On March 2, the International Tribunal on Crimes Against Women of Burma brought 12 brave women from Burma to New York to tell their stories of life under the rule of the military junta. Hundreds of people in New York and around the world bore witness to these testimonies in person and through the live webcast. You can read the judges’ findings and recommendations in an Executive Summary report that will be released on the website in the coming weeks.

View the archived webcast or read the tribunal blog. 

Mairead Maguire speaks up for Palestine at the Russell Tribunal

The Russell Tribunal on Palestine convened in Spain from March 1 to 3. The Tribunal focused on responsibility of the EU and the rest of the international community to put an end to human rights violations of the Palestinian people by Israel. Nobel Laureate Mairead Maguire advocated for Palestine's right to self-determination.

Read more about the Russell Tribunal.
 

The Nobel Women's Initiative shows solidarity with the women of Iran

As we approach the one-year anniversary of the elections, it is more important than ever that we show our solidarity with the women of Iran. The women of Iran continue to be a driving force of the opposition movement in Iran. These strong and brave women work tirelessly to defend human rights, oppose laws that are discriminatory against women and stop the brutality of the Iranian regime. This movement is the largest women's rights movement in the Middle East and continues to grow. This, despite the violent response from the Iranian government.

Read more about the women of Iran:

Iranian women's rights organization wins Freedom of Expression award

International Organizations Demonstrate Solidarity With Women Of Iran On International Women's Day

Iranian Government continues attempts to silence activists

Political prisoners in Iran face execution: 16 women arrested

Anti-Nukes Blockade in the UK

On 15 February 2010, Nobel Laureates Mairead Maguire and Jody Williams participated in a blockade of Aldermaston Weapons Establishment (AWE) in the UK. The blockade called for the UK to stop the expansion of AWE and the development of a new generation of nuclear weapons. Gates allowing access for staff and materials were blocked. This action stopped work and raised awareness of the illegality of the work performed inside AWE. The blockade resulted in the arrest of 26 peace activists.

Learn more about the blockade.

Laureates Call for Justice for the People of Atenco

Jody Williams visited Mexico City in February at the invitation of Mexican human rights activists to discuss the case of the people of Atenco, Mexico who were attacked by Mexican security forces in 2006. Williams met with high level government officials, legislators and a Supreme Court judge to urge the release of the 12 political prisoners and justice for the women who were sexually assaulted in the attack. As well, 11 Nobel Peace Laureates sent a letter to President Calderon of Mexico, demanding justice in the case.

Learn more about the women of Atenco.

African Solutions to African Problems

On 26 January 2010, The Christian Science Monitor published an opinion piece by Nobel Laureate Wangari Maathai regarding her support for the Report of the African Union High-Level Panel on Darfur (AUPD). Maathai states the report "is a genuine attempt at African solutions for the Darfur problem in particular and conflict within Sudan more broadly."

Read the full article.

Learn more about this issue. 

Join the call: demand the end of discrimination against women and the violation of women's rights in Iran.

Campaign for Equality/ Million Signatures Campaign

The One Million Signatures Campaign aims to collect one million signatures in support of a petition addressed to the Iranian Parliament asking for the revision and reform of current laws that discriminate against women. Although only Iranian citizens can sign the petition, others can help support the work of the campaign and draw attention to the situation of women's rights in Iran by visiting it's website and supporting its activities.

Learn more about the campaign by visiting their website.

Make it a Status Day!

• Copy and paste the campaign website (http://www.campaignforequality.info/english/) into your Facebook or Twitter status feed for a day!  Doing so will highlight the issue and help the visibility of the campaign. Encourage others to do the same.
• Change your profile picture to the solidarity badge - download it here.

Thank You Tibet! - March 2010

On March 4th Nobel Laureates Jody Williams and Shirin Ebadi were in New York at a special Thank You Tibet! program honoring His Holiness the Dalai Lama.  The event also celebrated the Tibetan people for their steadfast commitment to nonviolence as a path to peace and for safeguarding and sharing their unique culture with our global community. This event was the culmination of a six-month campaign to bring messages of support and solidarity to the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan people. In October, Nobel Peace Laureates Mairead Maguire, Jody Williams, and Shirin Ebadi travelled with a delegation to Dharamsala, India to launch the campaign.
 

Visit  the Thank You Tibet! Campaign websiteand add your own message.

Read our blog about the delegation.

Upcoming:  International Gender Justice Dialogue, April 19-22, 2010

In April, Women's Initiative for Gender Justice and Nobel Women's Initiative are convening the International Gender Justice Dialogue in Puerta Vallarta, Mexico.  More than 80 participants from a diverse range of disciplines will be coming together for a global, strategic conversation to advance gender justice and strengthen accountability for gender-based crimes with a focus on situations of armed conflict and fragile states.

This important Dialogue will be attended by advocates and leaders from current or recent armed conflicts including Sudan, Iraq, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Palestine, Israel, Uganda and the Central African Republic as well as activists from countries with a history of coups and military dictatorships including Guatemala, Chile, Honduras, Fiji and Burma.

Watch your inbox and our website for links and information about ways that you can follow this important dialogue virtually, coming soon! 

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