CONVOCATION 30 november 2014: Response of the women in the face of militaristic violence

25th November, International Day against Violence toward Women

RESPONSE OF THE WOMEN IN THE FACE OF MILITARISTIC VIOLENCE

It is women who suffer the most from crises and regularly are burdened with the non-visible work of caring for others. In many cases they assume a doubling of their work (domestic and public) increasingly incompatible because of the loss of workers’ rights. The care of dependents or the struggle against social exclusion receives increasingly less public assistance, and it is the women who must confront these situations.

When political tensions and underlying militarization break out into open conflict, the usual attitudes and abuses adopt new dimensions and all forms of violence against women are exacerbated.

In these circumstances, the voices of women manifest themselves to express sentiments, needs, proposals and alternatives to latent militarism and war, such as to demilitarize our manners of feeling, thought and behavior.

In crisis situations, women transform indignation into non-violent resistance, despair into public acts of civil disobedience and sorrow and impotence into solidarity among women.

Today, 25 November, international day for the elimination of violence against women:

♀ We demand a radical change in the budgets, so that we cease wasting money on weapons and dedicate it to social goals, especially those dedicated to the eradication of gender violence.

♀ We affirm our confidence in dialog, justice and non-violence as a path for understanding among people.

♀ We see the necessity to promote education for peace; to promote non-violent social change; to participate in tables for peace negotiations; to work for autonomy and equality; to create a just and lasting peace and to cry out for truth, justice and reparation, so that the horror will not be repeated.

"Mankind's universal values of love, compassion, solidarity, caring and tolerance should form the basis for this global ethic which should permeate culture, politics, trade, religion and philosophy"

Wangari Muta Maathai
Kenyan activist, Nobel Peace Prize 2004

Translation:
Trisha Novak (USA) with the collaboration of Yolanda Rouiller