18.08.2010 - The beauty of Kashmir’s cultural history is often overshadowed by the present day sadness of the ongoing daily human rights violations and the lack of democratic space. This is why the International Council for Human Development (ICHD), supported by the Dutch NGO IKV Pax Christi, took the initiative to organize a Cultural and Literary Fair on Kashmir under the title: ‘Beauty of Kashmir, Present and Past’.
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05.08.2010 - ICAN, the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear weapons, has started the world's longest video chain letter, to free the world from nuclear weapons. The video has been started by a group of school children from Hiroshima, Japan and is addressed to the 9 countries still in possession of nuclear weapons. We're asking people from all over the globe to upload a video clip of themselves saying the word "please". The "pleases" will then be edited into a long virtual chain letter, which will act as a petition to abolish nuclear weapons, worldwide.
Join the campaign
05.08.2010 - 65 years ago this week the United States dropped two atomic bombs on Japanese cities: Hiroshima on 6 August and Nagasaki on 9 August. We recognize the suffering of those cities, destroyed in a flash. The destructive power of these bombs and the long-term effects that can still be seen and felt today, urge us to repeat today what we have said so many times ever since: Never again!
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04.08.2010 - In the night from Thursday the 5th of August to Friday the 6th of August, Japanese radio station FM Chupea will broadcast the memorial service for the nuclear attack on Hiroshima, via livestream. The broadcast will be in both Japanese and English, and will take place at 1.00, CET.
Go to the livestream
29.07.2010 - In a three-day workshop, organized by the Women Parliamentarian Caucus and IKV Pax Christi, Sudanese women discussed the engagement of women in electoral politics in Eastern Sudan.
Read the full article in the Sudan Tribune
28.07.2010 - Programme leader nuclear disarmament Susi Snyder is in Hiroshima this week for the 'Hiroshima Conference for the Total Abolition of Nuclear Weapons by 2020'. During this conference, she gave a speech about US tactical nuclear weapons in Europe.
Read the text of the speech here
26.07.2010 - Last Saturday peace activist Timur Tskhovrebov was attacked and battered in the streets of Tskhinvali. Tskhovrebov, who runs the publishing company of the newspaper ‘The 21rst Century’, was assaulted in broad daylight on July 24th around 13.00 o’clock. As a patriot ánd passionate advocate of dialogue between South Ossetia and Georgia, he recently signed a joint Georgian-Ossetian declaration.
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19.07.2010 - The American Lieutenants Byrne and Hlosek and Commander Edson argue that America's tactical nuclear weapons in Europe are military obsolete and expensive.
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16.07.2010 - With six months until a referendum on Southern independence, Sudan is alarmingly unprepared according to a new report published today by a global coalition of 26 humanitarian and human rights organisations. The report calls for urgent action from African heads of state who will meet shortly at a major summit of the African Union in Uganda from 19 – 27 July. Ahead of the summit, international Sudan envoys will meet in Khartoum on 17 July.
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12.07.2010 - The humanitarian situation in Kashmir from last few months is deteriorating. During this time many innocent young Kashmiris men and women lost their lives and many more remain under such a risk. Sign the petition
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08.07.2010 - On the 6th of July, France announced that investement in cluster munitions producers is forbidden by French law. During the debate on the implementation of the Convention on Cluster Munitions (CCM), the government announced that any knowingly direct or indirect financial assistance, to a manufacturing or trading activity of cluster munitions would be considered as an assistance, encouragement or inducement falling within the scope of criminal law.
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05.07.2010 - Think Outside the Bomb, the largest youth led nuclear disarmament network in the US, is organizing the Disarmament Summer encampment in Chimayo, New Mexico from July 30 to August 9.
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01.07.2010 - In recent days protest in Kashmir have cumulated as each day more young protestors are killed in clashes with special forces. Over the past three weeks a vicious cycle of violence has claimed the lives of 10 young people. The youngest being 9 years old.
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30.06.2010 - Kashmir & ICJ : simulation-summerschool for students specialized in international law.
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25.06.2010 - Tensions in the streets of Srinagar are running high. Public protest and strikes have paralyzed the Kashmir valley again after a series of incidents occurred in which innocent youth have been killed.
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15.06.2010 - The review conference of the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), that took place in May in New York, has brought a consensus document with 64 concrete action points in the areas of disarmament, non proliferation and the peaceful use of nuclear energy. IKV Pax Christi analyzes the outcomes.
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09.06.2010 - The Cluster Munition Coalition (CMC) calls on the United States to confirm or deny a reported use of US-manufactured cluster munitions in Yemen.
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08.06.2010 - In 1997 a consortium led by Lundin Oil contracts to extract oil in Block 5A, an area that until escaped the civil war. The report shows that there is a direct link between Lundin Oil's operations and the escalation of war in the region. As a result of the war, 12 000 people were killed and moreover 160 000 people displaced. The report concludes that Lundin Oil may be found complicit in violating international law by avoiding to act, or by indirectly supporting war crimes and crimes against humanity. It also believes that the oil company should compensate the civilian population affected by war.
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02.06.2010 - '
In the outcome of the NPT Review Conference in New York there were several references to the American Tactical Nuclear Weapons (TNWs) that are stationed in Europe. Susi Snyder from IKV Pax Christi put together an overview of the references to TNWs in the report and the action plan. This document was published by NATO Watch.
Read the overview here
02.06.2010 - The World Federation of United Nations Associations (WFUNA) has launched a global competition called the “Nuclear Button Contest” for young people (ages 15-29). Participants are asked to design a better nuclear button. The designs will answer the question: "What do you want your world leaders to see when considering pressing the nuclear button?" First prize is an Apple iPad and runners-up receive Flip Video Cameras. The deadline is 12 July 2010.
Read more about the competition
27.05.2010 - Susi Snyder, programme leader Nuclear Disarmament at IKV Pax Christi, has given two interviews to NPT TV about the review conference of the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. The first video is about the different committees, the second video is about the 'grand bargain' that can take place when the final document of the conference is put together.
Watch the videos here
20.05.2010 -
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20.05.2010 - On the 17th of May a NATO Group of Experts, headed by Madeleine Albright, released its conclusions and advice on the review of the NATO Strategic Concept. Their report offers little new on the issue of Tactical Nuclear Weapons (TNW) in Europe. Read the article about the report, published by Susi Snyder and Laurens Hogebrink from IKV Pax Christi.
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18.05.2010 - IKV Pax Christi and twelve other international NGO's released a statement on the need to act on the so-called 'tactical' American nuclear weapons in Europe. Now is the time to take action!
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17.05.2010 - Today there are still 200-240 American nuclear weapons in Europe. These so-called 'tactical nuclear weapons' are stationed in The Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, Italy and Turkey. IKV Pax Christi published a fact sheet on these tactical nuclear weapons, mapping the debate about their presence in Europe.
Download the fact sheet
14.05.2010 - On May 4th, a young journalist called Sardasht Osman who was 23 years old and a student in Slahaddin University in Erbil (capital of Kurdistan Region) was kidnapped at 8:30 a.m. According to eye witnesses a car was waiting for him in front of the college where he was studying.
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12.05.2010 - The Library on Wheels for Nonviolence and Peace, a member of the Pax Christi International Network, has been working since many years in an extraordinary way to offer children in the occupied Palestinian West Bank an alternative to violence. This new report describes how this is done. The report is also available in Arabic translation in order to share the Library’s experiences with other organisations in the Middle East. The report is part 1 in a series of 2. Part 2, about Lebanon, will be published soon.
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12.05.2010 - What is the state of the debate about the removal of tactical American nuclear weapons from Europe? The Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, Italy and Turkey still have American nuclear weapons on their territories. These so-called 'tactical nuclear weapons' are part of the agreements made by NATO during the Cold War about nuclear sharing.
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10.05.2010 - Susi Snyder and Welmoed Verhagen, who are currently visiting the NPT Review Conference in New York for IKV Pax Christi, published an article about tactical nuclear weapons in the "NPT News in Review" this week.
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23.04.2010 - Susi Snyder of IKV Pax Christi comments upon the outcome of the two days meeting of NATO Foreign Ministers in Tallinn. At their meeting in Tallinn the ministers held a working dinner to begin what will prove to be a lengthy discussion about removing US foreign deployed battlefield nuclear weapons from five European nations who currently host them (Belgium, Germany, Italy, The Netherlands and Turkey).
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22.04.2010 - Today and tomorrow, 22 and 23 April, the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of NATO countries will meet in Tallinn (Estonia) to discuss NATO’s nuclear policy, among other things. Dutch Foreign Minister Verhagen asked that this topic be included in the agenda for the meeting, along with four other foreign ministers in a letter sent to NATO earlier this year.
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14.04.2010 - Almost a year and a half after the historic signing of the Convention on Cluster Munitions (CCM) in Oslo in December 2008, 146 financial institutions from 15 countries around the world still provide over US$ 43 billion worth of investments and financial services to seven producers of cluster bombs.
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08.04.2010 - Yesterday the United States released it’s Nuclear Posture Review, the first such review of U.S. nuclear weapons policies since 2002. This review provides some positive movement towards the stated goal of President Obama to pursue a world free of nuclear weapons and outlines a plan to help create the conditions necessary for the elimination of more nuclear weapons.
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30.03.2010 -
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29.03.2010 - More than 60 Sudanese Church leaders from 14 churches throughout Sudan gathered in Juba with their international partners from 23-26 March 2010 to review the current situation in Sudan and to prepare for the future.
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22.03.2010 - Mr. Sajjad Karim, Member of European Parliament thanked the guests and Mr. Ali Raza Syed, President of the Kashmir Council EU for makig this ceremony to happen in Brussels today, March 17h., immediately after the launching ceremony in Islamabad on March 9th.
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17.03.2010 - IKV Pax Christi aims to provide a platform to exchange views on recent international
developments concerning nuclear disarmament and to discuss the Dutch input at the
upcoming Review Conference of the Non Proliferation Treaty taking place in New York,
May 2010. Working language will be English and the meeting will take place under
Chathamhouse rules and media will not be present.
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17.03.2010 - Five children were killed and one injured when a cluster submunition exploded in a village in Lao PDR’s Champasak province on 22 February 2010. The incident highlights the need for urgent action to assist survivors and ensure the clearance of cluster munition remnants when states parties to the treaty banning cluster bombs gather for their first official meeting in the Lao capital, Vientiane, this November, the Cluster Munition Coalition (CMC) said today
Read the article
12.03.2010 - Switzerland is poised to join a number of countries that have outlawed investments in cluster munitions, after the Swiss National Council passed two motions on 10 March 2010 to prohibit financial support for the production of all banned weapons.
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03.03.2010 - A book with photos by Govert Driessen, Marjan Lucas and Amna Farooq Shah about the life of Kashmiri migrants in Pakistan. The President of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Raja Zulqarnain Khan received the first copy of the book on March 9, 2010.
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24.02.2010 - Nearly seven years after 75 dissident voices are being held prison because of their political ideas, 42 year old Orlando Zapata Tamayo has died after 85 days on hunger strike.
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22.02.2010 - Former NATO secretary general Willy Claes, former prime ministers Guy Verhofstadt and Jean-Luc Dehaene and former minister of Foreign Affairs Louis Michel have published an opinion piece in Belgium's newspapers De Standaard and Le Soir on February 19, becoming the latest “Gang of Four” to publicly demonstrate their support of a World Free of Nuclear Weapons.
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18.02.2010 - Former Prime Minister Ruud Lubbers was scheduled to deliver a presentation at the Global Zero Summit. Due to a broken wrist, he was unable to attend and instead offered a letter with five key points to help get the world closer to zero nuclear weapons.
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18.02.2010 - The 2010 Global Zero Summit, held in Paris, was an opportunity for military, diplomatic, and academic experts on nuclear weapons to come together and present a plan to eliminate all nuclear weapons on earth. The plan emphasizes the primary responsibility of Russia and the United States to reduce their arsenals to create the conditions for broad multilateral negotiations on the road to zero.
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17.02.2010 - Burkina Faso and Moldova ratified the convention banning cluster munitions on February 16, 2010, the final two ratifications needed for it to become binding international law. The convention will now enter into force on August 1, 2010.
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17.02.2010 - In 2007, Belgium was the first country in the world that prohibited investments in producers of cluster munitions by law. However...
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26.01.2010 - The seminar is organized by the International Council for Human Development (ICHD) /EU Kashmir Council, with support of Dutch National Peace Council IKV Pax Christi (IPC) . The event aims to obtain attention for inclusion of Kashmir Dispute on Agenda of the International Conference on Afghanistan in London on January 28th 2010.
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21.01.2010 - The American Gang of Four, consisting of George Schultz, William Perry, Sam Nunn en Nobel prize winner Henry Kissinger, plea for better protection of existing nuclear weapons.
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18.01.2010 - As a result of the departure of our present program officer IKV Pax Christi is looking for a:
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18.01.2010 - Though IKV Pax Chrsiti does not have direct relations with Haiti, there are conmections through Pax Christi International. Pax Christi International expresses deep condolences and solidarity with the people of Haiti following the recent earthquake and calls for prayers and prompt support in the relief efforts.
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11.12.2009 - "A cry of hope there where hope doesn't exist," say the writers of 'A moment of truth; a word of faith, hope and love from the heart of Palestinian suffering' about their document. Father Jamal Khader (Bethlehem University) will offer the document to Dutch 'church leaders' on 22 December.
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08.12.2009 - One year after the signing of the Convention on Cluster Munitions and shortly before ratification by The Netherlands, the Dutch parliament adopted the motion Van Velzen/Van Dam. Not only are cluster munitions never to be used again, investments in the weapons are now also to be banned.
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03.12.2009 - Almost 3000 anonymous graves are found in Indian-administered Kashmir. This states the report ‘Buried Evidence’ presented by the International People’s Tribunal on Human Rights and Justice (IPT).
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03.12.2009 - High-level representatives from 130 countries attending the Cartagena Summit on a Mine-Free World should redouble efforts to rid the world of antipersonnel landmines and cluster bombs, as well as pledge their support to assisting victims and upholding disability rights, a global group of disarmament, humanitarian and human rights organisations said today, marking the International Day of Persons with Disabilities on 3 December.
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26.11.2009 - Former Prime Minister of the Netherlands Ruud Lubbers is leading a socalled 'Gang of Four' to advocate for a nuclear free world. Max van der Stoel, former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hans van Mierlo, former Minister of Defense and of Foreign Affairs and Frits Korthals Altes, former Minister of Justice wrote an article in NRC Handelsblad of 23 November.
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24.11.2009 - IKV Pax Christi fully supports Amnesty International USA’s call to President Obama to address human rights violations in India with the Prime Minister of India, Manmohan Singh, on his visit to Washington.
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19.11.2009 - The Sudanese Church and its worldwide ecumenical partners, assembled in Juba (9-11 November). With five months before the elections and a year before the referendum, the fragile Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) is on the brink of collapse. The participants of the conference call upon the Sudanese people and the international community to join hands and to urgently mobilize the necessary will and resources to rescue the CPA.
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10.09.2010 - The German new government coalition is committed to having all remaining nuclear weapons withdrawn from Germany. It should have real consequences also for how the other nuclear sharing states in Europe will state their position in the strategic concept debate which NATO is now pursuing.
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03.11.2009 - After an inspiring meeting at the Vatican, the German, Italian, Wallonie-Bruxelles, Flemish and Dutch sections of Pax Christi issued a 'Call For Governments to Show Progress Before the NPT Review Conference'.
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02.11.2009 - World leaders get church backing on nuclear disarmament. Four umbrella organisations of churches have sent a joint statement to worldleaders President Obama, Dmitry Medvedev and the highest representatives of NATO and EU.
Last week also at the Vatican a meeting was held on nuclear arms.
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28.10.2009 - Almost one year on from the historic signing of the Convention on Cluster Munitions in Oslo in December 2008, 138 financial institutions still provide over $20 billion worth of investments and financial services to eight producers of cluster bombs. These are the findings of the most comprehensive report to date on global financial investments in these banned weapons.
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20.10.2009 - Seven big churches in Sudan issued a joint statement in which they stress that only the full implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) can prevent Sudan from going to war again.
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20.10.2009 - A film shot on the international day of peace reached Pakistan. And, political elite speaking about the Earth Charter.
See films
15.10.2009 - The Peace platform in Heerlen came up with a very clever way to draw attention to nuclear weapons during a gathering called 'Heerlen in the world, the world in Heerlen'. Two glass vases were filled with matches. The audience was asked to guess how many matches there were.
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10.09.2009 - The motto of the Peace Week 2009 is: ‘Towards a new climate of peace’. During this week many local groups organise all sorts of activities related to issues of war and peace. With this year’s motto we want to appeal to our common responsibility to work for peace. We want to inspire each other to create a new climate of peace.
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08.09.2009 - The report, written by IKV Pax Christi Regional Representative and long standing Sudan analyst, John Ashworth, issues alerts about security; wealth sharing and power sharing that need urgent attention by all those involved.
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06.09.2009 - Archbishop Daniel Deng Bul Yak received recent reports from Jonglei State in Southern Sudan that there had been another attack on the peoples of the area in which over forty people – men, women and children – were killed. He urgently appeals for swift action.
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03.09.2009 - The report describes the history and the actual situation of the ‘Jenin pilot’. Jenin is a region in the North of the Westbank that was chosen as a test-case for international endeavors aiming at restructuring and strengthening of the Palestinian Authority institutions and the economical situation, as part of a broader peace process.
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31.08.2009 - Civil Society Organizations in Iraq have united themselves under the name of Ash Wednesday Forum for Civil Society Organizations. In a call to the Iraqi and International public the Forum wants to make 19 August a national mourning day for victims of violence.
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26.08.2009 - Different Sudanese churches call together upon all people of faith, our governments, our neighbours in the Region, the continent of Africa and the wider international community to join hands in a concerted effort to rescue the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) from collapsing.
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12.08.2009 - Israel, Georgia and Russia were urged today to join the global ban on cluster bombs as members of the Cluster Munition Coalition (CMC) held events and activities throughout the world to remember the victims of cluster bomb strikes by those countries. The weapon was used last August in the conflict between Russia and Georgia and three years ago by Israel in southern Lebanon.
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15.07.2009 - Human rights activists are organizing a coordinated Global Day of Action which takes place on 25 July. With this initiative they demand respect for the human rights of the Iranian people and demonstrate solidarity with the civil rights movement in Iran.
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15.07.2009 - "When President Obama meets with Dutch Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende on July 14th, the urgent issue of nuclear disarmament should be on the agenda." Miriam Struyk and Sanne Bruijne wrote an open-ed to the US bi-monthly National Catholic Reporter.
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14.07.2009 - On the 29th of June, IKV Pax Christi organized a seminar where they presented their report on the discussion on depleted uranium (DU), called 'Time for Clarity'.
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13.07.2009 - Since the murder on two young women end of may, more than ten other young men and women have become the victims of assault, torture, rape and murder.
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07.07.2009 - On Saturday 27 June, a second public gathering of the "Jammu and Kashmir Peoples' Rights Movement" (PRM) took place in the campaign against torture.
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01.07.2009 - Deadline 'Visions on Peace' thesis prize is 1 July.
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27.06.2009 - Peoples’ Rights Movement organises a second session in campaign on torture
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24.06.2009 - Countries that have signed the new treaty banning cluster munitions should not in any way facilitate the use of this weapon, even in joint military operations with allies that have not joined the treaty, Human Rights Watch said in a new legal analysis.
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16.06.2009 - UN Secretary-General Ban Ki Moon notes the urgency of bringing the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) into force as soon as possible.
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08.06.2009 - On Saturday morning 30 May, a shocking discovery was made in the Shopian district of Kashmir valley. Two women, Aasiya (17) and her pregnant sister-in-law, Neelofar (24), had gone to the field to collect fodder for their cattle but never returned home.
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25.05.2009 - Check MTV Iggy's website for discussion, videos and information on Change in Kashmir.
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06.05.2009 - Call to the American authorities about the ‘Cuban Five’ and Call to the Cuban authorities about political prisoners.
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20.04.2009 - IKV Pax Christi calls on parliament to not take any decision on the successor of the F-16, as long as no clarity exists on the tasks the jet should perform.
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20.04.2009 - To commemorate the death of Aasia Jeelani, 5 years ago on the 20th of April 2004, the JKCCS organised a public function in Srinagar city after paying tribute to Aasia by visiting her grave with flowers and prayers.
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17.04.2009 - Former militants who have united themselves in the Peoples'Rights Movemnet will kick-off of a campaign to raise awareness on the issue of torture and to advocate rehabilitation for affected families.
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17.04.2009 - Pakistani President Zardari endorsed sharia law in the SWAT valley which severely restricts women's rights. Dutch Minister of development cooperation Mr. Bert Koenders will attend a donor conference in Tokyo. IKV Pax Christi presses the Minister to to condition Dutch support to Pakistan with the advancement of women’s rights and clear committed share in development assistance.
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15.04.2009 - IKV Pax Christi recently launched a report on nuclear disarmament: A World Free of Nuclear Weapons: New Opportunities for Nuclear Disarmament. The report builds on the moral rejection of nuclear weapons (since long voiced by the peace movement), offers an historic overview as well as an analysis of the current momentum and chances for nuclear disarmament it provides.
Download the report here
12.04.2009 - IKV Pax Christi welcomes the historic call by President Obama to radically abolish nuclear weapons "Obama’s speech is a wake-up call for European politicians and links up perfectly with IKV Pax Christi’s appeal for a world free of nuclear weapons" says Jan Gruiters, director of IKV Pax Christi.
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09.04.2009 - The Lord Resistance Army caused over more then a 1.000 victims during its military campaign in the border area of Congo, Uganda and Sudan in December of 2008. That's one of the conclusions of a new report by IKV Pax Christi.
Download the report here
27.03.2009 - Researcher Erikson about new opportunities for American-Cuban dialogue after Obama’s election. With a new president and a new crisis in America, the dialogue with Cuba could be about to change. But is Obama ready to pay the political price?
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25.03.2009 - On 25 March 2009, the Executive Committee of Pax Christi International issued a statement on NATO – What Future for this 60-Year-Old? The statement is calling for an overall change of NATO’s strategy in Afghanistan; NATO should fully and unambiguously promote nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation; and expansion of NATO should be dealt with great care. Read statement attached in English 2009-0183-en-gl-SD
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23.03.2009 - Louisa Morgantini, vice-president of the European Parliament, calls for an immediate halt in the planned demolishment of residents by the Israelian government in East Jerusalem. ‘The EU has the power and should use it,’ says Morgantini. IKV Pax Christi fully agrees with her call for justice and legality.
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18.03.2009 - Legislation signed into law on March 11, 2009 by President Obama will make permanent a ban on nearly all cluster bomb exports by the United States, Human Rights Watch said today. The United States should review its stance on joining the international treaty prohibiting cluster munitions in light of this action, Human Rights Watch said.
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13.03.2009 - Yesterday afternoon we learned the sad news that Jan ter Laak passed away surrounded by his immediate family after a brief stay at the Johannes Hospitium in Wilnis. His death, following so quickly on the news of his illness, has touched us deeply.
04.03.2009 - A new balance between Diplomacy, Defence and Development is much needed. That is one of the conclusions of IKV Pax Christi's response to a Policy Document issued by the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs in November 2008.
Read the full response here
04.03.2009 - Interacting with a delegation of European Union Commission to Kashmir, Chairman of Jammu and Kashmir Coalition of Civil Society and noted human rights activist Parvez Imroz Sunday said every fifth Kashmiri has been tortured by troops and other state forces.
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23.02.2009 - If you have written your thesis on peace and security you can compete for this year's "Visions on Peace" initiated by IKV Pax Christi and the Foundation for Peace Sciences. Read the procedure carefully. Send in a copy of your thesis before 1 July 2009 and take a chance on winning €1500 and being published in Vrede en Veiligheid (Peace and Security).
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13.02.2009 - On February 11th 2009, The International People’s Tribunal on Human Rights and Justice (IPT), recently founded by e.g. respected Advocate Parvez Imroz, has sent the newly appointed Jammu & Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah a ‘ Memorandum on Human Rights and Justice in Kashmir’.
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05.02.2009 - As the state is failing to provide basic security in Iraq, the concept of ‘Human Security from below’ provides a basic tool for understanding the situation. In September 2008 IKV Pax Christi traveled to the North of Iraq and interviewed Iraqi about the impact of (lack of) Human Security in their daily life.
Watch the video
09.01.2009 - A coalition of major humanitarian, human rights and development organisations called on the European Union today to immediately suspend any further enhancement of its relations with Israel, known as an ‘upgrade’, until it agrees to a comprehensive ceasefire and provides unimpeded humanitarian access. Both Israel’s offensive in Gaza and Hamas rocket attacks into Israel have caused unacceptable civilian casualties.
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08.01.2009 - No sustainable political solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is possible without Hamas. That is one conclusion in "Talking to Hamas: On Isolation and Its Failure" a report by peace organisation IKV Pax Christi.
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06.01.2009 - It is impossible for international journalists to enter the Gaza Strip in order to report the current events. But using generators for power when necessary, a number of Palestinians and foreign activists are still managing to send out reports on what is happening in the Gaza Strip. One of them is IKV Pax Christi partner A. Programme leader Jannie Kuik puts his messages on her weblog.
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24.12.2008 - For the 9th consecutive year, Christmas celebrations will take place in a difficult climate for people in the Holy Land. As we prepare to celebrate Advent and Christmas in the security of our homes and communities, let us not forget to pray for justice, peace and security for Palestine and Israel.
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23.12.2008 - IKV Pax Christi wishes everybody happy holidays and a peaceful 2009. If you wish you can download our chrismas ecard and send it on.
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17.12.2008 - During the recent years, in a post-war Kosovo, there have been many organizations established that usually aim towards landing projects that are concerned with reconciliation, regional cooperation and European Integration. However, not all of them have the potential to be executed properly and provide relevant productive results.
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15.12.2008 - "A brave project that counters nationalism, is independent and is run by and for young people." These words of praise come from a panel of judges for the Mitrovica Rock School. The two schools teach music to youngsters against a backdrop of tension and insecurity in their divided city in Kosovo. They've just been awarded the Best Project of 2008 Prize by the Dutch National Commission for International Cooperation (NCDO).
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05.12.2008 - In the period from 17th of November to 24th of December there are assembly elections in Kashmir. According to the government of India they are free and fair and the turnout of the first phases has been high: 68 %, 67% and 67% respectively. There is however a dark side to these elections that misses the attention of the media but is very important because it effects the elections in a high degree.
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24.11.2008 - The European Parliament on Thursday urged European Union (EU) member states to sign and ratify the Convention of Cluster Munitions (CCM) as soon as possible and to take steps toward implementation even before it is signed and ratified.
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18.11.2008 - Adv. Parvez Imroz and the two local volunteers were released monday at 10:15 p.m. only after the intervention of various international human rights organizations. On his release Police did not charge him and therefore his detention is explicitly illegal and unprovoked. The police officials did not let him stay in the town and they in their own vehicle drove him and other team members to Srinagar and dropped them at 11:35 p.m.
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17.11.2008 - IKV Pax Christi feels disturbed and extremely anxious on the arrest and detention of Advocate Parvez Imroz. Imroz along with two local volunteers from Bandipora namely Firdous Ahmed Sofi and Ajaz Ahmed Mir were arrested at 12:30 noon today when they reached a spot where protest demonstrations were already going on.
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06.11.2008 - Leaders of Europe’s major religions, representing all parts of our continent, together with
representatives from non-governmental organisations and supported by members of the
diplomatic community met in Sarajevo, Bosnia-Herzegovina, on 29 and 30 October 2008 to
address the burning issue of cluster munitions and to express our support for the process to
ban these weapons.
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03.11.2008 - Upon resignation of President Pervez Musharraf , the Dutch Minister of Foreign Affairs Mr. Maxime Verhagen declared that the Netherlands supports the democratic process and strengthening of the constitutional state in Pakistan, for which and an independent judiciary is to be considered indispensable.
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17.10.2008 - The Belgian-Pakistani NGO ‘Organization for Peace, Education and Development (OPED)` and the Dutch Peace organisation IKV Pax Christi cooperate in organizing a seminar in Brussels on Friday October 17th , 2008, 2-6 PM) in Residence Palace /International Press Center
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16.10.2008 - A team from Iraqi Al-Amal Association and Etana Women’s Assembly toured the areas in Nineveh and Mosul Planes to investigate the conditions of the displaced Christian families from Mosul City, following the last criminal sectarian attacks carried out against them during the last couple of days. The visit took place on 12th and 13th October 2008.
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16.10.2008 - IKV Pax Christi, together with others in The Hague for more attention to the urgent situation in Kashmir questions. Lisette Wagtelenberg, a trainee at the Pakistan-Kashmir program of IKV Pax Christi, wrote a report.
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15.10.2008 - At the final day of the Dublin Diplomatic Conference on Cluster Munitions the 107 participating states unanimously adopted the new treaty. Following this, the campaign is now working to ensure that as many states as possible sign the new treaty in Oslo from 2-3 December 2008.
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16.09.2008 - Any strategy that takes civilian casualties for granted is a contra productive, criminal act of war no matter who, and for what reasons, fired. Attacking mosques and other civilian targets in northern Pakistan, like in District Lower Dir is an insane policy that mainly victimizes innocent civilians and risks backfires and more bloodshed. Unilaterally bombing Pakistan border areas with Afghanistan, like South Waziristan, in the name of war-on-terror is as insane and can backfire as well.
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03.09.2008 - Authorities on Tuesday lifted the curfew from all 10 districts of the Valley, officials said.
“ Curfew has been in lifted in wake of holy month of Ramadhan,” a top official told Greater Kashmir.
He said that if no untoward incident is reported there will be no day or night curfew.
Curfew was imposed in the Kashmir Valley on August 24, a day before Lal Chowk chalo call given by the Coordination Committee.
27.08.2008 - Srinagar, Aug 27: In view of the deteriorating humanitarian situation and the media black out of the events in Kashmir, we call upon the international humanitarian agencies, particularly the UN bodies and world press to intervene immediately to prevent a humanitarian catastrophe in Kashmir.
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24.07.2008 - A new report by IKV Pax Christi 'Kidnapping is Booming Business' states that kidnapping as a political and economic instrument has increased worldwide. The official number of kidnappings in 2006 goes up to 25.000, but other estimations go as high as 100.000. On the head of the list of countries with the most kidnappings are Mexico, Iraq and India.
Read the full report
17.07.2008 - On 16 July 2008, in a historic, first time hearing on Kashmir, the European Parliament (EP) Subcommittee on Human Rights (EPHR) convened a meeting in Brussels, Belgium.
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11.07.2008 - The European Parliament on Thursday 10 July passed an 11-point resolution urging the Government of India to "urgently ensure independent and impartial investigations into all suspected sites of mass graves in Jammu and Kashmir and as an immediate first step to secure the grave sites in order to preserve the evidence."
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24.06.2008 - On June 20, the ‘International Peoples Tribunal on Human Rights and Justice in Indian-administered Kashmir’ visited the northern district of Kupwara, a heavily militarized zone about 95 kms from Srinagar, to conduct its investigations in the area, as part of its ongoing work to be conducted in 2008-2009. The Tribunal was intimidated and detained in Indian - administered Kashmir.
Read the full press statement here
12.06.2008 - Watch the new video about the Peace and Sports programme in the Horn of Africa. The purpose of this programme is to bring youth warriors from cattle raiding communities in Southern Sudan, Kenya and Uganda together and seek for local solutions of conflicts and ways for sustainable peace and development.
Watch the video
11.06.2008 - On 8 June 2008, the Executive Committee of Pax Christi International issued a statement to the Chinese Authorities concerning China, Tibet and the Olympic Games. The Olympic Games are a symbol of solidarity and peace, transcending borders through fair competition and cooperation in sports. It is the express hope of Pax Christi International that without delay the dialogue with the Dalai Lama will create an opportunity to come to a mutually agreeable solution to the crisis in Tibet. Only a formal and true dialogue will lead to a solution to the impasse over Tibet.
Read the full statement
29.05.2008 - On Thursday 29th of May, IKV Pax Christi and NiZA organize a public debate on the role of China in resource exploitation in Africa.
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27.05.2008 - Civil society activist from all over the world announced their support on Cyprus towards the peace activist of Jammu and Kashmir. The representatives were on Cyprus on the invitation of IKV Pax Christi to discuss peacework in the conflict areas in the Middle East and Asia.
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23.04.2008 - On April 16 Jana Bestaeva-Kandelaki, the 20-year old daughter of Sarmat Parastaev, IKV Pax Christi partner and founder of the Georgian-Ossetian civil forum has been arrested by security services in the unrecognized entity of South Ossetia. Though according to law, a person can only be held for 48 hours without official charges being made, Jana Bestaeva-Kandelaki is now in prison for the 6th day, without any charges. Her parents have not been allowed to see her since the arrest.
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18.04.2008 - Relious leaders among which Desmong Tutu call for a total ban on clustermunitions. On the 19th of April their will a global call against the use of clustermunitions. Exactly one month before the International conference on clustermunitions in Dublin civil society is asking for more attention on the consequences of this deadly weapon.
Read the statement here
14.04.2008 - There are almost thousand nameless graves found in the frontier areas of Uri and Varmul, reveals a report recently released by the Assosiation of Parents from Disappeared Persons (APDP). IKV Pax Christi en 'Avocats sans Frontières Netherlands' call more attention towards these disturbing facts and towards truthfinding in Kashmir.
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14.04.2008 - Africa’s natural riches does not deliver peace and sustainable development. Sudan is a case in point. The Fatal Transactions campaign, in cooperation with the European Coalition on Oil in Sudan has summarized the main facts and issues surrounding Sudan’s oil industry in a concise report.
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14.04.2008 - Together with other European NGO's IKV Pax Christi urges the new government of Pakistan to immediately withdraw all the cases against lawyers, human rights defenders and political workers, because they were targeted for peaceful protest.
Read the full statement here
30.03.2008 - At a time when the government is claiming success over the opening of tulip garden here, there is a strong resentment among the people about the change of the name of the garden.
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28.03.2008 - Geert Wilders launched his film Fitna. It is an anti-Islamic pamphlet full of generalizations, sending out a message that Islam is the source of violence. In a very suggestive way he uses well-known and terrifying images of terror against citizens to underpin his message.
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17.03.2008 - Liberation no occupation, that was the main slogans that have been raised by almost all Iraqis in 2003, before and after the removal of the former regime. Including the current Prime Minster Al-Malaiki. Now and after 5 year of the removal of the former regime, a lot of people began strongly to reflect and to some extent question that slogan. Fear, doubts, and frustrations are features that have become normal part of the daily life of any Iraqi.
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11.03.2008 - Most religious leaders in Bosnia and Herzegovina supported the nationalist policy during the Bosnian war (1992-1995) and justified the war. This emerged from a study conducted by the peace organization IKV Pax Christi and BBO.
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28.02.2008 - Srinagar, Feb 27: Police Wednesday arrested nearly two dozen lawyers demonstrating against unabated human rights abuses by armed forces in the state.
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26.02.2008 - On February 18, 2008, general elections have been held in Pakistan. A new parliament has been voted into power. This was part of President Musharraf’s plan for ‘gradual return to democracy’.
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22.02.2008 - On Sunday, Kosovo declared independence. This finally created clarity for the population. For a long time only talking has been done. Now everyone can concentrate on the biggest and most urgent challenge for Kosovo’s future: the creation of an open, democratic en multi-ethnic society, in which everyone regardless of ethnic background can live without fear.
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21.02.2008 - It is with great concern that IKV Pax Christi and its counterparts in Serbia and Kosovo have taken note of the violent incidents that took place in Northen Kosovo. We understand the strong emotions in Serbian society. While people should be allowed to voice there emotions, the use of violence should be strongly condemned.
Read the full letter to the Council of the European Union
20.02.2008 - The people of The Netherlands had explicit attention for the Pakistani electionprocess: first of all because of admiration for the strength and persistance shown by civil society last year, when the lawyers took to the streets and media and judiciary exposed their persistance in protesting against the political status quo. Marshall Law, detention of human rights activists and dangerous violence as suicide blasts, didn’t silence their protests and it seems they caused a major change in Pakistan’s socio-political affairs.
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19.02.2008 - On the second day of a five-day conference to develop a historic treaty banning cluster munitions worldwide, ten governments are attempting to create a loophole that will allow them to assist the USA to use cluster munitions. The Cluster Munition Coalition strongly condemns the hypocrisy of these countries trying to ban cluster bombs while assisting other countries to use them.
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12.02.2008 - A recent report by IKV Pax Christi shows that the Dutch position in the international debate on cluster munitions is less progressive then generally assumed. Where the Dutch used to be a leading country on the ban on landmines, they stay behind on cluster munitions.
Read the full report here
01.02.2008 - Even the thought of the smell of Armenian food makes the authorities in Azerbaijan angry. In Ganja, West-Azerbaijan, a row started over serving Armenian food in a socalled Peace House. On the 9th of November Ms. Akifa Alieva, coordinator of Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly, Ganja branch (Azerbaijan) was called by the head of the Azerbaijan National Culinary Centre, Mr. Tahir Amirasloanov. She was questionned about the Armenian dishes planned to be served in the peace house in Ganja.
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23.01.2008 - One and a half million people imprisoned and without proper food or medicine. 800,000 without electricity supply; this is illegal collective punishment, an immoral act in violation of the basic human and natural laws as well as International Law. It cannot be tolerated anymore. According to the patriarchs and heads of the local Christian Churches in Jerusalem the siege over Gaza should end now.
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17.01.2008 - Valdete Idrizi, director of Community Building Mitrovica in Kosovo, has won the International Women of Courage Award. The annual Award for International Women of Courage recognizes women around the globe who have shown exceptional courage and leadership in advocating for women's rights and advancement. Valdete will receive the award from the hands of Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice in March this year. IKV Pax Christi congratulates Valdete with the international recognition of her work.
12.11.2007 - The decision to extend Dutch participation in ISAF's (the International Security Assistance
Force's) mission is dominating political debate on Afghanistan. But there is more at stake
than the future of Camp Holland in Uruzgan. This is about the future of Afghanistan. Because
the future of Afghanistan cannot be predicted, it would be prudent to explore several possible
scenarios for the ISAF mission in Afghanistan. That can help in discerning a feasible strategy
for ISAF and a wise decision on the extension of Dutch participation in it.
Read the full rapport here
30.10.2007 - Srinagar, Oct 27: Entire Kashmir valley observed a shutdown Saturday overwhelmingly responding to strike called by pro-freedom groups in protest against the landing of Indian troops here on this day in 1947.Almost all pro-freedom groups, including both factions of Hurriyat Conference and the Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front, had asked the people to observe October 27 as a ‘black day’ against the ‘’forcible occupation of Kashmir by Indian troops’’ in 1947.
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25.10.2007 - IKV Pax Christi organises a seminar in October (25/10-28/10) about the gender dimensions of militarization and conflict in Kashmir within the larger context of Kashmir's civil society.
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18.10.2007 - On October 16th Sallahud-din signed the Declaration of a Total Ban on Anti-Personnel Mines in Kashmir. In the declaration he states to be determinded to put an end to the suffering and casualities caused by anti-personnal mines and recalles the necessity to come to a total ban on production and trade of the mines as well .
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05.09.2007 - Six experts from Iraq will share their experiences and views concerning the situation in their country and options for a possible peaceful future. These six Iraqis are representing different sectors of the Iraqi society: government officials, civil society activists, academics, and UN staff. Amnesty International, Hivos and IKV Pax Christi have invited them to come to the Netherlands to share their views and insights about the current situation in Iraq.
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12.07.2007 - With the title 'An uncertain future for Ngiturkana', the third newsletter of the Peace and Sports programme, dated July 2007.
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08.07.2007 - In conjunction with IKV Pax Christi, the Free University's (VU) Blaise Pascal Institute will organise a conference on René Girard. This will be held from 4 to 8 July. René Girard, upon whom the VU conferred an honorary degree a few years ago, has become known for his mimetic theory.
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28.06.2007 - Today June 28, 2007 a meeting took place between a delegation of Armenians, a delegation of Azerbaijani and two citizens of the disputed territory of Nagorno Karabach. In itself this is very important, because the conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia over Nagorno Karabach is in a deadlock situation for many years.
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27.06.2007 -
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25.06.2007 - On Monday 25 June, Bernard Dreano and Arzu Abdullayeva have presented a joint statement to the Council of Europe on the situation regarding press freedom in Azerbaijan.
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14.06.2007 - Three thousand youth gathered at Centre Jeunes Kamenge (CJK), a Pax Christi Member Organisation, to mourn the loss of a beloved staff member and his expectant wife, who were brutally murdered in their home last month.
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08.06.2007 - This week, it is forty years to the day that the Six-Day War came to an end with Israel occupying the West Bank, East Jerusalem, the Gaza Strip and the Golan Heights. Since then, Palestinians have been living with the consequences of this occupation. Violence, humiliation and despair are commonplace, without any light at the end of the tunnel. The occupation and the resistance against it also play an important role in the lives of many Israelis because, for them, fear of assaults and missile attacks is a daily reality.
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25.05.2007 - The Lima Conference on Cluster Munitions held in Peru this week concluded Friday, with strong and widespread support for a new treaty. Twenty-eight new countries joined the 46 states that launched a new process in Oslo in February this year to conclude a treaty by 2008.
Read the press release
04.05.2007 - With the title 'Cattle theft, women and football shoes', the second newsletter of the Peace and Sports programme, dated May 2007.
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11.04.2007 - Press agency Reuters with news about the peace negotiations in Uganda.
Read the news on africa.reuters.com
11.04.2007 - From March 31 to April 6 a meeting took place in Mombasa between the delegation of the Government of Uganda, led by General Salim Saleh and the delegation of the Lord's Resistance Army led by Mr.Martin Ojul. In this meeting, the parties were able to freely discuss unresolved issues in the stalled negotiations in Juba.
Read the press statement
10.04.2007 - The office of the Secretary General and Department of Justice and Peace with deep sorrow informs it's partners and all people of good will about the death of Fr. Ed Brady S.J.
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02.04.2007 - The European Court of Human Rights will on 5 April rule on a disappearance case from Chechnya, Russian Justice Initiative, a legal aid organization representing the wife of the disappeared, said today. The main evidence in the case is unique videofootage of the detention made by Russian soldiers.
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30.03.2007 - The Zimbabwe Catholic bishops have at last issued a pastoral letter on the current crisis of Zimbabwe. The letter entitled: "God Hear The Cry of the Oppressed" is to be officially issued on Holy Thursday, April 5, 2007.
Read the letter
13.03.2007 - Russia's Federal Registration Service (FRS) has registered the branch office of Russian Justice Initiative (RJI) in Moscow, Russian Justice Initiative said today. The office was entered into the registry of non-governmental organizations on 20 February 2007 after two previous rejections on technical grounds.
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26.08.2006 - Lord's Resistance Army and Government of Uganda agree on Cessation of Hostilities. Today, Saturday August 26, 2006 the Government of Uganda and the Lords Resistance Army (LRA) have agreed on an official cessation of hostilities. The Agreement was signed by Dr. Ruhakana Rugunda, Minister of Internal Affairs and leader of the delegation of the Government of Uganda and Mr. Martin Ojul, leader of the LRA delegation and officially witnessed by Dr. Riek Machar, Vice-President of Southern Sudan and Chief Mediator.
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10.07.2006 - A new statement by the Uganda Joint Christian Council: The quest for peace and justice in Northern Uganda: dealing with conflicting philosophical, moral and ethical values.
Read the statement (Word file)
06.06.2006 - This is the Joint Statement by the Uganda Joint Christian Council (UJCC) and the New Sudan Council of Churches (NSCC) on the current quest for peace in Northern Uganda. It is written with great sensitivity and solidarity to the victims of the conflict in North, West and South Sudan. As mediator, Pax Christi Netherlands feels greatly encouraged by this support.
Read the official statement (Word file)
17.05.2006 - The Dutch newspaper 'NRC handelsblad' wrote an extensive article about the peace talks in Uganda and the role of Pax Christi Netherlands as a mediator.
Read a translation (Word file)
17.05.2006 - Ugandan President Museveni and LRA Commander Kony prepared for negotiations on peace in Northern Uganda. Pax Christi Netherlands Peace Movement is mediator.
Read the press release (Word file)
28.03.2006 - These are recent pictures of Jimos village in Losilang (Uganda). The village was completely burned to the ground on the 18the of march 2006, as a result of forced disarmament procedures.
The people from the village have fled and are now camped on the grounds of the Losilang Catholic Mission, waiting for any kind of assistance from well wishers. There is a urgent need for requirements like food, blankets and utensils. There are over 60 families affected by this awful fate. Pictures only available in Dutch part of the site.(comment on that page is just a translation of above.)
Change to pictures in Dutch section