Mrs. Mubarak on Women's Movement for Peace conference
Regional-Egypt, Politics, 11/26/2004

Chairperson of the Suzanne Mubarak Women's Movement for Peace, Egypt's First Lady Suzanne Mubarak chaired in Geneva yesterday the closing session of the International conference of "Women Defending Peace" which the Movement organized in cooperation with the Swiss government.

She thanked those who took part in the conference and appreciated their efforts to render it a success.

"You have ensured that this conference is the starting point for real and concrete actions, designed to achieve quick response from the international community to specific problems on the ground," she said.

You have dared to take a difficult step that needs courage and perseverance.

You have dared to establish a Global coalition of Women Defending Peace; this is a stride forward in mobilizing international action to prevent violence against women and children during armed conflicts.

I am confident that this campaign will enable women to take their rightful seats at tables of peace negotiations, added Mrs. Mubarak.

"The numerous alliances, movements and groups working in fields related to women, peace and security will now be able to join forces around a common aim and objective," she said.

Each will bring their special strength and expertise to bear on the issues we have collectively agreed to work on, she said.

Together, we will have an entry point in the lives of all those waiting for us to respond to their call for action, she added.

"Thought our determination we will be able to reach out and deliver concrete help to embattled women in their own homes and communities," she said. Mrs. Mubarak called for halting violence against women and children.

The International conference on women for peace ratified Wednesday all the closing session chaired by Mrs. Suzanne Mubarak a plan of action, launching the global coalition of women for defending peace.

"We, participants of the International Conference for Women Defending Peace, express our collective determination to join forces in order to involve women systematically and meaningfully in all stages of peace making and peace building.

The document rejects violence in all its forms and promotes peace "where peace is more than the absence of war, but is a state of mutual trust, participation, involvement and well-being for all."

ÊÊÊ The plan further seeks to protect women and girls in time of war, occupation and conflict from all forms of violence and exploitation.

"We acknowledge the considerable efforts and advances that have been made towards these aims at local, national, regional and global levels.

However, the world situation remains dismal.

We can only achieve success by synchronizing our initiatives effectively, and by more adopting a campaign to approach the clear goals and measurable benchmarks, according to the plan.

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