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Middle East Conference 2009
13th Annual Women's Conference for Peace in the Middle East
May 12-15, 2009 - Vravrona, Greece
By Nadia A. AL-Sakkaf
Publisher and Editor in Chief, Yemen Times
 Throughout time women have been leaders, often practicing a behind-the-scenes form of leadership known as 'soft leadership.' Achieving peace through reconciling first is the mission taken on by today's women leaders, feeling confident that they can bring reconciliation in the true sense to the world.
"Lasting peace can only come from respecting human rights, especially for women and children," said guest speaker Mr. Ilias Libers, Executive Director of the Hellenic National Committee for UNICEF - Greece at the inauguration session of the Thirteenth Conference for Peace in the Middle East.
The conference was organized by Women's Federation for World Peace (WFWP) International and by WFWP Japan to "look more pragmatically at the issue of reconciliation and how we can achieve it, which is the foundation for all the other steps towards peace," said Carolyn Handschin, Deputy Director of the United Nations Office of WFWPI.
As early as 1987, pioneers from WFWP Japan started the Asian Women's Federation for Peace that expanded in 1992 into the International Federation for World Peace (Now known as WFWP International). Today WFWPI has nearly 100 national chapters in nine different world regions, and all staff are volunteers. The tradition of annual conferences for Middle East peace started in 1997.
Dr. Lan Young Moon Park, president of WFWP, commented that we are all internationalizing through a multicultural and multi-faith era. Changes are more rapid and more complicated in today's environment because of globalization.
Participants agreed that the problem is the ruling leadership. Power is in the hands of men. However, men are not bringing peace to this global era which calls for diversity and global thinking. This is a time for women to participate wholeheartedly in this world. We need to change our mentality that women are just on the sidelines and not in the mainstream.
Noor Baabad, Assistant Deputy Minister for Social Care, and Nadia Al-Sakkaf, Editor in Chief of Yemen Times, joined 45 leading women from twelve countries across the Middle East, Japan and Korea for a two-day Women's Conference for Peace in the Middle East in Vravrona, Greece between May 12 and 14, 2009.
Zoe Bennett, vice president of WFWP of the Middle East and North Africa region, said that there is suffering all over the world, particularly in the Middle East. "We have to break through the barriers of prejudice and stereotyping. This is the UN's year for reconciliation, and in order to make big changes, changes within ourselves have to come first."
"Children face violence in the Middle East in their everyday lives," Ilias Liebers said. "UNICEF considers the Middle East region as highly important because of unacceptable conditions. Children everywhere have suffered too long and are being brought up in unhealthy mental circumstances due to ongoing wars, especially girls because they suffer more from discrimination. More than half of Jordan's children are subjected to some sort of violence in school."
As the conference participants discussed the role of UN and other international agencies, they agreed it is time to join forces to fight violence. We must begin by recognizing women and children as a priority. They are rarely talked about except as victims, yet they can be catalysts for peace. No effort to promote peace can succeed unless we provide protection for vulnerable groups including women and children. We need to promote skills, attitudes and values to bring about behavioral changes that will allow critical thinking, coping, and decision making skills that will lead to peace.
Sonia Billard Fattah, coordinator for women's issues and manager of the on-line education system at the UN Institute for Disarmament Research, said, "we have to dismantle any barriers that we might have and start as individuals and members of a movement in order to establish true reconciliation in the world."
Aida Al-Maainah, wife of the UAE Ambassador in Korea said the Islamic greeting Assalam Alikum, or ‘peace be upon you,' and explained that Islam is the culture of peace, evidenced in this greeting. She commented that there are some champions for peace and development in the region, such as Sheikha Fatima bin Mubarak who works with women, refugees, those with physical hardships and victims of armed conflicts with no regard to religion, nationality or race. She was selected as the Mother of the UAE in 2005.
"At the family level, women can play an important role in peace building, making the house a place for peace and allowing family and visitors to feel peaceful," said Al-Maainah.
Rihab Ghazal, lecturer at the American University of Cairo, explained that reconciliation is the highest form of dialogue. However, before we valued dialogue and communication, but now we build the ability to communicate and engage in dialogue with the ultimate purpose of achieving reconciliation. Education is the way to do this; either formal or informal education. It can foster attitudes of tolerance and encourage the responsibility to reach peace and sustain peace.
"We have to raise our children properly and change the curriculum to tolerate others, otherwise we will never get there," said Dr. Moza Al-Maliki, a therapist and writer from Qatar and a candidate for the Nobel Peace Prize.
Judith Karp, former General Attorney from Israel, brought up the late Sami Adwan as an example. She was the President of the Palestinian and Israeli History Research Institute, one of the few organizations created to reach common ground between Palestinian and Israeli people. "We have a conflicting historical identity narrative. And we need to come to terms with our past in order to advance into a peaceful future," she said.
Stella Savvides, president of the United Democrats Women Organization in Cyprus, explained that the Middle East is one of the regions that has always seen conflict through the years. "Nicosia is the only capital in the world that is divided. I must show my passport if I want to move from the south to the north side of Cyprus, as if I am travelling from one country to another. For 35 years, the people of Cyprus have been separated. We don't want to forget our history but rather we want to build on it. We must keep in mind that we are all Cypriots and that we want to live together. We must use music, games, cultural events and plays to bring young people closer to each other."
Oya Talat, a Cypriot from the Turkish Women Solidarity Council, said that culture determines race rather than race determining culture. "If we want our world to be less problematic, we need to make small successful steps rather than committing big failures," she said. "Come on women, be more actively involved. We need this, and the role of women in reconciliation is important. Since women are not directly involved in the cause of war, we can be more objective in reaching peaceful solutions."
Avital Shapria-Shabirow is the Director of the International Relations Department of the Histadrut-General Federation of Labor in Israel, which is the largest labor organization in Israel with over 7,000 members from many different religions. "It is based on equality, solidarity and brotherhood," she said. "Lasting peace can only be built on genuine relationships among people, and we need to build mutual trust and understanding and recognize the suffering of all sides in any conflict."
She added that in war there are no winners and that people should not let the political situation affect relations. Members of the union set the example of how Arabs and Israelis can work together in peace. "As trade unions, we meet and discuss the work problems. We signed an agreement in June 2008 with Palestinian Transport Union and solved financial disputes. We translate the work rights into Arabic so that Arab employees (which exceed a million persons working for Israeli employers in West Bank settlements) understand their benefits, such as pensions and get them from the Israeli government. An emergency hotline was created for those who cannot cross the borders so that they can be helped by Histadrut, which assists workers crossing the separation wall to work.
Noor Mohammed Baabad, Deputy Minister of Work and Social Affairs, commented that "Yemen has recognized the strength of reconciliation, both in modern and in ancient times. During the 1960s, it was very important to support the revolution. So many meetings and conferences took place after the 1962 revolution faced serious obstacles, and without reconciliation, none of these meetings would have been successful. Afterwards, it was equally important, if not more so, to support reconciliation when North and South Yemen unified under one republic. Even after this achievement, people still faced illiteracy, poverty, ignorance, revenge and weapons proliferation, a difficult environment. Reconciliation is still important and needed."
Dr. Moza Almaliki explained that reconciliation from within is the most important step. When a person is at peace with him or herself, reconciliation with others is easy and there is a better chance to achieve it. This person with inner peace has flexibility to adapt to the other and accept his or her culture, ideas and religion. If this is achieved, the world will be a better place. Discussions from the sessions concluded that women could and should reconcile as they engage in common cultural and civil society activities. It is important for the world to understand what a great idea reconciliation is and that it should be used to bring peace.
12th Women's Conference for Peace in the Middle East - Geneva 2008
WFWPI 12th Annual Women’s Conference for Peace in the Middle East
June 17-18, 2008 - Palais des Nations, UN HQ Geneva
By Carolyn Handschin
 One hundred sixty women leaders from the Middle East, North Africa, Europe and Japan, representing governments, international organizations and civil society institutions gathered at the United Nations in Geneva marking the 12th anniversary of the Women’s Conference for Peace in the Middle East. Discussions focused on identifying positive steps to improve access to education, tools and the mindset necessary for women to participate actively in the social, economic and political developments in their region. Holding the conference in Geneva presented a unique opportunity to forge partnerships outside of the region, share expertise and seek innovative solutions which built on conclusions from the previous eleven conferences. Over half the participants were under thirty years old, which contributed to the adoption of very forward looking strategies. "Without the active participation of women and the incorporation of women’s perspective at all levels of decision-making, the goals of equality, justice and peace cannot be achieved."
 "At this time of global crises, it has become clear that women’s perspectives and talents are necessary to help redefine national and international priorities and to implement sustainable commitments to goals of peace and justice their governments have made," explained conference cochair, Carolyn Handschin, Deputy Director, WFWPI UN Office in her opening remarks.
The first speaker of the panel was Ambassador Luis A. De Alba, president of the historic first year of the Human Rights Council. He reminded participants that we are still building the three pillars of the UN. Enforcement of human rights comes through moral and political pressure, not force. As women are guaranteed equal access to education and as they take on roles to defend human rights, the new tools and mechanisms can deliver change.
 Dr. Lan Yang Moon Park, WFWPI president affirmed the accomplishment of gathering women to break down barriers among ourselves first. She referred to the WFWPI Heart to Heart Peace Conference in 2004 in Jerusalem and last year’s gathering of 500 women from five continents in North Korea. We must all respond to the needs of our fellow human family members. Women need to be heard. We all know of Martin Luther King Jr., but few heard about Rosa Parks. When she decided not to give a seat to a white person on a bus and was arrested for that, many people sympathized with her. Martin Luther King Jr. came on that foundation.
Dr. Patricia Lewis, Director of UNIDIR (UN Institute on Disarmament Research) said that men and women need to think together, as well as people of different ages, cultures and knowledge. We need women from the Middle East to bring their knowledge and experience to the UN or peace cannot be made there. Peace will come from understanding and listening within a common framework.
H.E. In’am Al Mufti, the first woman minister (Social Development) in Jordan and special advisor for 10 years of this conference series, referred to a report that she had written for UNESCO "Learning the Treasure Within". Scientific and economic advancement have not brought happiness. The family is the place where we learn to practice love and relate constructively to one another. The prophet says that we are all leaders. Women are most important in that area because they play a vital role in community development. We need to find women at the grassroots and help them develop their leadership capacities and skills.
 Ambassador Laura Thompson Chacon of Costa Rica spoke about the labors her nation has made in the area of human rights education. She informed us that her country had abolished their army in 1948, dedicating all resources to education, health and development of infrastructure. We have to give our population a new perspective and vitality based upon ethics, citizenship and understanding of how to live together enjoyably. Civil society and especially women have much more power than they realize to challenge ideas and be a force of change.
Dr. El Bouchiha, a professor in civic education in Tunisia, stated that the most effective way of developing countries is to educate women. In Tunisia because costs are so high, often only boys are sent on to higher education. At this time only 23% of government officials are women. Even some Arab countries still deny women the right to vote and be elected. She recommended more incentive be established to increase the presence of women in decision-making.
Session 2 was chaired by Mme. Al-Mufti: What are the requirements for womens leadership and how to strengthen them? She invited Dr. Moon Park to speak about educating and promoting women as central figures instead of peripheral figures. Dignified gender roles must be fostered and masculine and feminine natures harmonized. Development is slow without utilizing the best of womens power. A leadership that serves, cares and embraces, as women learn in their gender roles, will bring prosperity and cultural development for all.
Dr. Haifa Zangana, journalist from Iraq and chair of the Committee on Media and Culture, reported that people in her country have regressed unimaginably. Thirty years ago, gender was a vibrant issue, now 74% of uneducated children are girls. Youth cannot read or write although their mothers and grandmothers were highly educated. We are fighting an uphill battle. We have to continue talk of peace and build from the grassroots. Dr. Asmaa Kfarou, professor of Islamic studies for women, and granddaughter of the former Grand Mufti said we have to be able to cry for peace; for those close to us and those we don’t know. Peace requires justice. When women cannot protect their children, it is an untenable situation. We are fighting to change laws that are discriminatory. Islam is misunderstood, and this also makes life difficult. The prophet insists that women and men both need education and knowledge.
Dr. Zoe Bennet, Women’s Federation’s Director for the Middle East opened Session Three, What kind of education is effective in promoting women’s leadership? Dr. Natalie Mohamad Domloj, a young doctor from Lebanon, said that we women must be the change that we want to see. Women must choose between family and career/public responsibilities, but should be able to do both. Curricula need to be readjusted to changing priorities. Our society needs healing. Women can do that best, but they shouldn’t get stuck in petty concerns. The best leadership education is the experience of leading even as a youth. Ms. Dakara Georgescu, from UNESCO’s International Bureau of Education (IBE) asked the audience how we can best promote womens leadership, and answered: education. We have to organize curricula that foster leadership competencies and capacities of girls and boys.
Mrs. Noor Babad, Deputy Minister of Work and Social Affairs in Yemen explained that the Queen of Sheba was Yemenite who played an important role historically. Now, 80% of students in Yemen are boys. We have to challenge the masculine culture. Programs should be designed that include a vision of women as leaders. Ms. Barbara Stubble, educator in Character Education in Egypt explained the concept of a character based approach to education and how it has impacted the lives of violent and aggressive children who had no desire to learn. Change was more dramatic in younger students as they learned new life skills, based upon universally accepted core values. Results are much better when parents are involved and children have already been instilled with an image of good character.
The first session on Day 2 was lead by Dr. Emel Dogramaci, Dean of Arts and Science Faculty at Kankaya University on the topic: What are the important steps to be taken to improve womens leadership opportunities? Dr. Oya Talat, Director, Women’s Patriotic Movement of North Cyprus opened the session by saying men and women should make decisions together to balance one another. Radicalism and ultra nationalism are dangerous, but seeds sown through women’s common projects for the future can prevent such extremes. Working side by side and listening with open hearts is healing and can solve centuries of pain. Ms. Ayse Sozen, Coordinator of Foreign Affairs, Department of Justice and Development of Turkey expressed her desire that these conferences be held in the Middle East. Although ¼ of the Turkish Parliament is women, most have not been educated to advocate for necessary changes. Our campaign, "Girls to School" made it possible for 80% of girls to go to school.
Women have a natural talent for leadership, but may never recognize it, if not given opportunities to lead during the period when their personality is developing - expressed H.E. Noora Nasser Al-Merekhi, Supreme Council on Family Affairs in Qatar. Education from early life is essential to improve capacity. If women dont strive to lead, they will not lead. In Qatar, people often prefer men leaders. We need a good feminine role model, like the first lady, to demonstrate feminine leadership. Palestinian panelist, Dr. Sherene Sekaily, Co-editor of the Arab Studies Journal described the long journey of women in Palestine and their courageous fight for gender equality and rights to education against a backdrop of hardship.
We want to be women against terror, building peace first in our minds. Women deserve to be the model of strength, continued Dr. Hiba Othman, Professor at the American University in Lebanon. Leadership is persistence, vision, overcoming obstacles, collaboration. Leadership is praising and awarding others. United, women will represent strength. The final speaker, Dr. Roya Kshefi, Human Rights Committee for the Association of Iranian Researchers, explained discrimination toward women in the application of Islamic law in Iran. Many prepared, strong, righteous women have been imprisoned for the "crime" of providing access to education for girls. The situation is degrading.
A report was given by Dr. Bennet, NadinaTheodorou and Fawziye Tayim about the recent humanitarian project of WFWPI in cooperation with government and civil society sources, to bring medicine to the Gaza strip. Palestinian Ambassador Mohamed Abu-Koash sent a message of thanks.
A series of recommendations and a Call to Action were drawn up and accepted by consensus in the closing ceremony.
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