The Contribution of Women to Peace and Reconciliation

The Charter stresses the goal of ending the Israeli occupation through
immediate final status negotiations on a two-state solution. It also underlines
the need to hold all parties accountable for fulfilling their obligations
under UNSC Resolution 1325 and to include women in the
process.
The mission of the IWC was clearly delineated in the charter: first, to
work for an end to the occupation and genuine negotiations towards a
just and sustainable peace; secondly, to promote a process of political
dialogue aimed at rectifying ongoing asymmetries and addressing all elements
of reconciliation; third, to ensure the meaningful participation of
a diverse range of women, including those from civil society, in any Israeli-Palestinian
peace process; and fourth, to guarantee that women’s
perspectives and experiences be incorporated in any accord in order to
enhance gender equality and societal well-being.
The detailed objectives of the IWC underlined the connection between
political work (setting forth principles and concrete measures to facilitate
political progress between Palestine and Israel based on the principles
of fairness, justice, and equality; pushing for transparency and account -
ability within a human rights framework), and gender-based action (increasing
representation of women at the negotiating table, injecting
gendered perspectives on the process; mobilizing women and other
groups in civil society in support of these goals). The list of activities elaborated
at the founding meeting of the IWC to carry out this agenda was
ambitious and innovative, ranging from the formulation of political positions
on key issues or events taking place on the ground and advocacy
at the highest level, to the mobilization of broad constituencies.
In retrospect however, what has become the most powerful tool of the
IWC is the decision to operate as a unified group speaking with one
voice. In this respect, the IWC is unique in the Israeli-Palestinian landscape,
as it seeks to achieve internal consensus among its members
on critical issues before it disseminates its positions to decision-makers
and the public. The IWC has thus become the only major organization
in which Palestinians, Israelis and key members of the international community
act with a unity of purpose to bring an end to violence and to in-
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