The Arab Women's Network "ROA" meaning ‘Vision', held a session called ‘Occupations in the Arab region contribute to maintaining Gender Inequalities'. The panel of women from Jordan, Lebanon, Iraq and Palestine described the impossibility of working for women's rights and the alleviation of women's suffering in an area of endless conflict. They called for the establishment of a committee to investigate war crimes against women in Gaza. And then, one by one, women stood up and spoke quietly. This is what was said -
Saudi Arabia: "My government fully supports the suggestion that a committee should be set up to investigate war crimes in Gaza."
Haiti: "I am so far away. We are so far away. We need help. How do women network together? How do you organise? And it's not just the use of arms by the military, it's the use of arms by civilians too."
Tunisia: "We were trying to raise the issue of women's inheritance with the people and they said "why are you doing this when the people in Gaza are being bombarded? We will never get our rights unless violence in the Middle East ceases."
South Africa: "I've been listening to how the conflicts increase the violation of women's human rights, but there's a politically constructed hierarchy which says which violations are the most important - rape in the Congo or the situation of women in Gaza. If we allow that to happen, if we accept that, we become part of that construction". You must never be pessimistic because the people's struggles will only end when their hopes are met.
Palestine: "We are more important in our own countries than here. When we came to the UN we were really disappointed, we were told to write a statement on Palestine but told that it could not include the word ‘occupation' yet we need to recognise that it is behind the suffering."
Jordan: "In Jordan we are going to start a committee for a national court and we will invite women from all over the world to come and join." And in response someone said "The key demand all women should claim is a court. Not ask: demand. Because we aren't asking for something we aren't entitled to."
Britain: "I'm a Jew. I feel strongly for what you say, we want dialogue, we must talk. I wish you well."
A panellist asked: "Are there any Americans in the room?" Four hands went up. "We make a distinction between you and your government. We are counting on you as citizens to lobby your own government, please put pressure on it."
Lebanon: "If we are able to have peace in the middle east we will have peace everywhere and we won't get women's rights until there is peace. War is a disease; we must come together in unity. When war ends women and children will gain their dignity."
Zimbabwe: the only man present at the meeting, "There are countries at war where there is no shelling, there is no visible war, but women as the breadwinners are suffering as bearers and carers. Three women trying to cross the border in search of a way to feed their families were burnt to death".
Half an hour before the session there had been a frantic ring around to find a translator; the young woman law student who had agreed to come had been quietly translating for an hour and a half and then she stood up "I am going to stand up to show my respect for you. I am honoured to say that I am a woman. It's so fascinating to be with our different faces and cultures. I feel very emotional. I am blown away by what I have heard. I am the youngest in this room. We've just passed the 60th anniversary celebrations of the UNDHR; my worst fear is that our hearts will grow cold. Our rights are ours. To me empowerment is getting what we want done."
With a rallying call to all to go to the West Asia Caucus the next day and work on the draft resolution on Palestine the event formally ended, but this is what can and does happen during the CSW in the so-called ‘side events' that take place in Church centre - just yards from the UN HQ. Real dialogue, real networking and the re-affirmation of one common goal - the search for peace and respect for women's human rights.