Women, Peace and Security Include us, don't ... - World YWCA

CC 4YWCAs Aroundthe WorldPeace with Justice has always been an important priority for the World YWCA. For overone and a half centuries, the YWCA movement has been sensitive to the particular situationwomen and young women face during conflict and war. In this section, we highlightYWCAs working in countries that have survived conflicts the world has forgotten…Women in Georgia still in needThe conflict that broke out in South Ossetiabetween Russia and Georgia on August 8, 2008left a population of nearly 160,000 internallydisplaced, many of whom were women andchildren. The YWCA of Georgia mobilised to collect moneyand essential items for women and children that werethen distributed through kindergartens and schools in thecapital T’bilisi.Although the conflict is over, the consequences remain.“Instability, social problems and fear of future conflict arethe main concerns of Georgian women,” says Eka Avaliani,President of the YWCA of Georgia. “Many women live withoutany income as their husbands, brothers and fathers weremurdered during the conflict. There were no support servicesfor women when the country was engaged in war andhumanitarian access to affected areas has been limited.”The World YWCA urged women to be part of the peacenegotiations as recommended in the United NationsSecurity Council Resolution 1325 on women, peace andsecurity. UNSCR 1325 calls for women’s full participationin conflict resolution and the YWCA of Georgia continuesto call for women to be heard. “Peace is important for allwomen around the world and Georgian women are notexempt in this,” says Avaliani, ”Georgian women shouldhave the chance to choose a future for their state, families,children and themselves in a peaceful atmosphere.”Since the 1940s Colombians have lived with civilconflict motivated by differing ideologies of conservativeand liberal politics. “This provoked the creation ofguerilla and paramilitary groups who promised theywould seek equality and social justice, which has neverbeen achieved,“ says Judith Melo Barrera, President ofthe YWCA of Colombia. “Women are the most affectedby this conflict, which is reflected amongst the displacedpopulation. Many become widows because of the war.Women have to take on the paternal role in families andthis is why we ask for peace in Colombia.”The YWCA of Colombia has participated in all of thepeace marches promoted by Colombian civil society. “ Weconsider it our civic duty. Women in our association wantour efforts of promoting women’s rights to be visible to thecommunity and working with different community sectorsfor peace compliments the objectives of the YWCA,” saysBarrera.Women in Colombia want peaceThe world celebrated when Ingrid Betancourt and14 other hostages held in the Colombian junglefor up to ten years were rescued and freed in July2008. The YWCA of Colombia marched throughthe streets of Bogotá to commemorate the liberation of thehostages and call for peace in their country.Members of the YWCA of Colombia participate in a peaceful protest on thestreets of Bogotá. 2008www.worldywca.org