Event

Conflict Transformation and Peace Building in Israel and Palestine: Gender Dimensions

Conference, Brussels, 17 - 19 March 2010

Organisation: Rosa Luxemburg Foundation Brussels, in cooperation with International Women's Council and EU Commission
Contact: Marlis Gensler, Tel. 02- 738 7663, Email

Conflict has been persistent in the Middle East, in spite of many efforts to transform and resolve it. The Israeli/Palestinian conflict actually involves several types of conflicts within and across the Israeli and Palestinian societies, and efforts at peace-making and peace-building need to discern the roots, stages and types of conflicts at stake to be able to move towards lasting and just peace.

Gender dimensions of conflicts have been addressed in research and practice, but remain insufficiently explored on issues such as tackling conflicting narratives, developing resilience in a contest of violence, dealing with justice, breaking the vicious cycle of conflict, and integrating the interests of future generations. The workshop intends to engage with such dimensions and to provide a forum for dialogue between researchers and practitioners from Israel, Palestine and Europe.

Workshop: Conflict Transformation and Peace Building in Israel and Palestine: The Gender Dimensions

Date: 17 March 2010, 9:00 - 18:30 h
Venue: European Commission, Nyerere seminar room, DG DEV, rue de la Science 15, 1040 Brussels

Keynotes: Sarai Aharoni, Amal Kreisheh, Elise Féron, Hania Bitar, Ruchama Marton, Carol Hagemann-White, Karin Aggestam, Molly Malekar, Maysa Zorob, Naomi Chazan, Colette Harris, Diana Copper, Luisa Morgantini. Welcome by Anneli Pauli.

Round Table: Peace and Security in the Middle East: What role for a gender-sensitive approach to conflict transformation? Research and Policy Perspectives

Date: 18 March 2010, 9:30 - 11:30 h
Venue: European Commission, Nyerere seminar room, DG DEV, rue de la Science 15, 1040 Brussels

Pannellists: MEP Nicole Kill-Nielssen, MEP Annemie Neyts, MEP Helmut Scholz; David Harmon (European Commission, Cab Geoghegan-Quinn), Gwenda Jeffreys-Jones (European Commission, DG External Relations), Mary Curtin, US Mission to the EU, Karin Aggestam (Lund University); Naomi Chazan (President of the New Israel Fund); Amal Kreisheh (Director of the Palestinian Working Women Society in Development. Chair: Jean-Michel Baer, Director Science, Economy and Society, DG Research, European Commission

Evening Event: Public Debate: 20 years after "Give peace a chance - women speak out". Israel-Palestine: What have women achieved?

Date: 18 March 2010, 20:00 h
Venue: Institute de Sociologie de l'Université Libre de Bruxelles, Hall Dupreel, Ave. Jeanne 44, 1050 Brussels

Speakers: Hania Bitar, Amal Kreisheh, Naomi Chazan, Sarai Ahroni, Luisa Morgantini, Thomas Dupla, Simone Susskind. Chair: Birgit Daiber

Speakers from Israel:

Naomi Chazan, Professor of Political Science, former Deputy Speaker of the Knesset (Meretz Party), Chair of the New Israel Fund

Galia Golan-Gild, Professor of Political Science (IDC), former spokesperson of Peace Now

Ruchama Marton, Founder and President, Physicians for Human Rights Israel

Sarai Aharoni, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, former Coordinator of the program for implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1325 at Isha l’Isha

Molly Malekar, Former Director Bat Shalom of the Jerusalem Link

Speakers from Palestine:

Leila Shahid, Ambassador of the Palestinian Authority to the European Union, Belgium and Luxembourg (TBC)

Amal Kreisheh, Director of the Palestinian Working Women Society in Development

Maha Abu-Davyeh, Director of WCLAC, Women’Center for Legal Aid and Counseling

Hania Bitar, Director general of the Palestinian Youth Association for Leadership and Rights Activation (PYALARA)

Maysa Zorob, Representative of Hal Haq in Brussels