Human Rights Education and Gender Equality

Mrs Louise Rawlence, the Chair for the Session, commented that there has been a recent transition towards taking great pride in female equality. (Photo Link for Session)

Ms Manuela Mesa Peinado, Director of the Centre for Education  and Research for Peace (CEIPAZ) within the Foundation for a Peace Culture, and an author of a book entitled, 'Mujeres Tejiendo La Paz' (Women Knitting Peace), opened by reminding us that “we are in a world still deeply rooted in a masculine perspective of life’s experiences” and questioned the trend towards the millitary. Women are ignored and excluded from decision making but she emphasised that women are actors of peace. Women should be recognized because they are working everyday for peace. She then shared many stories from her book, Mujeres Tejiendo La Paz which collates various cultures, sharing many non violent strategies used throughout the globe. Women should be recognized and included in decision making if we want to make a world of peace. Web: www.1325mujerestejiendolapaz.org/

Mrs Martina Coombs, Adviser WFWPI - Europe says that the dignity of women concerns all of us. “The strength of women is the power of networking and working together”, and the WFWPI has contributed to fulfilling this in many countries and in varying ways. Unfortunately violence towards women is the most frequent violation of human rights. Women are often “degraded” to the role of a sex object and these are “urgent problems” in regards to the status of women and require immediate attention. Coombs urges us to put less money into advertising that undermines the beauty of women and to inspire women to feel the beauty and value of true femininity. She closed by telling us that, “to bring continuity it has to be based on living for the sake of others, on that kind of lifestyle of dignity and true love”.