The Female Peacemakers – 50 Years of Religions for Peace
20200107
Religions for Peace (RfP) recognizes that women of faith in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) have a unique potential to build confidence and advance peace across the region. In order to advance cooperation, RfP convened eminent MENA women of faith from diverse religious traditions in Jordan in July 2019. Their experience and achievements were highlighted before a global audience at the RfP 10th World Assembly in August 2019 in and in accompanying media.
With religious identity becoming a de facto fault line for both intra-national and cross-border hostilities, this new coalition brought together women of faith leaders from Sunni, Shia, Christian and Jewish traditions to serve as a high-level multi-religious mechanism for advocacy and action.
The women highlight their own unique roles and the roles they envision for all people seeking an alternative to traditional conflict, often leading to stalemate or violence: mediate conflict by valuing the dignity of all stakeholders, seeking areas of consensus, and elevating compromise as more successful than the imposition of one’s will.
For 50 years of RfP, women religious leaders have been irreplaceable and co-equal partners in peacebuilding. RfP’s Global Women of Faith Network promotes the leadership of diverse women of faith, coordinates strategies, and pools resources and capabilities for cooperative action for peace.
RfP recently conducted the most inclusive, participatory Strategic Planning process in its 50-year history and set global peace priorities. While RfP has historically incorporated a gender analysis across all initiatives, for the first time, gender was adopted as a strategic priority for the multi-religious peacebuilding coalition. Other priorities include peaceful, just inclusive societies; environment; freedom of thought, conscience and religion; interreligious education; and global partnership. The plan, and strategies relevant to the newly adopted priorities, will be made public in the beginning weeks of 2020.
For 50 years of RfP, women religious leaders have been irreplaceable and co-equal partners in peacebuilding. RfP’s Global Women of Faith Network promotes the leadership of diverse women of faith, coordinates strategies, and pools resources and capabilities for cooperative action for peace.
RfP recently conducted the most inclusive, participatory Strategic Planning process in its 50-year history and set global peace priorities. While RfP has historically incorporated a gender component across all initiatives, for the first time, gender was elevated as a strategic priority for the multi-religious peacebuilding coalition. Other priorities include peaceful, just inclusive societies; environment; freedom of thought, conscience and religion; interreligious education; and global partnership. The plan, and strategies relevant to the newly adopted priorities, will be made available in early 2020.