Kristin Alder, instructor in Women's Studies at the University of North Texas, has been appointed United Nations Representative for the US section for the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom. In her two year term she will 1) represent WILPF's U.N. agenda to staff of U.S. Mission to the United Nations, 2) support WILPF members in working with the U.N. structures for policy and programmatic change at the international level, 3) promote participation in U.N. convenings, such as the annual meetings of the Commission on the Status of Women or the Nuclear nonproliferation Treaty Review Conferences, 4) liaise with the U.S. Congressional Representative to the United Nations, and 5) submit annual reports to the National Board summarizing the work of U.S. members at the United Nations.
Within this mandate, Ms. Alder has scope to develop her own approach and tactics, which could include, for example: monitoring and responding to U.S. statements made in various U.N. Bodies, including the Security Council, General Assembly, Human Rights Council, etc.; attending public briefings organized by the U.S. mission staff; organizing issue briefings for staff of the U.S. mission or taking other steps to cultivate collegial relationships; assisting Issue Committees in preparing shadow reports and in submitting these reports to the appropriate U.N. committee; preparing briefing materials for WILPF members attending meetings of the CSW or CSD; organizing "side events" to major U.N. convenings to promote WILPF's analysis and objectives.
The WILPF U.S. United Nations Representative holds one of three passes issued annually to WILPF by the United Nations Department of Public Information.