The Contribution of Women to Peace and Reconciliation

We have come a long way, but we still have a long way to go: The condemnation
of sexual violence as a violation of human rights was con -
firmed by 189 countries in the Action Platform of the 4th UN World
Women’s Conference in 1995 in Beijing. Five years then passed until
the passage of UN Resolution 1325 in 2000 and Resolution 1820 in
2008, but at least a beginning had been made, an irreversible process
of great importance had been launched.
3. The Middle East conflict is not comparable with the other cases in
terms of its international ramifications and the development of violence
within it, even if certain instances are certainly similar. This conflict
shows, in all its phases, how dramatically the international community
can repeatedly fail, and how mutual disillusionment over unfulfilled
hopes for peace can again and again lead to the escalation of violence.
The spiral of violence and cynicism shows a degree of creativity that
never fails to shock. The main issue in the conflict is the struggle for
land and state autonomy. However, both sides are continually mythologizing
history, and using religion as a source of the legitimacy of their
positions. Moreover, both sides understand each other’s wounds perfectly
well, and know where best to direct their attacks. For instance, it
must be assumed that the suicide bombers attacking the Israeli civilian
population know that they will awaken memories of the helplessness
faced by the victims of the Holocaust during the Second World War. On
the other side, the pressure placed on the Palestinians recalls their flight
and expulsion in 1948 and 1967: the many daily restrictions they suffer,
and the attacks directed against them send the signal: “You Palestinians
will not be able to find safety anywhere here, except by leaving.” This
is, in effect, a constant threat of another expulsion.
4. The case of Somalia clearly shows that military intervention in innerstate
violent conflicts or wars which have already broken out is a very
serious issue, particularly if these forces are themselves seen as a party
to the conflict with special interests, intervening from outside. They can
then in no way contribute to pacification, but rather exacerbate the conflicts.
Peace-building in Somalia has to be turned over to the ownership
of the Somali people.
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