Women: redefining peace, democracy and security

Jane Gabriel 18 May 2011
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From May 23-25, women activists and scholars from around the world will gather in Quebec at the invitation of the Nobel Women’s Initiative to discuss 'Women Forging a New Security: Ending Sexual Violence in Conflict'. Jenny Morgan and Jessica Horn will be reporting for openDemocracy 50.50

"It is not just about hope and ideas, it's about action...Our duty is to have a dream, but work everyday for reality" Shirin Ebadi

It's five years since the Nobel Women’s Initiative was established by sister Nobel Peace laureates Jody Williams, Shirin Ebadi, Wangari Maathai, Rigoberta Menchú Tum, Betty Williams and Mairead Corrigan Maguire.

The Initiative sponsors biennial events bringing together women activists and scholars from around the world, in an effort to support women's rights and build a culture of peace with justice and equality.  openDemocracy 5050 has explored the issues debated at the gatherings since 2007 in articles written by participants and openDemocracy authors. This year Jenny Morgan and Jessica Horn will be reporting for openDemocracy. To read our full coverage click here

Below are some of the articles from the earlier gatherings at which women discussed  'Redefining peace in the middle east and beyond', and  'Redefining democracy for peace, justice and equality'. 

Peacework: lessons we have failed to learn Isabel Hilton

Politics outside politics: how women redefine democracy Srilatha Batliwala

Gender and democracy: no short cuts to power Anne Marie Goetz

Women redefining democracy Alda Facio

The meaning of peace in the 21st century Shirin Ebadi

Laureate Mairead Maguire: building deep democracy  Jane Gabriel

Resist Reclaim Restore: militarism no more  Kavita Ramdas

We are the ones  Rosemary Bechler

Women in the news  Maria Suarez

My journey from Vietnam to Antigua Thanh Xuan Nguyen

To know that we are not alone  Jane Gabriel

Nothing is impossible, the difficult takes longer Nadwa Sarandah

To read all articles and the multi authored blogs on openDemocracy 50.50 from the Nobel Women's Initiative gatherings since 2007, click here

 

 


 
 

 

About the author

Jane Gabriel is the founder and editor of openDemocracy 50.50. Jane directed more than thirty documentaries for Channel Four Television and the BBC international current affairs series "Correspondent" before joining openDemocracy. Jane won the Royal Television Society award for the film ' Island of Outcasts' filmed in Greece, and the One World Media award for the film 'Whose Life is it Anyway?' filmed in India. Jane was a member of Britain's first all women television production company, Broadside.

As well as producing podcasts and articles (see below), Jane has reported on the Commission on the Status of Women (2009, 2008, and 2007) the Nobel Women's Initiative conferences in 2007  and 2009, the Global Safe Abortion conference 2007, and 16 Days against Gender Violence 2007 and 2008 .

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