A Call for Greater Engagement of Women in Communities Emerging from Conflict

Nov. 13, 2007—Ugandan parliamentarians including The Honorable Beatrice Atim (pictured right), The Honorable Everline Tete and The Honorable Grace Oburu today asked the U.S. Congress to support women’s empowerment and leadership as a step toward mediating conflicts around the world.

The three Ugandan women leaders briefed members of the U.S. Congress including Representatives Betty McCollum and Diane Watson at a breakfast meeting about priorities for women working in conflict-affected communities. The parliamentarians are in Washington, D.C. as part of a CEDPA training for 13 women leading peace and stability efforts worldwide.

Representatives Diane Watson (left) and Betty McCollum (right) spoke about the importance of investing in women worldwide.

There are more than 20 armed conflicts currently taking place around the world. Research shows that 90 percent of casualties in armed conflicts are civilians, mostly women and children. The resulting displacement of populations and destruction of infrastructure reverberates long after the conflict subsides.

“Maternal health is a particular area of concern for communities emerging from conflict, and Uganda is no exception,” the Honorable Grace Oburu said. “Lack of services and lack of health infrastructure causes untold suffering to women who need maternal health care.”

The Honorable Everline Tete spoke about how the violation of women’s human rights and their low status contributes to conflict. Human rights violations such as female genital mutilation (FGM) can be addressed, even though there are cultural and social barriers. “Female genital mutilation is a big problem in my community,” she said. Though “FGM may seem like a very difficult problem to solve, the start [of the solution] should be on empowering women and girls so that they have the knowledge and information to make more decisions in their lives.”

Despite the challenges, around the world women leaders have transformed conflict and emerged from the embers of war to rebuild their communities.

Maha Babiker of Sudan, one of 13 women who joined CEDPA’s workshop on peace and stability.

The Ugandan parliamentarians have been joined by ten other women leaders in conflict-affected countries for CEDPA’s four-week WomenLead in Promoting Peace and Stability workshop in Washington, D.C.

The workshop helps participants strengthen their technical and leadership skills through training sessions on advocacy, communications, fundraising and institutional management as well as on new approaches to understanding conflict, women and the peace process, and justice, healing and reconciliation during the workshop.

Workshop participants will share their recommendations for supporting women in conflict-affected communities at a 9:00 am Nov. 14 briefing at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, 1779 Massachusetts Ave., in Washington, D.C.

Learn more about CEDPA’s many training workshops to increase women’s leadership around the world.

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