Peacemakers Trust posts news, reports or announcements of interest to people studying or working in the field of dispute resolution, conflict transformation and peacebuilding. Inclusion of an item on the media watch blog does not imply endorsement or agreement of Peacemakers Trust with views expressed by authors of posted items.
Filed under: gender — story spotted by Catherine Morris @ 19:25 PDT
News source:
16 October 2009
Sydney Morning Herald
By JESSICA IRVINE
The official photo gallery of Elinor Ostrom, joint winner of this year’s Nobel memorial prize in economics, says it all. In one picture, she stands behind a lectern in a tie-dyed T-shirt, gesticulating wildly with her right arm. In another, she squats for a portrait in traditional Nepalese garb in an otherwise male group studying local irrigation systems.
It is no coincidence the same year that brought us the global financial crisis brought us the first female winner in the prize’s 41-year history. Economics is changing.
OTTAWA – The chair of the residential schools Truth and Reconciliation Commission said Wednesday anybody who believes the history of residential schools is something survivors should “just get over” need to realize that history is still being lived out.
“We and you are not out of that past yet,” Justice Murray Sinclair said in a ceremony at Rideau Hall this afternoon.
Since 2006 United Nations diplomats have been discussing the need for an Arms Trade Treaty. Meanwhile 2.1 million people have died as a result of armed violence.
Filed under: Disarmament — story spotted by Catherine Morris @ 10:40 PDT
News source:
14 October 2009
Huffington Post
By Louis Belanger
Today’s announcement by the US government of its support for beginning negotiations on the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) was welcomed by Oxfam International and Amnesty International. But the two international organisations also warned that Washington’s support comes at a very high price.
The shift in position by the world’s biggest arms exporter is a major breakthrough in launching formal negotiations at the United Nations in order to prevent irresponsible arms transfers. It shows that the Obama administration is serious about reducing the negative effects caused by the uncontrolled trade in conventional weapons. The US government, under the Bush Administration, is the only government to vote against the UN process toward an ATT in the past.
Filed under: Disarmament — story spotted by Catherine Morris @ 10:39 PDT
News source:
14 October 2009
US Department of State
Official Statement
By Hillary Rodham Clinton, Secretary of State
The United States is prepared to work hard for a strong international standard in this area by seizing the opportunity presented by the Conference on the Arms Trade Treaty at the United Nations. As long as that Conference operates under the rule of consensus decision-making needed to ensure that all countries can be held to standards that will actually improve the global situation by denying arms to those who would abuse them, the United States will actively support the negotiations. Consensus is needed to ensure the widest possible support for the Treaty and to avoid loopholes in the Treaty that can be exploited by those wishing to export arms irresponsibly.
Filed under: Disarmament — story spotted by Catherine Morris @ 10:33 PDT
News source:
13 October 2009
Human Security Blog
By Steph Cousins
We know that the United States is pushing for the ATT resolution to dictate that treaty negotiations happen by absolute consensus. This would give veto rights to any state that wants to water down the treaty text. That means states could easily remove from the text any tough provisions to restrict irresponsible arms transfers.
Filed under: Disarmament — story spotted by Catherine Morris @ 10:30 PDT
News source:
14 October 2009
Ed Pomfret Blog
By Ed Pomfret
On Monday President Kibaki directed Kenya’s security agencies to disarm Kenyans in possession of illegal small arms and light weapons with immediate effect. Mutuku Nguli, PeaceNet-Kenya CEO and International Action Network on Small Arms (IANSA) member representing the Great Lakes and the SADC regions writes.
This move is significant for two critical reasons…
