By Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson
This past weekend I convened my 13th annual peace conference in Dallas entitled “A World of Women for World Peace”. More than one hundred fifty peace activists from the Dallas area and peace advocates from throughout the world attended the event which was held at the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas.
The central theme of the nearly three hour session was that a more peaceful world was a reality if people from different cultures and backgrounds engaged in serious dialogue, and were more tolerant of differences. We do not have to lose hundreds of thousands of lives because people dislike one another or disagree with the policies of other nations.
At the conference an Israeli peace activist, Ronny Edry, explained how through the creation of posters promulgating peace people from Israel and Iran were building more harmonious relationships. He said that it was shameful that neighbors in the region of the world where he lived could not visit one another’s countries.
The executive director of the Texas Muslim Women’s Foundation, Dr. Hind Jarrah, said her organization collaborates with others of different faiths and beliefs. She said that it was possible for people to work together, although they spoke different languages and held different political positions.
Dr. Jarrah is a proponent of interfaith dialogue. Much of her life is spent attempting to eradicate misconceptions about Islam and people of Muslim faith, many having been the victims of racial discrimination as a result of the events of September 11th, 2001.
Nazanin Boniadi, an actress born in Iran, who is also the official spokesperson for Amnesty International, spoke about her efforts to create democracy in parts of the world where a free press and freedom of speech were not tolerated by those in power. She has enlisted prominent Hollywood movie directors and actors to support her work.
The conference focused on the particular role that women perform in creating a world of peace. The idea was launched in 2001 to give greater visibility to women who were the victims of war and aggression. Another objective was to highlight those women who have been peacemakers in their communities and countries.
In this country, women created the Female Peace Society in 1820. One of the very first international women’s peace groups had its roots in 1854 when a Swedish woman started the European Women’s Peace League.
American women have played a fundamental role in peace movements. As a legislator and as a citizen I will work tirelessly to bring attention to those in the forefront of global peace movements.
I will continue to lift the collective voices of women and others in support of peace, and the empowerment of women around the world.
