14 March 2005
MEDIA RELEASE

Women Leaders’ Forum taking up challenge for peace

The National Council of Women of New Zealand (NCWNZ) President, Christine Low, will be attending an International Forum on the Status of Women and A Challenge for Peace later this month. The Forum, which will be hosted by the International Council of Women (ICW-CIF) as part of its National Executive Committee meeting, is expected to be attended by representatives from up to 60 countries.

A founding objective of the International Council of Women, to which NCWNZ is affiliated, is that women work for peace through negotiation, arbitration and conciliation.

“This meeting will provide an opportunity for National Council’s to share ideas and methods for influencing their Governments for peaceful governance,” said Christine Low.

“We have an active commitment to peace. Our membership ensures our policy remains current so we have the mandate to take action whenever there is any potential threat to our peaceful status as a country,“ continued Low. “For example, our members felt that any intent to try and change New Zealand’s Nuclear Free Zone legislation would weaken
NCWNZ’s ability on the world stage to speak out against nuclear weapons and the essential process of disarmament – so we took action.”

The National Council of Women of New Zealand affirmed its support for the
New Zealand Nuclear Free Zone, Disarmament and Arms Control Act 1987 at its Biennial Conference in Palmerston North last year. “NCWNZ is committed to uphold the text and the intent of the 1987 Act in its entirety,” said Christine Low. “NCWNZ members are proud that our nuclear free status, enshrined in Statute Law, is admired and respected by peace-loving peoples worldwide.”

NCWNZ members were surveyed on their continued support for New Zealand’s
anti-nuclear position last year.

The ICW-CIF Executive Committee meeting will be held in Rabat, Morocco from

31 March - 3 April 2005.

ENDS

© Scoop Media