Peace process
Like any other sentient being, I am appalled and devastated at the latest eruption of war in the Middle East. I recoil at the news in horror, yet feel it is essential that I know what is happening, despite my apparent complete impotence to influence events.
Yesterday I read an article that gave a glimmer of hope. No, not the news that Israel and Palestine have agreed to a complete ceasefire, return of all hostages, withdrawal of military units and a timetable for discussion of a two-state solution. At the moment that is just the stuff of dreams.
What did happen however was my reading about a recent private meeting in Westminster Abbey co-hosted by two women, one Jewish and one Muslim. Dr Lindsay Simmonds is a Jewish academic who researches women of faith and peacebuilding. Julie Siddiqi is a faith/relations consultant. They identified the need for a third space outside religious institutions and political organisations. This is because within the different communities, showing empathy and consideration for ‘the other side’ can bring condemnation from one’s host community.
Julie and Lindsay have known each other for over a decade, and want to show there is the genuine desire to develop new accords. This can only be helped if more women are included in the decision making. The fact remains that women’s participation in formal peace processes remains low. This is despite acknowledging that the presence of women in positions of leadership can greatly reduce the likelihood of violent conflict emerging, as well as the prospects for the peaceful resolution of existing conflicts.
Between 1992 and 2019, women constituted only 13% of negotiators, 6% of mediators and 6% of signatories in peace processes around the world. The UK’s Good Friday Agreement with Northern Ireland is a case in point: the late Mo Mowlam was one of several key women negotiators of that agreement whose contribution was scarcely acknowledged in comparison with the men involved.
UN Security Council Resolution 1325 in October 2000 ‘urges Member States to ensure increased representation of women at all decision-making levels in national, regional and international institutions and mechanisms for the prevention, management, and resolution of conflict’. Evidence shows that women’s participation increases the probability of a peace agreement lasting at least two years by 20 percent and a peace agreement lasting fifteen years by 35 percent.
To link up with this, I was sent a beautiful video this week made by Women Wage Peace, a grassroots initiative in Israel and Palestine comprising thousands of Palestinian and Israeli women, who even now continue to work for peace on the ground. Their mission statement is blindingly obvious:
‘Peace is not a utopia. It is the necessary foundation of the lives of the two peoples in this place, in security and freedom.’ In the new official video made by the movement, Israeli singer Yael Deckelbaum sings the song ‘Prayer of the Mothers’ alongside women and mothers of all religions, showing what music can change. An all-female miracle that is worth a thousand words.
Watch it and dare to hope.
I have just watched the video It is both moving and beautifully done. Dare to hope indeed.
Thank you for an excellent article.
Thanks Joyce..we live in hope.
Dame B