Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 21 October 2015
136. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will report on Ireland's involvement with the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36714/15]
View answerReaching Critical Will (RCW) is the disarmament programme of the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF), the oldest women's peace organization in the world. RCW was created to encourage civil society engagement in UN disarmament processes and to support NGO interaction with governments and the United Nations; to provide timely and accurate reporting on all relevant conferences and initiatives so that those unable to attend can stay informed, and to maintain a comprehensive online archive of all statements, resolutions, and other primary documents on disarmament. RCW also produces research studies, reports, statements, fact sheets, and other publications on key issues relevant to disarmament, arms control, and militarism.
Ireland has been a regular contributor to RCW since 2006 and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade regards them as a serious and useful civil society partner. We receive activity reports from the organisation on an annual basis and maintain regular contact with the management team throughout the year. Most recently a grant of €60,000 was made to RCW for activities during the period April 2015 to April 2016.
Additionally, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has interaction with the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom through contacts via our Permanent Mission of Ireland to the United Nations in New York with the UN-supported NGO Working Group on Women Peace and Security, of which it is a member.
This work directly supports the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade’s high level goal ‘to work for a fairer, more just, secure and sustainable world’.
