(Left) L’Artists pour la Paix Members: Pierre & Sylvie; (Right) International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War-Canada Members: John, Lia, & Nancy (taking the photo), & Canadian Voice of Women for Peace Members: Alley & Tamara
At the end of June, Alley and Tamara travelled to Ottawa to attend Global Affairs Canada’s (GAC) full-day civil society consultations on disarmament, arms control and non-proliferation. It is the first time in five years that the federal government has had an extensive consultation with peace groups.
Tamara urged GAC to stop sending weapons to Ukraine and to support negotiations to end the war. She also called for a reduction of Canadian military spending and arms exports. Alley expressed VOW’s priority to empower Canadian youth by developing a national peace & disarmament education program—equipping youth with the skills and knowledge to approach conflict through nonviolent means.
Together, Alley and Tamara urged the federal government to join the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, to send an official delegation to observe the second meeting of the parties of TPNW in New York in November, and to support peace and disarmament education. They also informed GAC about the International Summit for Peace in Ukraine and the declaration for a ceasefire and conflict resolution and the Women United for Peace Against NATO initiative. They expressed VOW’s opposition to NATO, sending weapons to Saudi Arabia, Israel, Ukraine and other countries and procurement of fighter jets, armed drones and warships. Alley and Tamara said that Canada should be a leader for peace and disarmament in world, should withdraw from NATO and have an independent foreign policy that is created through consultations with Canadians. After the GAC meeting, Alley and Tamara joined Ottawa activists for dinner at Jericho restaurant and took photos with the new VOW banners.
The following day, Alley and Tamara had a short meeting with Canada’s Ambassador for Women, Peace and Security Jacqueline O’Neill.
