Panel IIIThe Normalization of Violence andImpact of War on WomenModerator: Rev. Dr. Susan ThistlethwaitePanelists: Claudia Furaha Nfundiko, FrancesGreaves, Dr. Samira Al-Alaani Abdulghani,and Jeremy CourtneyThe Normalization of Violence and Impact of Waron Women panel explored examples that illustratehow violence has been accepted as normal in society.Challenges in the Democratic Republic of the Congo,Imam Mohamed Magid reflects on ways religiousinstitutions and leaders can pressure their governments touphold human rights laws.Tom EnglandLiberia, and Iraq were presented by panelists ClaudiaFuraha Nfundiko of the Episcopal Commission forJustice and Peace in the Democratic Republic of theCongo; Frances Greaves, founder of Voice of theVoiceless in Liberia; Iraqi pediatrician Dr. SamiraAl-Alaani Abdulghani; and Jeremy Courtney,founder of the Preemptive Love Coalition. Rev. Dr.Susan Thistlethwaite, a senior fellow at the Centerfor American Progress and professor of theology atChicago Theological Seminary, moderated the discussionin which participants from many countries addedexamples of insights, drawing important connectionsabout the impact of war and militarizationacross regions.Thistlethwaite began by describing a “just peace”concept developed by Christian theologians, laterdeveloping into a global interfaith book outlining10 steps that increase peace, reduce violence,and promote justice. The courageous work of thepanelists, she suggested, exemplifies such practices.Thistlethwaite said, “This I know from decades as apeace activist: that violence loves the lie. It calls warsecurity. It calls missiles peacekeepers. It calls thebattering of women submission or God’s will. In the“just peace” practice, we must say, ‘No, you are nottelling the truth. The truth about war is that it has anexacerbated impact on women. Militarism is undeniablya women’s issue, as it is an issue for all those whoprofess peace.’”The panel was brought together to discuss thenormalization of violence and war in our society,yet what emerged was a dialogue that delved intothe deepest recesses of human nature, examiningthe role of trust and truth, humility, and forgiveness.Both state and individual violence were examined,along with the role of the individual in taking astand against both. Advocating for peace does not38 The Carter Center
Mobilizing Faith for WomenTom England(Left to right) President Carter, Rev. Dr. Susan Thistlethwaite, Dr. Samira Al-Alaani Abdulghani, and Jeremy Courtney hearreactions to the presentations of the panel The Normalization of Violence and the Impact of War on Women: How toNormalize Peace and Human Rights.require special skills or expert knowledge but simplyconviction, as the extraordinary life work of thesehuman rights defenders illustrates. The moderatorquoted Nelson Mandela, someone who grew up undernormalized violence himself, who said that “a saintis a sinner who keeps on trying,” introducing thespeakers as those who just keep on trying.The Impact of War on WomenAs a stark example of the untold impact of waron women, Al-Alaani, a pediatrician at FallujahGeneral Hospital in Iraq, testified as a witness andmessenger from “Iraq’s Hiroshima,” as she describedit. Al-Alaani illustrated the crisis facing her city,relating the story of Fallujah’s mothers: Womenin Fallujah have different educational levels anddifferent ideologies, but they all share the same fear:congenital malformation.“Sexual violence is being usedas a weapon of war, and thebodies of women are consideredopen for use and abuse.”— Claudia Furaha Nfundiko“Due to the wars, death, blood, sanctions, andpoverty, people in Iraq have not had a chance toeducate themselves and become enlightened. Insuch a society, the mother suffers the blame, eitherexplicitly or implicitly, for bearing a malformedchild.” Fourteen percent of newborns in Fallujah areborn with various kinds of congenital birth defects,she said. She indicated that research has shown highnumbers of birth defects have been caused by the useThe Carter Center 39
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