For the past three years, we have been working with women in the excluded insecure neighbourhood of Izariyya (Bethany) on the outskirts of East Jerusalem (security area B) and empowered them not only with trainings and meetings but with connections with women in Iraq (Women and Youth Against Violence 2013-6) and two other Palestinian organisations: “Women’s Parliament” of East Jerusalem, and the Arab Education Institute in Bethlehem.

 

The project consisted of trainings in nonviolence, gender (including the importance of UNSCR 1325) and media, and of meetings with security officials and local authorities to promote the voice of women in security, and increase their role in local decision making. It also included at the local level, the production of a magazine and several radio interviews, and regionally, several planning meetings in Amman and Turkey, and a final “Women’s Peacebuilding Roundtable” with activists from the region. PAX are seeking funds to develop this with MEND to create a women’s network.