FEMINIST INTERNATIONAL RADIO ENDEAVOUR/FIRE

Agosto 2005


13th International Conference of Women in Black
Jerusalem, August 12-16, 2005 
"Women Resisting the Occupation and the War"

 

Radio Internacional Feminista/Feminist International Radio Endeavour/FIRE
Jerusalem, August 12, 2005

Women in Black Vigil Launches 
International Conference of Women Peace Activists 

by Margaret Thompson & Katerina Anfossi 

As more than 650 women peace activists from 44 countries arrived in Jerusalem, over 200 gathered in Hagar Square for a vigil of the Women in Black, calling for an end to the Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territories including the Gaza Strip.   Dressed in black, the vigil participants held up large banners and posters toward the heavy car traffic around the square, which called for peace in several languages.   


International Women in Black Vigil in Jerusalem
         Photo by RIF/FIRE

Stasa Zajovic, one of the founders of Women in Black of Belgrade/Serbia talked to FIRE about how it felt to come to Jerusalem: "It's very very exciting because [the Women in Black[Jerusalem] are our spiritual mothers and our sisters in peace.  We met through the Italian Women in Black, and started building this international network.  So the Jerusalem women are very important for us--emotionally, politically and morally."  The Women in Black of Belgrade, which is comprised of Serbian, Croatian and Bosnian women, have been a very active group and an important international symbol of women working together for peace in the region during and after the conflict in the former Yugoslavia.


Stasa Zajovic of Women in Black of Belgrade/Serbia
     Photo by RIF/FIRE

Participants in the International Women in Black Conference come from all continents and 44 countries of the world, a number of which are now or have been embroiled in conflict.  African women from war-torn countries such as Uganda and the Congo and other African countries are arriving to share their experiences and strategies with women from other conflict areas such as Israel and Palestine, as well as Colombia, Guatemala, Chechnya, and the former Yugoslavian countries of Bosnia, Serbia and Croatia, among others.

The conference is being held in Jerusalem, where heated conflicts are underway regarding the disengagement process of Israeli settlers from the Gaza Strip and other areas, as well as the controversial construction of the Separation Wall between Israeli and Palestinian areas.  This context of heated conflict was one reason why Women in Black of Jerusalem decided to host the conference here.  The group, which was founded 17 years ago in Jerusalem, now has chapters in more than 150 cities and countries all over the world.. 

Dina Firestone of Israel said that "it is really heartwarming to see all these women from all over the world.  I know I'm not alone."  But Firestone thinks that vigils and demonstrations are not enough.  "I have realized that we have to get all the women of Israel to realize what a heavy price we pay" for this conflict.   She said that "it's not just that there is a war and our children go and get killed," but many who come home from the war are deeply affected by their experiences, and are acting out in other ways.  Firestone noted the drastic increase in domestic violence and violence in schools.    She also noted the connections of violence and poverty, which is increasing as a result of dismantling of state services and privatization. 


Dina Firestone of Israel
Photo by RIF/FIRE


According to the Organizing Committee for the Women in Black conference, "Women will share their experiences from political and social activities and will examine the unique and important roles of women in political conflicts.  At a time when the Israeli government is implementing unilateral steps – the "Disengagement" and the Separation Wall, the activists will come here to say that cooperation against oppression, wars, poverty and occupation, which crosses borders and nationalities, is the way to reach true peace and security."

Women attending the conference come from the following continents and countries:

Africa: Nigeria, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Congo Namibia, Kenya, Uganda and Morocco;

Asia: Philippines, India, Pakistan, Japan, Bangladesh, Chechnya , Jordan ; 

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Australia;

 

South & Central America: Guatemala , Chile , Bolivia , Colombia , Mexico , El Salvador .

 

Europe & North America : Italy, Germany, United States, Canada, Serbia-Macedonia , Bosnia , Turkey , Croatia , Ireland , Denmark , Greece , Sweden , Bulgaria , Austria , Holland , Iceland .

 

Among the participants will be European Parliament member Louisa Morgantini from Italy and former PM from Israel Tamar Gozansky.


Click here to read this article in Spanish

You may use all or part of this report and photos, but please cite as the source: 
Radio International Feminista/Feminist International Radio Endeavour (FIRE) at: www.radiofeminista.net
Photos by:  Katerina Anfossi & Margaret Thompson