WFM-IGP ANNUAL REPORT 2014/2015 protectionprevention Peace. JOIN US to mobilize to effectively support the Rohingya, despite warnings ABOUT THE PHOTOGRAPHER from human rights groups and activists. The unaddressed, rampant discrimination facing the Rohingya, SAIFUL and other ethnic minorities, casts a dark shadow on the fragile HUQ OMI democratic transition in Myanmar. Saiful’s photography illumi- nates the individual, amid forces working to deny them of their “Using my lens rights. At the date of publication, Saiful is in the midst of shooting to help create a a full length documentary on the Rohingya population. better world” For WFM-IGP, ‘No 136’ provides striking and vivid narratives of the individuals our work is geared towards supporting. We hope learning of these individuals and their stories affirms for you, as it does for us, the need to be relentless in efforts not just to pro- tect, but to prevent these harrowing narratives, and holistically work towards peace. This Annual Report features four stunning – yet haunting – im- ON THE COVER ages by photo activist, Saiful Huq Omi. Saiful hails from Bangla- Taken in 2009, on Bangladesh’s border, the image captures desh, and uses his camera as a medium for advocacy, through Saiful’s Rohingya guide as he points towards Myanmar, just on which to tell important stories of individuals. His photos have ap- the other side of the river. He told Saiful: “My home is not far peared in The New York Times, The Economist, and The Guardian, from here, you just cross the river Naaf and there is my home by amongst others, and his work has been on exhibit in galleries on the riverside. From here it is just two miles, but for me it is like a multiple continents. two million mile [distance], which I will never be able to cross.” WFM-IGP is excited to share this important work from Saiful’s When asked, seven years later, if the guide had returned home, project, ‘No 136’ – the title of which describes the plight of the Saiful replied: “No, no, no he won’t be able to go home, he would Rohingya population, as Myanmar (Burma) only recognizes 135 be killed. Probably the next morning.” ethnic groups, therefore, denying the Rohingya as the 136th group. Today, at least 1.3 million Rohingya are stateless, and so This individual – and many others belonging to Myanmar’s mi- stripped of their basic human rights. The world has been slow nority ethnic groups – continues to be at-risk. CONTENTS Seventy-plus Years Working with Our Leadership Bodies 3 Human Rights 27 President’s Address 5 to the Council 31 Where We Work Message from the Executive Director: Our Staff 6 Where We Are Headed 32 7-10 Major Milestones 2014-2015 33 Our Supporters 11 Building Capacities for Protection 35 WFM-IGP Financial Data 15 Building Capacities for Prevention 37 In Memorandum Glossary, Credits and Building Capacities for Peace 21 38 Acknowledgements WFM-IGP ANNUAL REPORT 2014/2015 2 OUR 70-PLUS YEAR HISTORY WORKING WITH HUMAN RIGHTS WFM-IGP Executive Director, William R. Pace, pictured with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Pace was inspired by MLK’s activism, leading to a lifelong fight for peace and justice. PHILOSOPHY OUR APPROACH WFM-IGP was instrumental in establishing institutions vital to With its main offices in New York (USA) and The Hague (The Neth- the human rights field – including the United Nations (UN) and erlands), WFM-IGP and its programs have frequent, high-level the International Criminal Court (ICC). It was precisely because access to what is happening at the UN and the ICC. The organiza- of this history that WFM-IGP was entrusted to operationalize and tion also has a presence in cities around the globe, key to its pro- generate global consensus around the use of the Responsibility grammatic focuses: Cotonou, Benin; Brussels, Belgium; Lima, to Protect (RtoP/R2P). RtoP is a tool, to be utilized in efforts to Peru; and Bangkok, Thailand. uphold the promise of an end to genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity and ethnic cleansing, through emphasizing While maintaining a strong presence at such an international- the responsibility on states to protect their populations from the level is vital to WFM-IGP’s operations, so too is another key com- threat or occurrence of any of these events. Few nonprofits in ex- ponent of is work: the Coalition-model. The Coalition-model is istence today can say that they have been around for the length adapted and used for two of WFM-IGP’s main programs: Coalition of time of WFM-IGP, whilst maintaining a dedicated, and growing, for the International Criminal Court (CICC) and the International focus on key peace and security issues. Coalition for the Responsibility to Protect (ICRtoP). It is this mod- el that allows WFM-IGP to really stand apart from other nonprof- Now WFM-IGP looks forward to growing its complementary range its. By facilitating multiple levels of engagement on its primary of programs to enhance the reach of international justice beyond focus issues, WFM-IGP is positioned to offer well-informed, stra- the ICC, implement the RtoP norm and its preventive capabilities, tegic plans and solutions, as well as to identify key synergies in and bolster the UN-system to advance its aptitude to respond to tackling these complex problems. The history and early warning the ever-growing list of global crises. signs of these complex problems, as well as the efforts to deliver justice after the facts, all tell us that these problems never oper- ate in isolation. WFM-IGP’s collaborative operations are critical to reaching the right solutions. WFM-IGP’s collaborative Because of WFM-IGP’s unique construct and model for engage- ment, strong relationships are fostered with other organizations, operations are critical governments, international institutions, and individual leaders in the field. Maintaining and growing these relationships allows to reaching the right WFM-IGP to operate most creatively and effectively, providing the organization direct access to a wide-range of groups. Likewise, solutions. WFM-IGP comes to mind for these groups when new opportuni- ties arise for cooperation, fueling a cycle of productivity that has lasted decades. 3 WFM-IGP ANNUAL REPORT 2014/2015 HOW THE CICC WORKS vention. This work takes a range of IGP houses the NGO Working Group forms depending on the needs and Established in 1995, the CICC is a global net- on the Security Council (NGOWG/SC), focus of our members.” work of civil society organizations (CSOs) in which brings together NGOs working 150 countries working in partnership to: – Megan Schmidt, Senior Program in various areas of international peace Officer • Build Global Support for Justice; and security around their shared • Strengthen the ICC & Rome Statute THE INTERNATIONAL DEMOCRATIC interest of following the UNSC. Abagail (RS) System; and GOVERNANCE PROGRAM Lawson is the Coordinator, and gives • Increase Access to Information The IDG program’s overall aim is to democ- her insider account of key operations & the Visibility of Justice. ratize and strengthen the effectiveness of in June 2015: global institutions and intergovernmental “NGOWG/SC met with the mem- The Coalition’s global network consists of processes. Focusing on the UN-system, as bers of the High-Level Independ- over 2500 members—leading human rights well as other international institutions, the ent Panel on Peace Operations and humanitarian non-governmental IDG program works to: organizations (NGOs), international law (HIPPO), as the panel was finaliz- and justice institutions, and local and 1. Ensure greater transparency and ing their report to the UNSG. While grassroots organizations—from every region accountability in the UN-system and many members of the Working of the world. other institutions’ decision-making Group had previously had the processes; chance to meet bilaterally with “The Coalition’s members work on panel members or submit their a numbers of issues and cam- 2. Promote greater inclusivity in inter- input for the report directly, this paigns, such as: amendments, national governance; and meeting still generated a lot of budget and finance, cooperation, 3. Increase the visibility of, and access interest and nearly all members communications and outreach, to information about, global govern- attended. The NGOWG/SC mem- elections, legal representation, ance structures and international bers felt it was a good forum to the Trust Fund for Victims, stra- decision-making mechanisms. hear from Panelists in an off-the- tegic planning, ASP oversight, the record format about how their ICC premises, complementarity, The IDG program advocates for merit- input had been received and would universality…” based selection and appointment process- fit into the final report, as well as es through specific campaigns, including the Panelists’ honest assessment – Stephen Lamony, Senior Advisor, the 1 for 7 Billion Campaign to reform the of the expectations for the report. AU, UN and Africa Situations selection and appointment process of the This meeting was particularly HOW THE ICRTOP WORKS UN Secretary-General (UNSG). The pro- unique because it broke out of the gram aims to strengthen the UN’s ability The ICRtoP was created from the belief that NGOWG/SC’s traditional model of to effectively prevent and address violent if the norm was to have a significant impact meeting one-on-one with UNSC conflict, through monitoring and analysis on the protection of populations, it had to members, and offered an oppor- of the work of the UN’s principle peace and move beyond the UN and into civil society. tunity for NGOs and a high-level security organs, including the UN Security Since its inception in 2009, the worth of the group of experts to come together Council (UNSC).