Context: Women across Asia and particularity in Muslim-majority countries are struggling for greater rights and more say in the processes determining peace and security in their countries. Despite their involvement in the ‘Arab Spring’ and other fast paced transitions and mandates such as UN Security Council resolution 1325, their solutions and their agendas are already being excluded and neglected. Many who speak out, face serious security risks.
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While there is optimism about the current changes, there is a real concern that fundamentalist interpretations of women’s rights as well increased militarization, rise of a police state, and conflict will diminish spaces for women. Still, women are actively engaged in the struggle for justice, democracy and peace. They remain the best champions of their own causes and key actors in the fight against intolerance.
The ICAN Initiative: This program aims to elevate the voices and impact of women’s civil society groups on issues of rights, security and peace in countries undergoing transitions, affected by rising militarism and extremism. We anticipate a 3-year program with a first year start up/pilot phase (October 2011-October 2012). We will partner with women’s groups in 5-7 countries including in Egypt, Tunisia, Libya and Afghanistan.
Rationale: Activists across the Arab world and Muslim majority countries have echoed the need to work collaboratively and to learn from experiences of others in the region. We hope that this network will be a sustained and dynamic effort, fostered by both internet communications and in person connections to facilitate the work of activists. Opportunities for in person connections through participation in a regional meeting and support of south-south trainings/exchanges will be offered. Network members will be connected to key international policymakers, the international women’s movement and the media, so emerging and younger leaders/practitioners/activists can work to influence national and international processes impacting women’s rights, peace and security in their countries. We do not intend to draw our partners away from their work at home. Our goal is to provide support, enhancement, information and connectivity.
I. Regional Networking
1. Community of Practice Email List Serve: We intend to set up an online network between young and emerging women civil society leaders from the region, with approximately 4 organizations/groups represented from the selected countries to discuss the situations in their countries and to share strategies for engaging in the promotion of peace, security and specific women’s issues/rights. We hope to provide a safe space where these groups can interact, learn from each other and discuss developments in their countries. This online community of practice will serve as a venue for exchanges and will lead to other collaboration—for example joint work between 2 or more countries.
2. Solidarity and Support: At a time when women’s demands for rights, inclusion and equality are being painted as ‘western’ ideals and values, we believe it is essential to demonstrate that these demands are indigenous to the region, emerging from women themselves, and not unique to one country alone. A key component of our networking will be to provide space for women to learn about each other’s challenges and stand in solidarity with one another. We will support solidarity statements, which can be signed by organizations and individuals based in these countries, in support of activists who are arrested or harassed or in condemnation of negative policy or developments with respect to women.
3. Online Lectures/trainings: ICAN will work to provide some online lectures or trainings where experts will be invited to discuss their own ideas and experience in working on peace, security and women’s rights in the region and at the international level. These may include network members discussing their successful strategies, international experts explaining international mechanisms such as SCR 1325, technology experts discussing use of new technologies for women’s organizations, etc. We will select topics based on the interest of network members.
4. Regional Network Meeting: To strengthen individual relationships and build on shared learning, we plan to hold a regional network meeting for face-to-face meetings. Location and time will be determined in consultation with our network members. International policymakers and peace, security and human rights experts, may be invited to take part in these meetings.
5. South-South Exchange/Trainings: We will also provide support for 2-3 south-south exchanges or trainings in year 1. In this way, one country can host a visit by an activist from another country and provide opportunities for trainings and seminars where a larger group can benefit.
II. International Advocacy
We intend to elevate the voice of local level activists so they can have impact on developments at the international level and so women are included in international negotiations with respect to the developments in the region. We plan to do this through the following activities:
1. Issue Briefs/Bulletins to Bridge the Gap with the International Community: Despite the mandates of SCR 1325 and other Security Council resolutions, the international community lacks succinct information and practical guidance on how to engage/address women’s inclusion and rights in its policies and interventions in this region. We plan to produce one to three issue briefs per country for each year of the project in collaboration with country-based researchers. These briefs will address priority issues in each country (e.g. elections, conflict, policies addressing women’s rights) with analysis on the impact on women and responses by the women’s movements, including recommendations for key international and other actors. They are intended to inform interested actors on specific issues in an accessible manner. Databases of key international actors and networks will be developed for broad dissemination. In addition where possible we will help partners produce 1-2 page summaries of specific actions for the application and implementation of SCR 1325 (and the wider women, peace and security agenda) in their settings based on consultations with women. Finally, to dispel notions that ‘women aren’t qualified’ for inclusion in national and international discussions we will develop a list of experienced individuals and women’s groups capable of addressing a range of issues.
2. International Conference Participation: We will work with other groups to ensure that women activists, especially our researchers and network members can participate in international and regional events that address peace, security and women’s rights.
3. Best Practices & Experiences: We will work with our network members to document (multi-media format) their effective strategies and experiences. Beyond documenting the work of activists on the ground (who often lack the resources or time to do this work themselves) these strategies will be used to influence international policy and break stereotypes about women in the region.
For more information please contact: icanmena@gmail.com