At the Conference there will, no doubt, be lengthy discussions about how best to challenge warring nations and the proliferation of nuclear weapons, as well as to defend human rights.
Numerous suggestions have already been made about the agenda and the many issues that might be included in the workshop, and the most favourable way to develop and link a multitude of topics and debates.
Each workshop is set to cover a wide range of important and complicated issues and it is quite possible that it will become somewhat difficult in the allotted time, to produce a clear stance on many of the subjects - though we must all hope that will not be the case.
However, I see, within the framework being prepared, the opportunity to go beyond the debates and to make one or two, or more, statements that would give a most positive image to the conference and set the tone for future discussions on peace and human rights.
The two central issues, mentioned in the first paragraph above, nuclear weapons and human rights, are linked in one clear example by the continuing imprisonment of Mordechai Vanunu in Israel. True, he is only one person being cruelly treated, compared to the appalling treatment of many prisoners and communities in Turkey, Israel and elsewhere in the Middle East. Yet, the harsh treatment of Mordechai Vanunu, and the almost total denial of his human rights, is symbolic of the terrible punishment states are prepared to sanction against men and women of conscience and peace, because they challenge in the most fundamental way their absolute and oppressive authority.
Mordechai Vanunu, an Israeli technician at Dimona, Israel's nuclear research installation, was kidnapped from Rome by Mossad agents to silence and punish him for telling the truth (to the Sunday Times) about Israel's secret production and stockpiling of nuclear weapons. He was drugged and returned to Israel, and after a trial in camera he was sentenced to 18 years imprisonment. He is now in his 16th year in prison; 11 ½ of which he was forced to spend in solitary confinement in conditions described as cruel, inhuman and degrading by Amnesty International. Vanunu believed that in a democracy people have the right to know what is being done in their name.
If one of the workshops, perhaps workshop 3, as the most relevant workshop, was prepared to make a statement supporting Vanunu's action - prior to the plenary session - and calling for his immediate release this would go beyond the debate and be a positive step for the Conference to take.
It is most important that the Conference shows itself able to support, as well as talk about, honorable and significant causes. By finding time to say something about Vanunu the Conference will place itself clearly against proliferation of nuclear weapons; and against the silence and acquiescence of states to the kidnapping and incarceration of men of peace, by whichever country or authority (Despite what has happened to Vanunu: that his kidnapping transgressed Italy's sovereignty and international law, added to which his conditions of imprisonment continue to be contrary to Human Rights legislation; no government has ever spoken out publicly against Israel's treatment of Vanunu or championed his cause).
As suggested in the pre-conference reports; it is also important that the Conference is able to link with movements and campaigns and to show a positive stance - Noam Chomsky, in his comment, called for creating popular movements of resistance. The Campaign to Free Vanunu and for a Nuclear Free Middle East has groups worldwide, yet it is not a huge organisation; but the issues it raises as stated above, are profound. I hope there will be time and space during the Conference to meet this proposal.
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e-mail: campaign@vanunu.freeserve.co.uk