Women in Black oppose militarism and war.
While the world focus is on Russia’s war with Ukraine, we must not forget the deaths and displacement in on-going wars in Yemen, Syria, Eritrea, Palestine and Afghanistan. Some involve the use of weapons that have come from UK arms companies, licenced by our Government.
In the face of the Putin government’s ongoing military invasion of Ukraine, Women in Black call for:
First – with urgent action
- an immediate ceasefire covering all armed personnel involved in this conflict
- an end to the targeting of civilians, and use of illegal cruise missiles, cluster munitions, and all forms of explosive weaponry on cities and in populated area
- immediate negotiations to end the invasion and war
- greater inclusion of skilled/experienced women and civil society peace-builders in this process
- Putin (and his allies) and NATO governments to publicly pledge not to use nuclear weapons, under any circumstances
- support, amplify and protect peace activists in Russia and Ukraine
- the UK must welcome and support all refugees, from Ukraine and other armed conflicts in the world
*support for the Homes for Ukraine scheme for refugees. https://homesforukraine.campaign.gov.uk/
Further Steps
- laws on violence against women and children must be implemented, with more action to prevent and prosecute rape as a war crime
- the connections between war, climate destruction and patriarchal violence need to be recognised
- public campaigning to prevent future conflicts and end military-industrial profits, arms dealing, nuclear and fossil-fuel dependency
- democratic engagement at all levels to limit the opportunities for militarists and nationalists to gain and abuse political power
- Russia, the US, the UK, France and other nuclear-armed governments to join the UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, and eliminate their entire nuclear arsenals.
- the United Nations system and regional organisations need to be reformed and strengthened to work for the elimination of inhumane weapons, promote peace, human rights and justice, and adhere to international humanitarian laws
- all of us need to work together for conflict resolution, war prevention, disarmament, the ending of occupations and colonialism, and the building of cooperative relations and real security.
Women in Black hold vigils every Wednesday between 6-7 pm at the Edith Cavell Statue, opposite the door of the National Portrait Gallery, St.Martin’s Place, London, WC2. Our vigils are silent, women-only and if possible we wear black. See our website at www.london.womeninblack.org Contact us at: wibinfo@gn.apc.org
www.facebook.com/womeninblack.london Twitter: @WIB_London
Donations for leaflets gratefully received. If you are a woman and agree with us, then do come and join us.