WILPF Norway Section Report 1 May 2015 1 May 2016 WILPF Norway became a Section in 1915 Contact Details Address Storgata 11. N 0155 Oslo Phone/ Fax +47 93089644 Official email address ikff@ikff.no Official website www.ikff.no Official social media accounts Facebook https://www.facebook. Twitter com/pages/internasjon al-kvinneliga-for-fredogfrihet/2616643872127 84?fref=ts Directory First Name Surname Email Has been in the position since President Liss Schanke liss.schanke March 2016 @gmail.com IB Member Liss Schanke IB Alternate Edel Beukes edel@beukes.net Vice President/Secretary Kari Nes kari.nes@hih m.no Section Treasurer Ellen Elster ellen.elster@ online.no Communication Coordinator Kari Nes When is the Section next internal election? March 2017 1
Membership Information Does WILPF Norway have its own Constitution and By-Law? Yes, it was last revised in 2015 Number of registered Number of paying 220 members members How many new members Number How much does it cost Max have joined the Section not to become a member of 500 since 1 May 2015? known the Section? NOK How does the Section collect the membership fee? The section has 4 local branches as well as individual members. The fee is collected at national level through a letter with the bank account number to all members. Part of the fee is later distributed to the 4 local branchess according to their number of members. What does the Section do to maintain the interest and contribution of current members? 1. WILPF activities in the 4 local branches as well as in Oslo. 2. Taking part in meetings and activities by other peace organisations. 3. The newsletter Fred og Frihet, i.e. Peace and Freedom. How does the Section recruit new members and continue to build the WILPF movement? Recruitment is one of our most important challenges as the present average age is around 70. 1. Trying in vain to establish a WILPF branch in Oslo, we will try again 3. Open meetings related to the 100 th years anniversary 2015 4. Discussions and plans related systematic networking recruitment among adult women as well as a university college pilot project for younger women. Financial Details Annual budgets Annual budget 2015 Annual budget 2016 Income 635.310 NOK Expected income 444.000 NOK Expenditure 708.150 NOK Estimated 444.000 2
expenditure NOK Income sources Does the Section receive any external financial support? 1. Government Ministry Support for administration of the organisation 2. Government Ministry Support through the Norwegian Peace Council for specific meetings and travels, based on applications 3. Support for specific activities Does the Section run any fundraising campaign(s)? No Type of expenditures What are the Section s main cost centers/items? 1. Office and administration 2. Information, including the magazine Peace and Freedom 3. Travels Section fee Did the Section pay the 2015 membership fee to WILPF International? Yes, full amount 48.340 NOK Support from the International Secretariat Did the Section or any of its members receive financial support from WILPF International Secretariat in 2015? No Do you plan on receiving financial support from WILPF International Secretariat in 2016? No Political Work Which main activities has the Section performed during the period 1 May 2015 1 May 2016? Celebration of the 100 years anniversary including publications, meetings, exhibitions and other events in all our branches, a joint event with Peace Boat, and a large celebration conference in Oslo in September. Which issues in the International Programme 2015-2018 does the Section s activities mostly link to? Disarmament, Women, Peace and Security, Environment We would like to know how the Section works with the International Programme 2015-2018 in your local context. Please describe three 3
concrete activities performed since May 2015: Disarmament: Initiatives related to NATO and Norwegian export of arms Women, Peace and Security: Initiatives related to membership in the umbrella organization FOKUS. Environment: Initiatives related to the link between militarism, environment and development through the umbrella organization FORUM and the WILPF Environment Working Group. Activity example 1 What did you do: Produced thematic fliers on a) Depleted uranium b) Militarisation of the North c) Peace culture d) Feminist foreign policy What was the outcome: Short and updated information in Norwegian in an attractive design. How did you communicate about the activity to your members or your surroundings: Home page, e-mail How did you advocate about this activity to public: Handouts on stands, meetings and conferences. How did you follow up the activity: More thematic fliers are being planned. Activity example 2 What did you do: The Bergen branch planned an event in Bergen International Week in October on departments for peace. What was the outcome: Information stand with pop up department for peace in the city center. How did you communicate about the activity to your members or your surroundings: home page, e-mail, handouts How did you advocate about this activity to public: Fliers, speeches, newspapers How did you follow up the activity: A working group on the topic is established by the national board Activity example 3 What did you do: The Hedmark/ Oppland branch organised anniversary events about Peace & freedom what does it mean in 2015? What was the outcome: Among other things a photo exhibition of young asylum seekers. Workshops for students and children. 4
How did you communicate about the activity to your members or your surroundings: e-mail, home page, handouts How did you advocate about this activity to public: Newspapers, posters, social media, fliers, collaboration with municipality and schools How did you follow up the activity: A working group established by the national board will pursue the refugee issue. In the case the Section cannot reach its potential, what are the limiting obstacles? National politics, Media The present Norwegian government is a coalition between a conservative and an ultra conservative government. This implies challenges when it comes to the WILPF work at the national level for disarmament, environment and human rights (e.g. for refugees) as well as the international work for disarmament and support to countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America. Specific examples: Disarmament issues: The present government has withdrawn previous financing and engagement in disarmament initiatives, including nuclear issues which means that these politics have changed considerably. Human Rights: the government wants to limit the access and rights for refugees and asylum seekers. International support: The government wants to cut down on international long term cooperation and aid programs, especially the support to Norwegian and international NGOs. How does the Section collaborate with other WILPF Sections? There is a close cooperation between the Nordic sections in Denmark, Finland, Sweden and Norway through email and phone, and there is at least one Nordic meeting per year. How does the Section collaborate with WILPF International? One of the section members, Margrethe Tingstad, represents a link as an international vice president. In addition there has been contact at the political and practical level regarding specific issues. One of the Norwegian members is very active in the WILPF Environment Working Group. 5
Please describe how the Section has used the WILPF 2015 Manifesto in the Section s work since it was adopted at the Centennial Congress in April 2015. An abbreviated version of the Manifesto has been written in Norwegian, and at least two branches have used this in their work. Do you have any partnering organisations? Yes, with Local organisations/ngos. WILPF Norway is the member of a large number of Norwegian NGOs, including local umbrella organisations like FORUM and FOKUS and the Norwegian Peace council. In addition, we are cooperating with and various organization on specific issues, especially, peace, disarmament, equality and environment Communications Who within the Section read the newsletter Membership News created by the International Secretariat? The board and the secretariat function Do those persons forward the newsletter to the members? Yes How many times in the period 1 May 2015 1 May 2016 has the Section submitted a text to Membership News: 1-3 times Has the Section during the period 1 May 2015 1 May 2016 been in contact with the staff at the International Secretariat? Yes, For National advocacy, Section fees, Submission to Membership News Has the Section been in contact with the ExCom liaison during the period 1 May 2015 to 1 May 2016? Yes Has the Section been in contact with the entire ExCom during the period 1 May 2015 to 1 May 2016? Yes, the contact is about the following reason: One of the section members is a vice president Looking Back 6
How do you think the work of the Section has made a difference between1 May 2015 and 1 May 2016? Our anniversary in the Hague by no doubt inspired our work and gave substance to further advocacy, and we have contributed to public hearings on national strategies for WPS, arms trade and SDGs. What do you consider as the biggest achievement of the Section between 1 May 2015 and 1 May 2016? 1. First hand interest from people outside the NGO community. 2. An afterlife of newspaper chronicles in terms of media debates. 3. A confirmation from public bodies of WILPF Norway as an accountable NGO (invitations to meetings, panels, hearings etc.) What are the lessons that the Section learned between 1 May 2015 and 1 May 2016? We need to develop a stricter focus in order to create the necessary potential political impact. As of now, we have spread our efforts on too many issues. Looking Forward What are the plans of the Section between now and next Congress in 2018? The main organisational issues will be recruitment of new members, adult as well as younger women. Unaddressed items Is there anything you would like to share with International Board? 7