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Since
its creation in 2000, MARWOPNET has participated in more than 20
international conferences and summits on peace-building and other
humanitarian issues. At times, the Network has been the only participant
from the Mano River region. In order to share the lessons and outcomes
of the most recent conferences attended by MARWOPNET’s leaders
and members, and open up the dialogue on such issues as women’s
challenges and roles in conflict resolution and the stability of
the sub-region, MARWOPNET organized a workshop May 11 and 12 at
Conakry’s Palais du Peuple.
The 60-plus participants included representatives from the ECOWAS
youth delegation; the Anglican Church of Guinea and the Grand Mosque
of Conakry; UN agencies such as HCR, UNICEF and UNESCO; international
NGOs such as IRC, which is one of the Network’s most important
partners and donors; civil society groups; businesswomen and women
sages; the ministries of transport and justice; and network members
from across Guinea.
The network was especially pleased to have founding MARWOPNET members
from Sierra Leone and Liberia also present at its opening ceremony,
most notably Nana Pratt, focal point for Sierra Leone; Elizabeth
Sele Mulbah, focal point for Liberia; Marie Louise, of Femmes Africa
Solidarité; and Mabel Cox, one of the network’s most
inspiring and faithful members in Sierra Leone. The delegation had
come to Guinea in preparation for the Network’s General Assembly,
to be held in Conakry June 25 – 30. “Thank you for keeping
our brothers and sisters safe in wartime. We are part of one family,
brothers and sisters in peace, not in war, ” said Elizabeth
Sele Mulbah, the head of the delegation.
MARWOPNET
members from
Sierra Leone and Liberia
Members from MARWOPNET’s eight new sub-delegations in Guinea’s
interior were also on hand to present their field activities and
work together to share experiences garnered over their first three
months of operations and develop proposals for future activities.
Presentations from experts on topics ranged from the importance
of UN Security Council Resolution 1325, reaffirming women’s
key role in conflict resolution, to Women, AIDS and conflict, a
topic that to date has not yet been treated to a comprehensive quantitative
inquiry, though the link between conflict and the spread of AIDS
is clear. The presentations were punctuated by lively debates and
intensive work-group sessions, during which concrete suggestions
were made for the Network to consider in its future planning.
In closing, Prof. Djibril Tamsir Niane, historian and jurist for
UNESCO’s Culture of Peace Program, said “I have followed
the Network in its activities, the natural, spontaneous actions
of women throughout the sub-region. I have seen these African women
rise up in the name of peace. In our culture, respect for women
is paramount: who has more respect than a mother? So continue to
awaken the sensibilities of your mothers and sisters, but move fast,
move fast. War can develop quietly, little by little.”
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Words
of Wisdom
Workshop participants
shared with “Voices of Peace” their ideas about peace
and how to bring about it...
Peace is sharing ideas and accepting equality between people, respecting
each other’s rights. My role as a lieutenant is to maintain
the peace and try to make people understand the danger of war. And
when people do not understand, we have to impose the peace.
-Lt. Baba Aziz Kourouma, Direction des Operations et Instruction
Peace begins at home, by being good neighbors. Even if we don’t
share the same language, religion or ethnicity, we must accept one
another. When children belonging to different groups can no longer
share with each other, it is a dangerous situation.
-Fanta Keita, Protection Department, UN High Commission of Refugees,
Conakry
Peace is tranquility. We can’t have peace if we don’t
know how to love each other. If there is a conflict, we can call
upon the elders and authorities to help mediate the situation. Women
have an important role to play. In Forécariah, we have seriously
experienced war. We the women all rose up when the rebel attacks
took place, even putting on military uniform to help secure our
community and stop the war.
-Ai Bobo Dramé, member of the Federal Women’s Bureau
Peace has many
meanings. My contribution to peace is through prayer and blessing.
I will share what I’ve learned in this workshop with the members
of our mosque.
-Hadja Soumah Yary, Second Secretary of the Grand Mosque of
Conakry
Peace is unity, understanding, equality, and love. Peace also takes
work. It’s being of service to others and fighting against
injustice. When things go wrong, I seek to reconcile people.
-Delphine Guivalogui, President of the NGO Fawé, for
girls’ education, and member of the MARWOPNET antenna in Macenta
Peace is freedom,
moral, material and spiritual. And yet we can be free without being
at peace. To bring about peace, one has to cultivate the spirit
of peace, through awareness-raising and opening up dialogue. Without
peace, one can do nothing.
-Fanta Condé, President of the Group Lawassa
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