Welcome to WILPF Canada!

WILPF Canada’s goals are to bring together women of different political beliefs and philosophies who are united in their determination to study, make known and help abolish the causes and the legitimization of war; and to work toward world peace; total and universal disarmament; the abolition of violence and coercion in the settlement of conflict and their substitution in every case of negotiation and conciliation; the strengthening of the United Nations system; the continuous development and implementation of international law; political and social equality and economic equity; co-operation among all people; and an environmentally sustainable development.

About us: We are a small (about a dozen or more), diverse group of activists, ranging in age from 20-something to 81. We were born in Canada, the Caribbean, the US., the South Pacific, India, and Europe.  We have worked or are working as teachers, librarians, public administrators, doctors, and politicians. As individuals, outside of WILPF, our interests include influencing prostitution policy, bringing refugees to Canada, educating girls in Africa, and strengthening women’s voices in local politics. Our meetings are devoted to finding ways to influence government policy on militarism, indigenous affairs and other public issues. If you would like to sit in on one of our monthly meetings, please contact Tejal Barde at wilpf.canada@gmail.com.

For more about WILPF, its history, goals and activities, visit WILPF International.

NEWS:

Women and Peace in Afghanistan: What Canadians Can Do Now

Thursday, August 11, 2022
4 p.m. PT/ 7 p.m. ET
Register in advance for this webinar On 15 August it will be one year since Kabul fell to the Taliban and life in Afghanistan was profoundly changed.  This webinar will centre the voices of Afghan women presenting their experiences and words from within and without Afghanistan on what this year has brought for women and their families.  While the year has seen less overt war than in the lead up to the US withdrawal, it has been far from peaceful as the Taliban enforces its rule, internal non-state violence continues and the people of Afghanistan face severe restrictions in freedom and extreme economic deprivation.  The legacy of decades of war and current international restrictions have caused WILPF Afghanistan to declare to the UN Human Rights Council, We Are Not Living, We are Surviving, and to ask where the international community is in the present crisis for the rights of women and girls and for humanitarian support for Afghans, whether within the country or seeking refuge abroad. The webinar will explore the present and what actions Canada can take now. Organized by the Women's International League for Peace & Freedom (WILPF) Canada. Khatira ...
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WILPF Canada and the Canadian Voice of Women for Peace send joint letter to Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly to stop arms exports to Ukraine and to help end the war

WILPF Canada and the Canadian Voice of Women for Peace (VOW) recently sent a joint letter to Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly and requested a meeting with her. We called on Minister Joly to push for a ceasefire and help to end war in Ukraine, stop sending weapons to Ukraine, prioritize diplomacy and disarmament, and implement the Women Peace and Security agenda. We also brought to Minister Joly's attention our concern about the serious situation that independent Canadian journalist Eva Bartlett who has been reporting from Ukraine, Donbass and Russia has been put on a Ukrainian "kill" / "undesirables" list. We called on Minister Joly to denounce this and to stand for freedom of the press and the protection of journalists. We are opposed to Canada sending weapons and special forces to Ukraine, which is prolonging the war and suffering of the people. We are concerned that Canada has not called for a ceasefire or negotiations to end the fighting. It is in the best interests of not only women and children in Ukraine, but all Ukrainians, Russians and the whole world to stop the war and come to a negotiated resolution Read our joint letter to Minister Joly here ...
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WILPF Canada and the Canadian Voice of Women for Peace (VOW) send joint letter to Minister Hedy Fry to call on her to support Canada ratifying the nuclear ban treaty and reducing military spending

WILPF Canada and the Canadian Voice of Women for Peace (VOW) recently sent a joint letter to Member of Parliament Hedy Fry who is also the Special Representative on Gender Issues, Parliamentary Representative at the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and a member of the Parliamentarians for Nuclear Non-proliferation and Disarmament (PNND). We sent similar letters to Senator Mobina Jaffer, Senator Marty Deacon and Senator Marilou McPhedran. We called on them to push Canada to end the war in Ukraine, ratify the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, reduce military spending, prioritize diplomacy and disarmament, and implement the Women Peace and Security agenda. We also requested meetings with them. "VOW and WILPF are opposed to any increases to military spending and the procurement of new weapons systems. This spending is irresponsible ... We are calling for a reduction of military spending, phased demilitarization and a re-allocation into the green, care economy." "We want Canada to be a leader in peace, peacekeeping and disarmament not provocative military operations. We would like the federal government to conduct a study on peacekeeping, peacebuilding and disarmament." Read our joint letter to MP Fry here ...
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WILPF Canada member Satoko Oka Norimatsu co-writes 3-part series “Canada joins U.S. in militarizing the Pacific”

Read 3-part series published in the Georgia Straight on how Canada is joining the U.S. in militarizing the Asia Pacific region and directly threatening China. Part 1: Canadian Armed Forces exacerbate Pacific tensions Part 2: Canadian Armed Forces impinge on Okinawa Part 3: John Price and Satoko Oka Norimatsu: Pacific Peace Network challenges RIMPAC ...
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Stop the Weapons, Stop the War, Stop NATO June 24-30

Join the Days of Action Stop the Weapons, Stop the War, Stop NATO from June 24-30 to coincide with the protests against the NATO Summit in Spain. NATO is a dangerous US-led nuclear-armed military alliance that is provoking conflict and pushing militarism. WILPF members will be participating in rallies across Canada. WILPF Nanaimo is organizing an event at noon on Wednesday, June 29 at Diana Krall Plaza in Nanaimo to raise consciousness about the dangers of belonging to an aggressive nuclear-armed alliance with first-strike capacity. We will likely walk briefly to the corner of Commercial St. and the highway near Port Place Mall. Find a rally near you ...
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