Recently, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton stated that women have helped and can further assist in the Middle East peace process.
Clinton pointed to the conflict in Northern Ireland where women from both sides called for peace. She claimed that if women could see each other suffering in the same way, there would be less of a divide between them. I've always thought this myself, not to say that women never disagree, I just find that generally women can communicate in a disagreement without resorting to violence more often than men can.
Whether or not your agree with my last statement doesn't take away from the fact that more women need to be leading Middle East peace process. There have been several initiatives to involve women in the peace process but most women are taking a grassroots approach to change. This can be very effective, yet it must be coupled with influence from the leadership of both parties. Women must be integrated from top to bottom, meaning there should be more women leading in diplomatic negotiations, legislature as well as grassroots movements.
Below is a great video of an initiative taken by Israeli and Arab women to create peace.
In 2000, the United Nations passed UN Resolution 1325, which called for the inclusion of women in leadership positions in peace-making. A great organization called No Women No Peace then mobilized to pressure governments to be accountable if they prevent women from participating in peace-making.
Visit No Women No Peace to take part in their initiative or create you own. The world would be a better place.
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