International Women's Commission Update - March 2010
UNIFEM commissioned The Institute for Inclusive Security to arrange and implement two days of meetings, private consultations, and public events for a mission from the International Women’s Commission for a Just and Sustainable Israeli-Palestinian Peassace (IWC) to Washington, DC. From March 4 – 5, 2010, Carla Koppell, director,
Allison Shean, training specialist and advocate, and Mariam Mansury, advocate and congressional liaison, scheduled and coordinated 11 advocacy meetings and public briefings for the delegation of Israeli, Palestinian, and international members of the IWC.
On March 4, the Wilson Center hosted a panel event entitled
“Is There Another Path to Peace? Civil Society Leaders on the Peace Process.” Moderated by Carla Koppell, director of The Institute for Inclusive Security, IWC members Lama Hourani (Palestine), Molly Malekar (Israel), and Ingibjörg Sólrún Gísladóttir (International), briefed the Wilson Center audience on the work and principles of the IWC, and reflected on the unique perspectives of women and civil society on the peace process.
The IWC speakers emphasized that it is essential to develop a new negotiation framework to understand and address the peace process more fully by fostering dialogue and encouraging cooperation. Arguing that the asymmetry between Israelis and Palestinians requires attention, they called for women from civil society to bridge conflicting narratives among Israelis and Palestinians by providing a just narrative of the conflict that acknowledges suffering on both sides. They also called for the active engagement of a third party to act as an honest broker and provide mediation, arbitration, and accountability in the process. For a full summary of the event, please visit the
Wilson Center website.
During a briefing sponsored by Representative Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX), the IWC delegation met with congressional staffers from the offices of Representative Donna Edwards (D-MD), Representative James P. Moran (D-VA), Representative Shelley Berkley (D-NV), and Representative Corrine Brown (D-FL). Congresswoman Johnson hosted the briefing to provide US Members of Congress with an opportunity to hear a current, comprehensive analysis of the conflict from both the Israeli and Palestinian perspectives, as well as steps the U.S. Government can take to help reinvigorate the peace process. The delegates introduced the IWC, gave a comprehensive overview of the current conflict dynamics from both perspectives, and offered ways to leverage women’s efforts in the peacebuilding process.
Members of the delegation highlighted the IWC’s unique, cross-conflict efforts and offered insight from their experiences working together in a coalition at a public event sponsored by the Gender and Peacebuilding Initiative at the United States Institute of Peace. Ingibjörg Sólrún Gísladóttir (International) introduced the mission of the IWC, then turned to Lama Hourani (Palestine) and Shlomit Lir (Israel) to discuss the efforts of the IWC within Israel and Palestine. Audience members included officials from US governmental institutions, students and academics from local universities, and staff from USIP.
Inclusive Security also coordinated meetings for the IWC with key allies and important advocacy targets to highlight the work of the IWC and advocate for the inclusion of women and civil society in the Middle East peace process. On March 4-5, 2010, the IWC met with:
In addition to organizing meetings for the IWC members, the Institute prepared the delegation for their advocacy in Washington, DC, with a focus on messaging and strategy.
For more information on the visit by the delegation of the International Women's Commission for a Just and Sustainable Israeli-Palestinian Peace, please contact Allison Shean.