---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Adi Bhaduri <[email protected]> Date: Fri, Oct 30, 2009 at 8:44 PM Subject: Include the voice of the women
http://www.risingkashmir.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=17938&Itemid=44 Include the voice of the women Following is the text of the memorandum presented by ATHWAS, an alliance of women from Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh. Dear Prime Minister of India, We deeply appreciate and welcome your step towards including all stakeholders for exploring inclusive solutions for sustainable peace in Jammu and Kashmir. However the desired dialogue process will not result in any creative outcomes if voices of women, fifty percent of the population, are not included in the process. Women have been directly and indirectly impacted by the violent conflict. Their experiences have given them a deep understanding and insight of the causes and hence their inclusion will deliver the holistic approach needed for sustainable peace. We, Athwaas members - an alliance of women in Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh - wish to bring to your notice that in the last twenty years of political unrest and continued violence, it has been the women who have held the fabric of the society, their families and communities together. They have rejected violence as a means to achieve political goals and reached out to adversaries for rebuilding human relationships. We wish to remind you that it was the effort of women within their homes for peace that led to a huge turn out of voters during the past assembly and parliamentary elections in the State. As grassroots workers, community leaders, civil society members, they are continuing in their efforts to be the agency for change in Jammu and Kashmir. Athwaas, in their efforts for peace in the region since the year 2000, has reached out to different communities across regional, religious and ethnic divides for long lasting and peaceful solutions to the conflict in Kashmir. They have also proactively sought joint solutions with men and ask now for the Honorable Prime Minister to reciprocate and invite women to participate in the formal dialogue process. *Ashima Kaul Co-ordinator Athwaas** * Following is the text of the memorandum presented by ATHWAS, an alliance of women from Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh. Dear Prime Minister of India, We deeply appreciate and welcome your step towards including all stakeholders for exploring inclusive solutions for sustainable peace in Jammu and Kashmir. However the desired dialogue process will not result in any creative outcomes if voices of women, fifty percent of the population, are not included in the process. Women have been directly and indirectly impacted by the violent conflict. Their experiences have given them a deep understanding and insight of the causes and hence their inclusion will deliver the holistic approach needed for sustainable peace. We, Athwaas members - an alliance of women in Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh - wish to bring to your notice that in the last twenty years of political unrest and continued violence, it has been the women who have held the fabric of the society, their families and communities together. They have rejected violence as a means to achieve political goals and reached out to adversaries for rebuilding human relationships. We wish to remind you that it was the effort of women within their homes for peace that led to a huge turn out of voters during the past assembly and parliamentary elections in the State. As grassroots workers, community leaders, civil society members, they are continuing in their efforts to be the agency for change in Jammu and Kashmir. Athwaas, in their efforts for peace in the region since the year 2000, has reached out to different communities across regional, religious and ethnic divides for long lasting and peaceful solutions to the conflict in Kashmir. They have also proactively sought joint solutions with men and ask now for the Honorable Prime Minister to reciprocate and invite women to participate in the formal dialogue process. *Ashima Kaul Co-ordinator Athwaas** * --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Green Youth Movement" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/greenyouth?hl=en-GB -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
