Each year the Joan B. Kroc Institute for Peace and Justice selects four women peacemakers from around the world. The 2009 Women PeaceMakers will participate in a panel discussion where they will talk about the work they are doing in their respective countries for peace. The event will take place on Tuesday, October 20, 2009 from 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm at the Joan B. Kroc Institute for Peace & Justice Theatre located at the University of San Diego. The event is free and open to the public.
- Marta Benavides of El Salvador is rebuilding war-devastated communities and renewing war torn areas of her country.
- Rubina Feroze Bhatti of Pakistan is dedicated to advancing and protecting the rights of women and religious minorities.
- Zeinab Blandia of Sudan is creating communities that build and sustain peace in Sudan’s Nuba Mountains.
- Liza Llesis Saway of the Philippines is working to protect the indigenous culture of the people of Mindanao and she is a founder of Talaandig Mothers for Peace.
The Women PeaceMakers Program “documents the stories and best practices of international women leaders who are involved in human rights and peacemaking efforts in their home countries.”
The San Diego Community has a rare opportunity to listen to the stories of these amazing women who are building peace through their grassroots efforts. I’ve attended some of the in-depth one on one conversations with each Woman PeaceMaker in October and I hope others have a chance to be inspired by attending the upcoming event on Oct. 20th, 2009 featured in this news flash.
Here is UCTV Presentation of a panel of 2006 Women PeaceMakers at IPJ:
Women War Peace: The Politics of PeaceBuilding