Isha L’Isha, Haifa Feminist Center
response to israel's statement at open debate on women, peace & security, October 2006

Isha L’Isha-the Haifa Feminist Center, was established in 1983 and is the most veteran, grassroots feminist organization in Israel, and its leading voice for women’s rights. The implementation of UN Resolution 1325 has been a central activity for us since 2003, and our project has brought the resolution to the public's attention, and introduced gender mainstreaming about the violent conflict into the public discourse. Our work provides a gender perspective of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict by promoting women to be represented on negotiating teams, and by strengthening the voices of women and calling attention to their unique needs and roles.

In October 2006, at the Security Council Open Debate on women, peace and security, nation states were allowed the opportunity to present their past achievements in promoting resolution 1325. When we found out that Isha L'Isha was mentioned at the event, we were delighted that our project was showcased at the UN. However, when we read the statement, we were shocked and dismayed. The official representative of the state of Israel positioned our organization as a government project, taking credit for our dedicated, hardworking efforts, as if to imply that our achievements belong to the state and its institutions.

Later, we were surprised to learn that at the UN, many nations do this and therefore it's accepted policy. It is depressing to have to accept the fact that the UN works to exclude true grassroots women's voices from the international discourse.

We stand in protest against Israel's remarks at the UN special session, and reiterate- we are not a government run endeavor, as misrepresented by the state of Israel at the UN. We are a radical Feminist organization, and one that is the frontrunner in promoting 1325. On a daily basis, we deal with multiple challenges and obstacles placed before us by a government that works to prevent 1325 implementation. We are especially saddened by the fact that the state feels free to annex to itself the hard won achievements of ngos and civil society sectors, (such as Isha L'Isha and the Women's Commission) and what is worse, is that the UN allows this to happen.
Allow us here to ask the State of Israel:

What has the government and its institutions either done or promoted in terms of UN SC resolution 1325? Has it given any support to ngo's? Has it bothered to research or check on the unique conditions and needs of women and girls living in Israel? Or has it taken their voices and situations into consideration? What platform or forum does the State provide for women, to express themselves during wartime? What is done to provide for the unique needs of women during reconstruction time after war?

And in conclusion, and most grave, where is the government and its responsibility for the human rights abuses inflicted upon Palestinian women and girls living under the ongoing occupation in the Palestinian territories, in Gaza strip, and when innocent civilians are killed in numbers. Where is the government responsibility for rights abuses to women Peace activists, Palestinian prisoners, Israeli prisoners and others.

We call on the Security Council to: Present challenges and pose difficult questions to the nations and their official representatives: to be responsible for their actions, take note of their exclusion of women, take responsibility for injustices and abuses to the lives and rights of women in areas of conflict; and provide a platform to organizations and to grassroots women, working for change and in implementing 1325, and invite them to present these challenges and obstacles, specifically those they face working against the system, and allow them equal weight when they submit their reports and impressions, and take their testimony into account when it comes to the UN and its relationships with the nation states.

We thank PeaceWomen for allowing us this opportunity to have our voices heard.

Amani Dayif,
Coordinator of Women, Peace and Security 1325
Isha L'Isha – Haifa Feminist Center
118 Arlozorov St, Haifa Israel