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Socialist International
Women is encouraged by the reform process of the Palestinian Authority
and by Israel's resolution to withdraw from Gaza and considers this
to be a positive step towards reviving the negotiations and reactivating
the peace process.
A just and lasting peace
must be based on two states for two peoples with two capitals in
Jerusalem and a fair solution of the Palestinian refugee issue,
while ensuring security for all.
As peace is inextricably
linked to equality between men and women, a lasting peace cannot
be established without the participation of women and the inclusion
of gender perspectives in the peace process.
Israeli and Palestinian
grassroots women's groups and women's peace movements have been
active in lobbying for peace for years, but so far have not been
included in any form of negotiation.
Therefore women's concerns,
knowledge and experiences were not sufficiently used at the negotiating
table when the Road Map for Peace and the Peace Coalition Geneva
draft were formalised.
UN Security Council
Resolution 1325 on 'Women, Peace and Security' which was adopted
in October 2000, clearly stresses 'the importance of the equal participation
and full involvement of women in all efforts for the maintenance
and promotion of peace and security, and the need to increase their
role in decision making with regard to conflict prevention and resolution'.
It is therefore essential
that women be included in the analysis, policy making and negotiations
since they are more likely than men to be prepared to open and maintain
a dialogue seeking to bridge the differences between Israelis and
Palestinians.
Therefore, Socialist
International Women having listened to women politicians and members
of the civil society:
calls on the
Israeli Government and the Palestinian Authority to include women
in the negotiating teams, in accordance with UN Security Council
Resolution 1325;
stresses the need
to implement fully international humanitarian and human rights law
that protects the rights of women and children during and after
conflicts;
calls on the
parties to renew negotiations based on the 'Road Map for Peace',
also considering the 'Peace Coalition Geneva draft' which has been
acknowledge by many as a model of agreement;
calls on its member
organisations to join local and international efforts of reconciliation,
and contribute towards projects promoting peace and
supports the
establishment of an International Women's Commission for Israeli
- Palestinian Peace and encourages the recognition and inclusion
of the commission in any future negotiations.
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