FIJI: International Women’s Day For Peace And Disarmament

May 24, 2006 -(femLINKPACIFIC Media Release) Today, May 24th, is the International Women’s Day for Peace and Disarmament and to commemorate this year’s global theme “Women Resisting Violence”, the monthly Suva Peace Vigil at the Holy Trinity Anglican Cathedral (tomorrow Thursday 25) will reaffirm women’s role in promoting and working for active non-violence.

“Throughout the history of human-kind, women have actively participated in the active non-violence movement," says co-facilitator of the monthly Peace Vigil, Sharon Bhagwan Rolls, the Coordinator of femLINKPACIFIC, a women’s media NGO, and active advocates of gender equality in peace and security. "In our most recent history in Fiji, as well as in neighbouring Solomon Islands and Bougainville, women have continued to organize and implement peace initiatives.

"They have done this without fear, and quite often without the institutional and financial support that quite often is actually promoting aggressive action, rather than peace,” Bhagwan Rolls continued. “We also need to remember today the number of innocent people, in particular women and children who have been the innocent victims of the mindless acts of aggression, war and conflict.

"However," she pointed out, "we cannot discount the fact that even in the most adverse conditions, women still mobilize for peace, and are the key to ensuring social harmony and promoting a culture of peace.

"So today," she continued, "we would also remind our government, regional agencies and the key stakeholders of peace and security that they have a responsibility to make good on the numerous international conventions and protocols.

"This includes the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325, titled Women, Peace and Security, to ensure children and women’s human rights, are protected at all times, and at the same time, utilize the expertise, experience and community networks of women’s peace groups, to truly bring about peace in the Pacific region, in particular Melanesia.”

The Security Council Resolution 1325 is an enabling framework for the appointment of women as peace envoys, observers and negotiators, says Bhagwan Rolls.

“If our Pacific Island leaders want to secure peace, they must seriously think about how they are NOT involving women, and this must change," she declared. "Women’s participation in political decision making processes and their access to decision making bodies is still far from equal. Much remains to be done.

"Some governments argue that opening up the military service for women means that 1325 has been completely implemented," she said. "It is clear that this is not what the Resolution meant. The point is to open up new roads to nonviolent conflict resolution and to peacemaking, to include women in those processes already underway, and to support women’s initiatives. Leaving out half of the population can never mean peace."

femLINKPACIFIC has noted, that within the region, in particular with the recent interventions in relation to the resurgence of violence in the Solomon Islands and Bougainville, women peacemakers still remain outside of the formal discussions.

“There is so much talk now of human security, a more holistic approach to peace and security, so it is very bizarre that women are not being drawn into the formal peace negotiations, after all, they are able to provide the most practical solutions to current conflicts.”

The Suva Peace Vigil will be led by the Peace Programme of the Ecumenical Centre for Research, Education and Advocacy and commences at 1pm, Thursday May 25th, at the Holy Trinity Anglican Cathedral.

From: http://www.pacificislands.cc/pina/pinadefault2.php?urlpinaid=22176