The Contribution of Women to Peace and Reconciliation

In July 2005, at a strategic planning meeting in Istanbul, forty Palestinian,
Israeli and international woman leaders and advocates founded the International
Women’s Commission for a Just and Sustainable Palestinian-
Israeli Peace. Its Charter of Principles stresses the goal of ending the
Israeli occupation through immediate final-status negotiations on a twostate
solution. It also underlines the need to hold all parties accountable
for fulfilling their obligations under UNSC Resolution 1325, to include
women in the process.
The mission of the IWC was clearly stated in the charter: First, to work
for an end to the occupation, and for genuine negotiations towards a
just and sustainable peace; Second, to promote a process of political
dialogue in order to rectify ongoing asymmetries and address all elements
of reconciliation; third, to ensure the meaningful participation of
various women, including those from civil society, in any Israeli-Palestin -
ian 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 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, through advocacy at the highest level, to the mobilization of
broad constituencies.
The activities of the IWC focused on several main areas: The first in -
volved monitoring political developments and formulating gender-driven
political positions; the second focused on lobbying decision-makers, and
advocacy in society; and the third focused on the mobilization of local
constituencies.
At the end of 2010 however, the IWC members agreed to end the activities
of the organization, because they were not able to all work togeth -
er anymore. This was directly linked to the 2008 Israeli military
operation against Gaza. It is important to bear in mind that some 80%
of the Israeli public approved of the military intervention – including
women who were members of the IWC. For Palestinian women, there
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