Maha Abu-Dayyeh Shamas, executive director of the Women's Centre for Legal Aid and Counselling, an organization dedicated to improving the social and legal status of Palestinian women, delivered the following remarks at the conference "A World of Women for World Peace." The event, held at the Library of Congress in Washington, DC, on May 9, 2002, was organized by Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX) as part of the National Day of Dialogue. For a report on the conference and the resulting recommendations, read the article in Peace Watch, a publication of the US Institute of Peace.

Dear Honorable Guests,

Sitting in our little corner of the world, trying to make sense of our violent environment that has very much shaped our lives and attitudes, yet refusing to be sucked into it or controlled by its rules, we have persevered with our local struggles, trying not only to survive but to maintain our humanity. However, we never imagined that we would be addressing the UN Security Council or the US Congress here in Washington.

Growing up in Jerusalem, exposed to a series of terrible experiences as a youngster, I often had to keep my anger in check. I remember promising myself at the time that I would not allow anyone to destroy my spirit - I would not allow myself to be dehumanized. A big decision for a little girl, but the kind of environment in which I lived afforded no space for innocence.

A combination of luck and will is what determined my life, as I also consider myself to have been very lucky. It is this sense of privilege that motivated me to commit myself to public service, in order to help others who were not as lucky as I was. My story is not unique - there are many women in the smallest corners of the world who were positioned likewise - clearly with situational differences. Both Terry and I were propelled by the violence within our region to do something about it - to think differently - not to be led by the prevalent discourse. We reached out locally to each other, but also to other women internationally because we understand the struggles of women. Moreover, it is through the support of other women who have made our voices heard. It is through the support of other women's organizations like Equality Now in New York that have provided us with the opportunity to address the Security Council, and for me, the chance to be here at this honorable gathering in Washington.

Around the world there is no shortage of women who can mobilize themselves and others to be agents of change. However, they need to be given the space at both the local and international levels. Women have to work doubly hard to earn a place in the public sphere, and women need to support other women. No matter which international platforms we reach, we must make sure that we do not lose touch with our constituencies because in the final analysis, change is mostly needed in those environments that have produced us in the beginning.

Good leadership is one that keeps in mind the aspirations of the communities they represent, and translates those aspirations into realistic and achievable policies that are sustainable. Policies based on mistrust and domination are not sustainable, and we women know this - we know it all too well. Such policies are not sustainable in the private sphere, nor are they sustainable in the public sphere.

No matter how much effort and creativity we invest, we women in the Middle East feel that we are unable to resolve the ongoing historical conflict on our own. We feel that the direct and proactive support of women, as well as men, is essential to help stop the further deterioration of the crisis.

We think that if more women are involved in all sides of the conflict there is a chance for better communication that will produce a healthier dialogue that can achieve results and give hope for a better future for the younger generations of Palestinians and Israelis.

What differentiates one human being from another are the values that one upholds - values of inclusion or exclusion; values based on beliefs and trust in humanity or values based on mistrust and anger. Those same principles differentiate leaders as well. We are all mortal human beings, as death takes many shapes and forms - but it is finite and it comes to us all. What immortalizes us is how we are remembered - what we believed in and stood for. We should constantly assess ourselves and our actions, but ultimately, history is the best judge.

As a young girl I decided that I would allow no one to control my mind and spirit, and I was the harshest judge of myself. This provided me with a certain amount of freedom and space in which to maneuver, something that was not available to people who were boxed in a corner - which they often regretted later - just because they didn't want to invest the extra effort to go through the pain of crossing a threshold and learning from it.

I sit here in the place where, a week ago, Congress passed a resolution about the Middle East that still perplexes me. Has Congress considered how this resolution will be judged ten, twenty or thirty years from now? Has Congress really gone through careful deliberations over this resolution and its impact on the region? Is this resolution in the best interests of the United States? Is this resolution really in the best interests of the Israeli people as well? I will not say, but history will be the judge.

History has seen very bitter conflicts settled after a lot of bloodshed - but eventually settled nonetheless. Our conflict will be settled as well, and our children and grandchildren will together re-write that history, and will together judge all of our deeds. In this day of high computer literacy, information is not lost with the death of its messengers. It is no longer up to the powerful to interpret history. Our history will be rewritten with the full participation of representatives of all players.

I lead a humble struggle; one is private and the other is public. My private struggle is how my own children and their own children will judge me after I am gone. How will they judge my deeds and principles? Will they be able to hold their heads high for what their mother stood for, or will they feel the need to bury her memory in shame?!

My public struggle is to be remembered in the future as a person who refused to be led like sheep; as someone who was part of the thoughtless masses, but who stood up and took a principled stand no matter how unpopular it was at the time.

With these two hopes, I leave you to continue with your deliberations, and I wish you all the luck in your search for the "true peace" - one that is based on justice at the local and international levels.

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