The year that has passed was one of many highlights, some joyful, some tragic. The largest civil society mobilisation was the "Make Poverty History/Live 8" event, on the occasion of the G8 meeting at Gleneagles, Scotland. It was proof that large numbers of ordinary people can make a difference to decision making.

Soon after, however, the London bombings brought a grim reminder of the challenge faced by people anywhere when confronted with terrorism. How to prevent such outrages is a question that is intimately coupled with other issues: how to end the occupation of Iraq, how to bring peace to Afghanistan and how to settle the Middle East conflict? But these are far from the only violent conflicts in need of 'treatment'. The important conference held at UN Headquarters to create the 'Global Partnership for the Prevention of Armed Conflict' brought together an extraordinary collection of conflict-expertise from all regions of the world, and laid the groundwork for a new chapter in peace work. This was then followed by the establishment of the Peace-Building Commission, one of the few positive outcomes from the UN Summit in September.

The Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty was 35 years old this year – but the Review Conference proved a failure in terms of any advance towards disarmament. This was bitterly felt by the hibakusha and the other activists at the 60th anniversary of the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

Hurricane Katrina and the South Asia earthquake were tragedies of a different sort: and powerful reminders that nature's blows need to be guarded against and that the poorest members of our societies – always the hardest hit – need to benefit from a quite different set of social priorities. This idea 'Another World is Possible' remains the motto of the World Social Forum, which was organised for the first time on a decentralised basis – with one session in each continent.

2005 was the centenary of Albert Einstein; and also 100 years since the Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to IPB's great founder Bertha von Suttner. We lost one Pope and gained another; we said good bye to Rosa Parks, David Lange and Joseph Rotblat – who had all made extraordinary contributions.

IPB responses to the many challenges facing the peace movement can be read in this report. Our two main campaign themes were Women in Peacemaking (inspired by the von Suttner anniversary) and a major new me Sustainable Disarmament for Sustainable Development.

In 2005 the IPB celebrated the centenary of an important event in its history: the award of the Nobel Peace Prize to Bertha von Suttner, IPBs founding 'mother'. This commemoration took an unusual form, since we aimed to combine a project to inform the general public in Europe and beyond about the life and importance of von Suttner; with a program of support for contemporary women peacemakers, notably in Eastern Europe. This became known as the Women in Peacemaking Project (WIP).

The exhibition

Fortunately, we were able to convince the Austrian Foreign Office to sponsor the production, transportation and loan of a professionally made exhibition about Bertha´s “Life for Peace”. WIP's main role was to ensure (for at least some of the events) that peace workers of today became visible within the framework of an historical exhibition, with speeches or information stands. This took place at events in Cluj/Romania, Udine/Italy, Geneva/Switzerland, The Hague/Netherlands, Vienna/Austria, Prague/Czech Republic and Bonn/Germany. The exhibit was also shown in places as far apart as Tiblisi, Krakow, Zürich, Oslo, Tel Aviv, Amman, Rabat, Cape Town, Mexico City, Brasilia, and Shanghai (about 22 countries and 30 cities in all; see www.berthavonsuttner2005.info).

Preparation

This ambitious program of activity required extensive preparatory work which had begun already in 2003 and continued through 2004 and 2005. It involved developing the program concept; making contact with partners all over Europe and on other continents; fundraising; translating and distributing materials in various languages; preparing our own IPB publications; liaising with the Austrian authorities; and spreading the message both electronically and through person-to-person contacts.

Historical background

In 1905, the Austrian Baroness Bertha von Suttner was the first woman to be honoured with the Nobel Peace Prize. Also, it was thanks to von Suttner that Nobel set up the Peace Prize. Bertha von Suttner became a celebrated author with the publication of her best-selling anti-war novel, "Die Waffen nieder" (Down Your Arms). She founded the Austrian Peace Society, became the Vice-President of the International Peace Bureau, and was widely regarded as the leading peace activist of her time.

Program objectives

• to improve civil society's awareness of the contribution of women in peacemaking and conflict resolution;
• to gain from the experience of those women who work for peace every day - especially those in Central and Eastern Europe;
• to strengthen East-West peacemaking solidarity networks and make known resources available to support women in conflict situations;
• to connect women peace activists in Eastern and Central Europe, to facilitate networking, and joint campaigns;
• to find and help develop new partnerships for peace work especially in the Balkans and the Caucasus.

A particular focus was put on the implementation of UNSC Resolution 1325 (2000) on participation of women in peacekeeping and peace negotiations.

Austria

The main scientific symposium of the commemorative year was held in the town of Eggenburg in May 2005. IPB speakers included Cora Weiss (President), Verdiana Grossi (historical consultant). Both Silvi Sterr and Colin Archer had been involved in the planning process which took place under the direction of Prof. Peter van den Dungen of Bradford University, UK, and Prof Erich Glawischnig, current owner of the von Suttner residence at Harmannsdorf.

A second set of commemorative events took place in the Austrian capital towards the end of the year. Colin Archer was invited to speak at a symposium held on Dec. 5 at the Austrian Diplomatic Academy in Vienna. This event was preceded by a commemorative concert in the presence of the Foreign Minister and Mr. El-Baradei of the IAEA, this year's Nobel laureate. It was followed by a commemorative session in the Austrian Parliament, with speeches and a performance of songs sung by a Bertha von Suttner school choir. There was also a book launch of a new collection of writings about von Suttner.

Czech Republic

In Prague (birthplace of von Suttner) the Bertha von Suttner Society (now an IPB member group) organised their own commemorative program in November 2005, entitled "Bertha von Suttner : The Relevance of Her Thoughts for our Time". The conference was held in the Senate building. The keynote speakers included Cora Weiss, IPB President.

W O M E N   I N   P E A C E M A K I N G
Ways to Peace Program

IPB´s aim is to influence the process in the North Caucasus region positively with our program “Ways to Peace in Russia and Caucasus”, coming from the side of civil society. The aim is to establish dialogue processes. IPB initiated a network of Russian and Chechen women. The project idea was born in the IPB, founded on contacts to both sides, and in the context of discussing how to implement the UN Security Council´s resolution 1325.

The women´s network helps to strengthen peace initiatives, and non-violent actions in order to transform this conflict, or steps leading in that direction. In the first Chechnya War the “Mothers” of both sides, that is : the Russian Soldiers' Mothers and the Chechen Mothers, contributed a lot to a (temporary) reduction of tensions and to shaping a situation, where ceasefire, negotiations etc. could evolve. The same process cannot be repeated.

Nevertheless, the women's dialogue aims to facilitate the development of joint strategies for actions across borders and conflict lines, and to enhance participation of women in political decisions and in peace processes.

IPB supports the dialogue through involvement of groups and organisations of the international peace movement – thus offering East-West bridges, and attracting specific partners, who are in contact with both sides. The process is also supported by examples of good peace building from around the IPB network, and it should hopefully bring about new examples of successful peace work.

“Ways to Peace in Russia and Caucasus” started with a pilot seminar in Prague in November 2005, funded kindly by the German Foreign Ministry through its department ZIVIK. Groups like the Soldiers Mothers of St. Petersburg and the Association of Barristers of St. Petersburg, the Mothers of Chechnya for Peace, Echo of War and others participated, as well as WILPF Denmark/Danish Peace Council and Voice of Women for Peace from Canada. Because of visa problems, the Russian women from the Don Region could not participate. However, they will participate in the next meeting. The different worlds of West and East on the one hand, and of Russia and Chechnya on the other hand, came out quite clearly. The dialogue is important in order to get information from direct sources, and also for a better understanding of the daily problems and current challenges the women face. All participants gained by learning about the sometimes unexpected experiences and perspectives of the respective other group (e.g. when the Russian women corrected the Chechen ones several times in their assessment of the possibilities and options for action in Russia). After the workshop the women made a statement of concern to be brought to the conference.

Enough confidence was built, that all parties could agree on a follow up of the work of the core dialogue group and on expanding its activities. IPB will enable meetings of the group at a stable regular place, and besides, independently, bring individual women of the group to international peace meetings and conferences. There is reason to believe that women groups from both conflict parties, supported by activists from the international peace movement, are able to develop non-violent strategies to deal with the conflict and to enhance peace activities, in sum, to influence the situation in a positive way.

Besides, IPB will encourage new contacts and additional processes focusing on dialogue and non-violent civil action among Chechens, among Russians, between Russians and Chechens, and between those two parties and the international peace movement. Ideally, “bad images” of Chechens in Russian public opinion could be changed into “good images”. Non-violent civil action could become a potential avenue that is increasingly taken into account by both conflict parties.

In the current situation it is very important to keep contacts going and to deepen them. For both the Chechen and the Russian women this opportunity of regular meetings and continuing exchange is evidently very precious. Given that background, IPB will continue with the project, as difficult as it may be. The most important task right now is fundraising, because without funds there is no action.

Switzerland

The BvS exhibition was shown three times in Geneva. On Sept. 1st, IPB organised an opening ceremony at the International Conference Centre opposite the UN building. Among the speakers were Martine Brunschwig-Graf, President of the Canton of Geneva, Ambassador Godet of the Swiss Mission to the UN, Markus Reiter of the Austrian Mission, and Memnuna Zvizdic from the women's peace movement in Sarajevo. Two IPB colleagues performed classical music, and a reception was kindly offered by the Austrian Mission. The exhibition was then transferred to the Maison des Associations in central Geneva, where it remained for two weeks. Finally it was shown for several weeks at the Palais des Nations under the auspices of the Austrian Mission. IPB's participation and costs were subsidised by the Swiss and Austrian missions.

This year was also the occasion for the opening a new exhibit in the Palais des Nations library on the Nobel Peace laureates. This contains material on many IPB laureates. We are most grateful to the UN library staff for their hard work in helping organize and display the work of our forebears!

Also in Switzerland, IPB representatives built on contacts already made in 2004 with the Berne-based project known as '1000 Women for the Nobel Peace Prize', since their work has very similar objectives. We met with their staff and publicised their book and exhibition. IPB President Cora Weiss organised a special opening ceremony when the exhibition was launched in New York, at which Barbara Haering (Swiss parliamentarian) and the Swiss ambassador also spoke.

Publications

2005 saw the publication of the booklet “The Life of Bertha von Suttner and Her Legacy for Women Peacemakers Today” in the series Patterns in Reconciliation, also co-published with the IFOR.

We also worked on the 2005 edition of our annual review, "May 24: International Women's Day for Peace and Disarmament", co-published with the International Fellowship of Reconciliation. This edition featured women from Eastern Europe, and included articles by Silvi Sterr, IPB Program Coordinator, and other program participants.

(Both publications are still available from IPB Secretariat)

D I S A R M A M E N T   F O R   D E V E L O P M E N T

Weapons and war are seldom far from our TV screens and newspaper headlines. The IPB has a long history of working to promote disarmament, and is aware of the multiplicity of specialist organisations in this field. Similarly, the increase in public awareness of the complex problems of sustainable development has led to the creation of a huge range of civil society efforts to tackle the problem. But there are very few groups who make the link between armament and mass poverty.

Fortunately the United Nations, who tackled this issue repeatedly in the 1980s and earlier, has recently revived it with the publication in 2004 of the report of the Group of Experts on Disarmament and Development. Among their recommendations is that civil society groups should take up the issue. This is very timely, since annual world military spending has now increased to over $1000 billion (SIPRI, 2004 figures). This is the same level as at the height of the Cold War. IPB's view is that no-one can learn of this without imagining how this vast treasury could be used differently : to save lives, develop poor communities, protect the environment, promote renewable energy sources and so much more. At the same time we see how the impact of weapons of all kinds – from depleted uranium and dioxin poisoning to anti-personnel landmines, cluster munitions and small arms – harm communities in conflict zones, often decades after the hostilities are over.

IPB's adoption of this theme (full title : 'Sustainable Disarmament for Sustainable Development') emerges from its earlier work on Human Security. IPB has identified this issue since it is clear that from a human security perspective, all weapons systems present dangers to vulnerable civilian populations – both in terms of direct physical effects, and of 'development costs' such as loss of accessible land, stress on health systems, distortion of the local economy etc.

Given the very considerable scope of these challenges, IPB has undertaken a 5 year program of work on this wide-ranging topic, beginning with an initial 2 year phase from 2005 to 2007. The program was launched in October 2005 with the publication of [ MISSING REF ]

IPB's role within this program is in three main areas :

A. - Building public awareness - Production and distribution of basic tools and        materials.

Main publication : 'Warfare or Welfare? Disarmament for Development in the 21st Century : a Human Security Approach' (100 pp, available from IPB Secretariat or at this site). This volume summarises the factual and political background to these issues.

• Action Plan for program development;
• Talking Points (for use with dev agencies);
• Plans are also under way for the publication of a campaign poster, CD and DVD (campaign film).
  

B. - Developing a campaigning network

Over the year IPB staff and members have done the groundwork for the development of new international network composed of :

• peace movement organisations (beginning with IPB's own member groups);
• newer think-tanks and advocacy groups;
• development agencies and their field partners;
• civil society movements in the Global South and East.

In addition, the theme is attracting support from: Political parties; Parliamentarians; Local authorities; Religious bodies; Youth & students groups; Trade unions; Women's organisations; Scientific and environmental groups.

C. - Support for north-south Disarmament for Development partnerships

London Consultation, October 21st, 2005

The purpose of this event (co-organised by the British group Just Defence) was to explore with representatives of development agencies and disarmament groups the potential for a new campaign on the Disarmament-Development theme. The response was uniformly positive, and many helpful ideas were generated.

Speakers included Cora Weiss (IPB President), Ben Southworth (World Development Movement), Bruce Kent (former IPB President), Colin Archer )IPB Secretary-General), Richard Moyes (Landmine Action), Laura Cheeseman, (International Action Network on Small Arms), Ann Feltham (Campaign Against Arms Trade), Chris Langley (Scientists for Global Responsibility). The meeting was chaired by Tomas Magnusson, Sweden.

We are grateful to the UNISON trade union for the use of their premises free of charge, and to Bruce Kent for organising the local logistics.

This event also served as the launch of new book : "Warfare or Welfare ?".

R E L A T E D   E V E N T S

Depleted Uranium

IPB was asked to organise an international seminar on Depleted Uranium, together with the International Coalition to Ban Uranium Weapons. The event was held in October 2005 at the Geneva International Conference Centre. IPB was responsible for logistics, program development, press relations etc. The encouraging aspect of this meeting was that it proved possible to bring together both staff of the WHO and their critics. Afterwards, IPB staff brought ICBUW activists to the meeting of the NGO Committee for Disarmament, where they were given a briefing on UN work and the activities of the NGO Committee.

Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty

2005 marked the 35th anniversary of the NPT, and an important (if unsuccessful) Review Confeence was held in New York. IPB's main contributrion was to assist the NGO Committee for Disarmament in the organisation of a seminar held at the World Council of Churches on 11th April. The title was 'A Treaty in Trouble', and the event drew a good attendance of both diplomats and civil society.

Hiroshima-Nagasaki commemorations

Thanks to the inspiration of Michel Monod (IFOR Representative to the UN inGeneva) the tradition of the August rally outside the Palais des Nations has been maintained. This year we were lucky to have with us a substantial group of Japanese activists. A meeting was arranged for them with the Head of the UN's Disarmament Affairs Dept in Geneva, Mr Roman Morey.

White phosphorus

A powerful TV film broadcast in Italy stimulated a wave of international outrage which crystallised in an Appeal organised by IPB-Italia and an on-line petition calling for a full scale investigation into the alleged use of white phosphorus by US troops in Iraq, notably in the attack on Falljuah in late 2004. Colin Archer spoke on this issue in a TV interview with RAI News, filmed at the Palais des Nations.

O U T R E A C H

In December, the IPB Secretary-General was invited to make speeches on the theme of Disarmament for Development in Vienna (see section on Women in Peacemaking) and in the town of Gorizia, near Trieste. This was at the request of Tavola della Pace members in the area, and included a municipal meeting and a schools meeting the following morning.
Around the same time he was invited to write an article on the same theme in the magazine of the Finnish Peace Committee.

At the London Council meeting a firm decision was made to hold the 2006 Triennial gathering in Helsinki, and the latter part of the year was devoted in part to preparing the ground for this event.

ADMINISTRATION

In addition to all the normal administrative tasks -- fundraising and reporting, financial record keeping and budgeting, servicing committees, sub-letting office space, recruiting and training volunteers, and more -- 2005 saw the beginning of a new cycle of consultations regarding possible amendments to the Statutes, in advance of the 2006 Assembly.

WEBSITE / OUTREACH / SERVICING

Keeping a large and diverse membership supplied with the materials they require – with a very limited budget – is a core task of the Secretariat. Nowadays, email and the website are the key to the operation, though traditional paper versions and postal delivery remain important. Among the areas dealt with on a regular basis are:

• Uploading materials to website
• Organising translations
• Planning new web design
• Mailing 'welcome' packages to new member organisations
• Maintenance of database and Yahoo e-groups
• Responding to information and UN access requests
• Attending meetings of IPB member organisations
• Meetings with visitors to Geneva

In addition, staff participated when time permitted in relevant Geneva events, such as a Human Security seminar run by Swiss Foreign Ministry at the Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue; and the AGM of the Federation of International Institutions in Geneva, of which IPB is a long standing member.

• AJ Muste Memorial Institute, USA
• Austrian Foreign Ministry
• Dowell Family Trust, UK
• ILCOP Foundation, Switzerland
• State of Geneva (employment subsidy)
• Swiss Foreign Ministry
• Zivik/IFA, Germany

as well as many member organisations and individuals for their annual fees, which always provides a vital foundation for IPB's program work.

IPB OFFICIALS

Honorary President :

• Jayantha DHANAPALA - Sri Lanka

President :

• Cora WEISS - USA

Treasurer :

• Sorina SERBOTEI - Switzerland

Vice Presidents :

• Fredrik HEFFERMEHL - Norway
• Tomas MAGNUSSON - Sweden
• George MANNAH - Ghana
• Doug ROCHE - Canada
• Rae STREET - UK
• Hiroshi TAKA - Japan
• Mordechai VANUNU - Israel
• Alyn WARE - Aotearoa-New Zealand
  

Steering Commettee :

• Cora WEISS, President - USA
• Sorina SERBOTEI, Treasurer - Switzerland
• Jordi AMADANS - Spain
• Fulgida BARATTONI - Italy
• Urban GIBSON - Sweden
• Dave KNIGHT - UK
• Thomas MAGNUSSON - Sweden
• Treasurer Mikis PERISTERAKIS - Greece
• Rae STREET - UK
• Kalevi SUOMELA - Finland
• Yayoi, TSUCHIDA - Japan
• Alyn WARE - Aotearoa / New Zealand
  

Council Members :
[ All of the above plus Regional Representatives ]

A F R I C A

• Ade ABIODUN - Nigeria
• Manasseh EHILE - Nigeria
• Michael TAGOE - Ghana
  

A S I A

• Farhana FERDUOSH - Bangladesh
• Yeshua MOSER-PUANGSUWAN - Thailand
• Johiral MUNNA - Bangladesh
• Yayoi TSUCHIDA - Japan
  

E U R O P E

• Anna AKERLUND - Sweden
• Jordi AMADANS - Spain
• Marta GAY - Spain
• Ruth GUNNARSEN - Denmark
• Jenny HEEB - Switzerland
• Kate HUDSON - UK
• Dave KNIGHT - UK
• Alain ROUY - France
• Jessica SUNI - Finland
• Bo WIRMARK - Sweden
  

L A T I N - A M E R I C A

• Pablo CELI - Ecuador

N O R T H - A M E R I C A

• Janis ALTON - Canada
• Kevin MARTIN - USA
  

I N T E R N A T I O N A L :

• Marc JOSET, IAEP

Consultants :

• Ade ADENEKAN - Nigeria
• Mubarak AWAD - USA
• Janet BLOOMFIELD - UK
• Aline BOCCARDO - Switzerland
• Göran Von BONSDORFF - Finland
• David CORTRIGHT - USA
• Ben CRAMER - France
• Phyllis CREIGHTON - Canada
• Stephen DANKOWICH - Canada
• Kate DEWES - New Zealand
• Jules DUFOUR - Canada
• Solange FERNEX - France
• Johan GALTUNG - France
• Ann GERTLER - Canada
• Helen GOLOMBEK - Germany
• Rob GREEN - New Zealand
• Gerd GREUNE - Belgium
• Verdiana GROSSI - Switzerland
• Guido GRÜNEWALD - Germany
• Gennady GRUSHEVOY - Belarus
• Ernst GÜLCHER - Belgium
• Mubashir HASAN - Pakistan
• Chris HUNTER - UK
• Bruce KENT - UK
• Augustin LOUBATAU TABOA - Chad
• David MACHARIA - Kenya
• David McREYNOLDS - USA
• Rodrigo MONTALUISA - Switzerland
• Sheila OAKES - UK
• Eva QUISTORP - Germany
• Anna REHIN - UK
• Adi ROCHE - Ireland
• Rainer SANTI - Switzerland
• Georg SCHÖFBÄNKLER - Austria
• Anick SICART - France
• Horst STASIUS - Switzerland
• Ilkka TAIPALE - Finland
• Rev. Junsei TERASAWA - Japan
• Aaron TOVISH - Switzerland
• Achin VANAIK - India

Secretary-General :

• Colin ARCHER

Interns : [ ??? ]

• Danielle BOULAY
• Liseth CALLEJAS
• Marie-Laure COUET
• Thierno FALL
• Kalen IWAMOTO
• Stephanie KARNER
• Alex KRAUSS
• Ute LORENZEN
• Gian-Matteo MAROCCO
• Neela NATH
• Sophie SINGH
• Horst STASIUS
• Parisa ZANGANEH
• Lu ZHANG
  

Volunteers : [ ??? ]

• Silvi STERR
• Younis AHMED
• Minh NGUYEN
• Silvi STERR
• Renzo VOLPATO

Technical support :

• ???