From 26 April to the 2May 2015, Women’s Advocacy Network chairperson Evelyn Amony and I travelled to The Hague to attend a conference organised by the Women’s International League for peace and Freedom (WILPF). The trip was organised by Women’s Initiatives for Gender Justice (WIGJ). This conference was aimed at bringing together hundreds of women peacemakers from all over the world to establish a new peace agenda for the 21st century. Members who attended the meeting joined other international activists to celebrate the work of women peace makers all over the world. One of the outcomes of the conference was a resolution condemning bombing, blockading and the use of explosive weapons in populates areas in Yemen.
During this period we also attended the launch for the WIGJ publication Women’s Voices. During the launch of the WIGJ publication Evelyn shared her experience as a female survivor of the war in northern Uganda and discussed how she has managed to pick up and become an advocate for gender justice r with other women. She also shared about the work of the Women’s Advocacy Network.
Thumbs up for #GenderJustice with @Nancygulu pic.twitter.com/m35OihQ52U
— Oryem Nyeko (@oryembley) May 5, 2015
We also participated in an open lecture at the Interntional Criminal Court premises with the prosecutors, investigators, analysts and advisors to the prosecutor on the conflict in northern Uganda. We shared our experience working towards ensuring victim-centred justice with the ICC team, including the aspect of reparation, reconciliation and victim’s involvement. We also shared about the dynamics of the conflict in northern Uganda were a victim can also at the same time a perpetrator.
Read more about the work of the Women’s Advocacy Network here.