FMWC Women, Peace, and Security Committee: Enough is Enough: End to Ukraine War and Creation of Lasting Peace

The war in Ukraine and the continued escalation of this conflict is of deep global concern. Since WWII, the risk for terminal nuclear war has never been greater. Wars in recent years have rendered large areas of the earth uninhabitable, generated tens of millions of refugees, and resulted in serious food insecurity. The war in Ukraine is no exception.

The Federation of Medical Women of Canada (FMWC) is committed to supporting UNSCR 1325 (Women, Peace, and Security) and therefore strongly condemns the invasion of Ukraine by Russia. We deplore violence against women in any forms. We stand with the people of Ukraine, as we stand with every people suffering invasion, displacement, and occupation.

FMWC WPS committee is in support of demilitarization and peaceful forms of conflict resolution; meaningful participation of women in world peace and security discussions; and both prevention and protection from any forms of violence - particularly sexual and gender-based violence. Since both the climate crisis and environmental degradation have the highest impact on women, including those caused directly by war, the committee is committed to advocate for and be involved in actions to prevent war and to combat both climate and environmental changes.

The severe warning from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change states that to avoid the worst impacts of the climate crisis, the world's greenhouse gas emissions need to start falling before 2025, which requires an immediate move away from fossil fuels and increased investments in renewable energy. In contrast, military vehicles consume petroleum-based fuels at an extremely high rate. The wars have damaged forests, wetlands and marshlands, contaminated water, and contributed to both deforestation and wildlife destruction. Many of the materials used, especially in modern ammunition, are toxic and remain so for decades. From heavy metals (such as tungsten uranium, and lead), to chemical compounds (such as trinitrotoluene - or TNT), toxic components are present in virtually every munition.

For the sake of humanity, we cannot be bystanders - we must seek peace. We demand immediate ceasefire. We call upon the Government of Canada to do whatever it can to facilitate a diplomatic negotiated settlement, and the cooperation of the international communities to support a comprehensive Peace Treaty in the context of the United Nations. We believe lasting peace can be achieved by demilitarization and inclusive international security framework that de-escalates tensions, expands freedoms, pursues social and environmental justice, and terminates the domination of one country by another.