END VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN AND GIRLS
SUPPORT REFUGEES FROM UKRAINE, AFGHANISTAN AND ALL WARS
As Women's International League for Peace and Freedom, we oppose wars, militarism and violence. We stand with women, girls, and refugees around the world, working together to build real security, justice and peace.
When patriarchal leaders start wars – for whatever reason – women and children get killed, dispossessed, injured, sometimes raped, maimed, exploited and enslaved.
From Ukraine to Afghanistan, Yemen, Palestine, Iraq, Syria, and across the world, armed conflicts disproportionately threaten women's lives and our human rights, children, safety and security.
This International Women's Day, we stand in solidarity with women and children trapped or fleeing from wars and violence.
The humanitarian catastrophe now being inflicted on Ukraine is Putin's invasion and war of choice, using Russia's huge military arsenal and conscript army. We support the brave Russians who are demonstrating in the streets to demand an end to this bloody war.
Nuclear weapons possession and threats increase the dangers for everyone
WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE?
Immediate ceasefire covering all armed personnel involved in this conflict
Stop targeting civilians, end the use of all forms of explosive weaponry on cities and in populated areas, including cruise missiles, cluster bombs and thermobaric weapons
Safe passage for families to secure havens out of bombed cities
Immediate negotiations to end the military invasion and war on Ukraine, build peace, and rebuild shattered lives and cities
NO attacks on nuclear sites for any reasons
NO use of nuclear weapons in any circumstances
Greater inclusion of skilled/experienced women and peace-builders to resolve conflict and address the problems
Support, amplify and protect peace activists and dissenters in Russia
The UK must welcome and support all refugees – from Ukraine and other armed conflicts in the world – and give legal and material support for refugees to settle and prosper, to find homes for their families, get jobs, education, training, and the health services they need.
End reliance on fossil fuels – along with military-industrial greed, arms production, trade and profiteering. These fuel militarism and cause conflicts, environmental destruction and climate chaos, which put added pressures on the food, water, land and air that we need to share – for all life on Earth.
When the US and UK abruptly ended their 20-year war in Afghanistan, they failed to make responsible provisions for the safety of Afghan civilians. Women and girls were left especially vulnerable, forced out of jobs and schools. Arrogant patriarchal leaders, the Taliban's religious extremism, misogynist politics and droughts have resulted in famine, desperate hunger, malnutrition, insecurity and misery for millions of people.
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