Middle East Policy Highlights

The crucial role women can—and should—play in reconstructing Iraq was the focus of a forum in April 2003 co-hosted by Waging and the Conflict Prevention and Middle East Projects of the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars. “Winning the Peace: the Role of Women in Post-Conflict Iraq” brought together 26 Iraqi women from different political, ethnic, and religious groups-including the first woman to be appointed a judge in Iraq, the minister of reconstruction and development of northern Iraq, and the president of Iraq’s Assyrian Women’s Union-with more than 60 policy shapers from non-governmental organizations and key international and US agencies. Discussion focused on the inclusion of women in four vital sectors of Iraqi administration: democracy and governance, civil society, constitutional law and legislation, and the economy. Download the full conference report (pdf).

Waging network member Sumaya Farhat-Naser, a Palestinian academic and human rights activist living and working outside Jerusalem, met with leading policy shapers at the World Bank, USAID, Department of State, the National Endowment for Democracy, and the New York Times in Washington, DC, in May 2003 to discuss her work on conflict resolution and leadership training for women and youth in the occupied territories. She recently published her fourth book, Daughter of the Olive Trees: A Palestinian Woman’s Struggle for Peace.

National Day of Dialogue
Inclusive Security: Women Waging Peace helped organize the "National Day of Dialogue," an initiative sponsored by Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX). Other congressional leaders, including Congresswoman (and House Whip) Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), spoke at the event, held on Capitol Hill in May 2002. Waging sponsored the participation of two women peace builders: Israeli Terry Greenblatt and Palestinian Maha Abu-Dayyeh Shamas. Participants generated US and international policy recommendations on governance and political participation, peace and security, protection of women, and civil society and peace building.

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