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Lieve Snellings | profile | all galleries >> for Peace and Justice >> 16th Global Conference of Women in Black in Bangalore, India, 2015 >> 03 - World Court of Women Against war, For Peace >> 13 - Council of Wisdom - JURY tree view | thumbnails | slideshow

13 - Council of Wisdom - JURY

In this session, the Council of Wise Women, who have listened to the many testimonies of victimhood and valour, survival and strenght will weave their insights into a new narrative of care, compassion and justice that can enhance our collective search for new visions for justice for our times.


ORAL JURY TESPONSE TO WORLD COURT OF WOMEN, BANGALORE,16 November 2015 :

I am honoured to give this oral response on behalf of the jury of eight women, sisters from several countries, here in Bangalore for this extraordinary Session of the World Court of Women, in conjunction with the Women in Black International Conference. These are just our immediate thoughts, and the jury hopes to reflect further on email and publish a more coherent statement later.

We pay tribute to all those who have given testimony, reliving pain and atrocities that they've suffered, and analyzing the unbearable to enable us to hear, learn, understand and transform.

What we've heard from all parts of the world shows how deeply the violence in our lives is interconnected through the globalization of dominant, dominating, aggressive religious, economic and political concepts – and their implementation – including the dark side of concepts like "development", "democracy", "god", "free markets", and even "freedom".

Wars and policies are done in the name of these concepts. They are done in our names, but not in our interests. And we say: Not in our Names". They form an endless war on us, underpinned by patriarchal paradigms and beliefs, behaviours and structures, and all inflicting inequality, injustice and violence, especially against women.

These interconnected forms of historical, futuristic, economic, state, political and military violence are implemented through dominant patriarchal, colonialist, neo-liberal institutions, mindsets and practices.

As we've heard from these varied testimonies, they include but are not limited to:
- The World Bank, IMF, stock-markets, and the banks and economic systems in all our countries, as well as by regional and globalized trade agreements that put even more legal and exploitative power in the hands of multinationals, and take away local rights, choices, and responsibilities of elected representatives to protect people, health and the environment. From Bhopal to Fukushima national, globalized businesses are given carte blanche by governments to build and operate unsafe factories and nuclear plants – with impunity. Courageous campaigners for environmental care, responsibility and safety are ignored or punished by the courts.
- The military-industrial systems and alliances, dominated by the United States and NATO, but with collaboration and implementation by political leaders, warlords, state and non-state armed forces, militias and police – in most if not all our countries.
-Other international institutions, including the United Nations. Here too, we have seen impunity for officials and military forces who harass and violate women, including so-called "peace-keepers" who wage their own forms of war on women they are supposed to be supporting – through rape, exploitation, trafficking and forced prostitution. Nor can we ignore or forget the men who harm women while hiding behind progressive organisations, political parties and NGOs.

This continues despite UN Security Council resolution 1325, which was the achievement in 2000 of determined women's and rights organisations, and went beyond recognising women as victims of armed violence. Resolution 1325 emphasised especially the vital role of women as agents of change, and importance of more women engaging fully at all levels of peace and security building, including negotiations. Impunity is inherent in how militaries operate – without accountability. Indeed, they are usually especially protected from being held accountable for crimes against women. So we need to remove such impunity and also hold our governments accountable for fully implementing UNSCR 13
DSC_9357 Rebecca Johnson
DSC_9357 Rebecca Johnson
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DSC_9349 Rebecca Johnson
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DSC_9363 Rebecca Johnson
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DSC_9351 Kamla Bashin - Elahe Amani - Luisa Morgantini
DSC_9351 Kamla Bashin - Elahe Amani - Luisa Morgantini
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DSC_9372 Rebecca Johnson
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DSC_9374 Rebecca Johnson
DSC_9379 Kamla Bashin
DSC_9379 Kamla Bashin
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DSC_9386 Kamla Bashin
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DSC_9387 Kamla Bashin
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DSC_9390 Kamla Bashin
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DSC_9391 Kamla Bashin
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DSC_9400 Corinne Kumar
DSC_9400 Corinne Kumar
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DSC_9414  Ritu Dewan
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DSC_9417 Ritu Dewan
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DSC_9411 Ritu Dewan
DSC_9426 Luisa Morgantini
DSC_9426 Luisa Morgantini
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DSC_9424 Luisa Morgantini
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DSC_9428 Luisa Morgantini
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DSC_9432 Rose Dzuvichu
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DSC_9434 Rose Dzuvichu
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DSC_9437 Rose Dzuvichu
DSC_9439 Elahe Amani
DSC_9439 Elahe Amani
DSC_9441  Elahe Amani
DSC_9441 Elahe Amani
DSC_9444  Elahe Amani
DSC_9444 Elahe Amani
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DSC_9448 Elahe Amani
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