FIRE to Cover Women in Black International Conference in Jerusalem
 with Women Peace Activists from 30 Countries  

Radio Internacional Feminista/FIRE Press Release #1
21 June, 2005

Gila Svirsky of Women in Black-Israel told FIRE, “We hear tremendous inspiring stories at these events, from women who have been on the front lines of stopping war.  These are strong and articulate women” who have dedicated their lives to peacemaking and ending oppression.   

Women in Black is an international movement that began 17 years ago in Jerusalem , during the first Palestinian intifada.  Inspired by the Madres de la Plaza de Mayo (Mothers of the Plaza de Mayo) in Argentina, and the Black Sash in South Africa, in 1988 Israeli and Palestinian women began to stand silently together once a week at the same hour and location, dressed in black and holding signs demanding an end to the conflict. 

Since 1988, Women in Black groups have formed in numerous countries around the world (see FIRE report at: http://www.fire.or.cr/junio01/women_black.htm), including the former Yugoslavia during the war in the Balkans, with an inter-ethnic collaboration of Bosnian, Serbian and Croatian women who worked to end the conflict there.  Likewise, Women in Black in Bangalore , India have called for an end to abuse by religious fundamentalists. 

In June, 2000, FIRE participated in a global vigil of Women in Black in which women in 150 cities in five continents and 24 countries held a vigil on the same day, calling for an end to the Israeli oppression of the Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza .  FIRE asked participants to send reports of their vigils, which are posted with the FIRE summary report at: http://www.fire.or.cr/junio01/vigil8june.htm.

Since the attacks on US targets on 9-11-2001, Women in Black groups around the world have been actively protesting against the militaristic approach to the so-called “war on terror” including the bombing of Afghanistan and the invasion and occupation of Iraq by the US and allied forces.

Women have been actively struggling against the conflicts in Israel and Palestine in a variety of ways in recent years, with several different peace groups and actions.  However, women have not been included in the peace talks, nor do their peace actions get coverage in international media, according to Svirsky.

Svirsky told FIRE that the plan to hold the 13^th International WIB Conference in Jerusalem in 2005 was formed two years ago at the WIB conference in Italy , and was to be organized jointly by Israeli and Palestinian women.  Government restrictions on both Israelis and Palestinians that limit travel between territories have made it impossible for organizers to meet face-to-face, but Svirsky said they are working very hard to make it a collaborative event. 

Women from 30 countries have registered so far including from Latin America, specifically Colombia, Guatemala and Costa Rica, and from Africa including Rwanda, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and South Africa, as well as countries in Europe and North America. 

The conference includes lectures, workshops, multi-cultural events and fact-finding tours of Palestinian occupied areas, as well as events to express opposition to occupation, war and violence.  

According to Svirsky, “The conference provides an opportunity for women peace activists to learn from each other about what works and what has not worked in the struggle against war and to end occupations.  It’s also above all a tremendously empowering experience …and we all come away from it feeling that we can really do this, we can pull together and put an end to this violence, this game that men seem to be playing to settle their conflicts.”

For more information on the conference, see: www.coalitionofwomen.org or write to: wib2005@netvision.net.il.

For more information and to follow FIRE media coverage of the conference see our web pages in Spanish and English at: www.radiofeminista.net .