Women for Peace Conference: Women as creative agents for peace

SECOND INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE

5-6th March 2009, Dili, Timor Leste

Feto Hakiak Dame Peace | Women create it! | Mulher Cria a Paz

Wainhira feto sira hamutuk, hakiak Dame diak liu tan, lori hakmatek no Kura Laran Kanek

Quando as mulheres criam em conjunto, reforça-se a paz e a regeneração acontece

When Women create together Peace is Strengthened and Healing Follows

Would you like to attend the 2^nd International Women for Peace Conference, to be held in Dili, East Timor on the 5 and 6 March 2009? The conference will focus on WOMEN AS CREATIVE AGENTS FOR PEACE and will explore the many issues affecting women in post conflict societies while focusing on the creative energy that women can use to bring lasting peace.

Across the world women have increasingly gained a voice in the development of their communities reducing gender-related barriers to opportunities. However, for women in many countries, culture remains the main constraint in efforts to reduce gender inequalities. Women and men need to work together so peace and development can progress, especially in post-conflict environments which impact on women’s access to education, jobs and decision-making.

Like women in many other countries, during the long struggle for independence, women of Timor-Leste contributed to the independence process in many different roles. For twenty five years my Timorese sisters struggled to survive under the oppression of the Indonesian military. They were used by the Indonesian military to demoralize Timorese men who fought for independence. They were tortured, oppressed and traumatized. Today Timorese women seek self confidence in our new roles in a Timorese society that is dominated by a patriarchal system. The occupation is over but today, domestic violence and cultural violence still play a dominant part in Timorese women’s lives. One example is the bride price or Barlarke, once a symbol of families coming together, but now a dangerous burden, compounding poverty and fostering a sense of purchase or ownership of women.

This conference will be an opportunity for women from around the world to share experiences about moving from conflict to peace, finding justice and solidarity, and acknowledging and valuing traditional culture, while reducing its negative impact on society. By using drama, song, visual arts and storytelling during the conference, we hope to draw upon these powerful artistic tools to more fully explore these challenging issues.

The activities for this conference will be steeped in an environment of creativity, knowing that when women create together, they build solidarity and find healing. Prior to the conference, we will invite women artists from around the world to work with Timorese women artists to produce visual art representing the themes of peace, solidarity and ending violence. The works will be exhibited at the conference. In addition, students will be invited to interview older women in their communities, providing a photographic and written story of their lives. The best of these stories will be presented at the conference. Throughout the conference, actors and musicians will be invited to reflect on the issues raised, providing instant theatre and music performances as part of the plenary sessions each day.

[DOC] WOMEN for PEACE