Debate about demilitarization and peace

The debate “Peace and Demilitarization” opened the Closure´s event in the Third International Action of the World March of Women on October 14 in Bukavu, in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Georgett Biebie, from the Organization “Femmes Africa Solidarite”, started the panel with a contextual analysis on the conflicts in the African region. “War begun on 1998, causing property damages and too many victims, mainly from Congolese. After the peace agreements signed in 2002, women in Congo have been watching if these resolutions have been effectively applied. With the Declaration of Kigari in 2003, the congolese women met with other women from the region of the Great Afrinca Lakes to intensify the fight for the peace as a goal". Georgette finished her speech expressing her wishes that the presence of the women in the event of Bukavu will make the voices of all Congolese women in the world.

The second speaker was Wysy Gokkan, from the Delegation of Curdistan. She analysed and made a comparative between DRC and other countries in conflict. She thinks that there is another type of war that already exists from many milleniums behind: the war between men and women. “Men fight to keep their authority, denying the rights to women. Women now fight for the peace and liberty in the world and now they are conquering responsibility level positions. Although, many times, they are punished. For example, the serious crisis in Curdistan, left behind almost 40 thousand deceases and thousands of women were raped” told Ayse.

The Republic of Haiti was also cited in the debate. The Haitian Carole Jacob spoke about the role of the UN at countries in conflict, as Haiti. She said that, in 100 years, the country has had three different military occupations. “The National and International governments justified the presence of foreing weapons because they believe that this country is ungovernable and unstable. But even with the military occupation, the situation goes on precarious. Since the earthquake occurred on January 12 this year, the country´s economic problems worsened and there´s been a greater impact even harder to women” explained Carole. “The Haitian women are struggling against the presence of the MINUSTA in our Country. On September 30, they organized an activity to challenge the government on that issue”, she finished.

Michelle Spieler, from the World March of Women from Switzerland, agrees with Carole. “It is important the sovereignty of the States, that´s why, we support the progressive withdrawal and negotiated from the mision of the UN in different countries, as “MONUSCO” in the DR Congo”. Michelle presented the vision of the WMW about the issue peace and demilitarization. “Women´s Body must not be utilized as war weapon. The peace does not mean the absence of war, but to respect everybody´s right, including women´s”, she says. To conclude, Michelle said that the peace must be built also under regional solutions.