The presentation of the award to Madeline Rees was special. I must say I have found the sessions (2) that I attended with Madeline were 2 of the best ones of the whole CSW, and that is one of the reasons i went to this special awards ceremony.
People spoke of WILPF (Women's International League for Peace and Freedom), it's almost 100 year history. Still the same obstacles that existed back then continue today. What is happening though is we are learning more. The women from Bosnia have shared their experiences, and lessons learned with the women from Syria. Bosnia is a lesson of what happens if women are not part of the peace process. If it is only men with guns that are at the table. If that happens then you end up with failure. It is a medieval narraive, with two people at the table who don't really want an agreement. It is the women who
are holding things together. It is the women who have local knowledge. In Bosnia, men carved up the country, without justice being done. We learned from it, and must apply the lessons to Syria. Taking the Bosnian women to Ireland, and to Syria.
Beginning to see a movement, deconstructing masculinities. Need a Gender Advisor - very important position, but not part of Syrian process. Madeline spoke about being in favour of the multilateral system as leading to resolution.
Have a proxy war in Syria with US involved because of oil. But this is never discussed. Syria a bridge for getting the oil out.
--Mary Scott
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