The Contribution of Women to Peace and Reconciliation
The Contribution of Women to Peace and Reconciliation
The Contribution of Women to Peace and Reconciliation
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<strong>to</strong>tal <strong>of</strong> thirty resolutions <strong>of</strong> the General Assembly since 1947, <strong>and</strong> 233<br />
resolutions <strong>of</strong> the Security Council, all aimed at a solution <strong>of</strong> the Middle<br />
East conflict, or <strong>of</strong> a particular situation <strong>of</strong> war <strong>and</strong> violence current at<br />
the time. <strong>The</strong> disregard for the United Nations as the only instance with<br />
international legitimation for peace processes <strong>and</strong> for ending violence<br />
<strong>and</strong> war is a shocking fact <strong>of</strong> life in the Middle East conflict. <strong>The</strong> delegitimizing<br />
<strong>and</strong> demoralizing effect <strong>of</strong> this fact, extending far beyond the<br />
bounds <strong>of</strong> this concrete conflict, should not be underestimated.<br />
In this situation, the strategy <strong>of</strong> non-violent resistance <strong>to</strong> defend access<br />
<strong>to</strong> closed-<strong>of</strong>f villages <strong>and</strong> oppose the expulsion <strong>of</strong> Palestinian families<br />
from East Jerusalem, the reconstruction by the Palestinian administration<br />
<strong>and</strong> international aid organizations <strong>of</strong> the infrastructure destroyed<br />
by the military actions <strong>of</strong> the Israeli army in the West Bank, <strong>and</strong> the tireless<br />
work <strong>of</strong> UNWRA in Gaza, are rays <strong>of</strong> hope – as is the participation<br />
<strong>of</strong> young Israelis in demonstrations <strong>and</strong> actions <strong>of</strong> non-violent resistance.<br />
General Conclusions<br />
1. <strong>Peace</strong> work by women is very <strong>of</strong>ten based on the daily work they<br />
perform <strong>to</strong> ensure the survival <strong>of</strong> their families. In times <strong>of</strong> war <strong>and</strong> violent<br />
conflict, they in addition assume the role <strong>of</strong> breadwinner, even in<br />
such traditionally patriarchal societies as Somalia. Especially in societies<br />
in which they are prevented from playing any public role, women organize<br />
daily resistance against the separation <strong>of</strong> the population in<strong>to</strong><br />
friend <strong>and</strong> foe. Often they try <strong>to</strong> help each other across the ideological<br />
<strong>and</strong> military divides. In many cases women generate a peace dividend<br />
under conditions <strong>of</strong> war, by maintaining relationships which circumvent<br />
the enmity created by war, through direct cooperation between women<br />
<strong>of</strong> the opposing parties. <strong>The</strong> experience <strong>and</strong> wisdom <strong>of</strong> women is <strong>of</strong> incalculable<br />
value for the peace building process.<br />
2. In three <strong>of</strong> the four cases documented in our project – Yugoslavia,<br />
Rw<strong>and</strong>a <strong>and</strong> Somalia – women were subjected <strong>to</strong> extreme sexual violence<br />
during the hostilities. <strong>The</strong> recognition <strong>of</strong> sexual violence against<br />
women as an action <strong>of</strong> war, as a war crime, <strong>and</strong> as a violation <strong>of</strong> human<br />
rights by the UN is an important fac<strong>to</strong>r for dealing with the traumas.<br />
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