lebanon through institutional cooperation between WILPF Norway and WILPF Lebanon”.  Further contact has been initiated.

Date: Oslo 7th of August 2006

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Signature by head of organisation