As part of the Capitol Hill forum on interfaith partnerships for peace, a special session was held to examine the role of Muslim women in peacebuilding.  Women, particularly women of faith are crucial players in securing and sustaining peace. Not only do they make up half of the world’s population, they are central members of the family, and the keystone of society. To that end, women should be supported and acknowledged for what they have and will contribute to society.

Here is the report of the session from www.globalpeace.org.

Dr. Rosa Rai Djalal, President of the Muslim Women’s Association, at a forum on Capitol Hill in Washington.

26-Mar-2013 |WASHINGTON—“Muslim women can and should play a significant role in ensuring peace in their communities and countries around the world,” said Dr. Rosa Rai Djalal, President of the Muslim Women’s Association, at a forum on Capitol Hill in Washington on March 20, 2013. “If women are not involved in the peace process, peace is unlikely to be sustainable. I strongly believe that women, both Muslim and non-Muslim, have unique a perspective that allow them to be catalysts for peace and nation-building.”

The forum, “Engaging Diverse Voices of Faith for the Common Good,” was hosted by the Center for Multifaith Partnerships, an initiative of the Global Peace Foundation.

“Recognition for the role of both Muslim and non-Muslim women in ensuring peace, justice and prosperity around the world has been growing,” Dr. Djalal told the forum. “In many parts of the world, Muslim women already play an important role in defending and promoting peace.”

She cited growing representation of women among recent Nobel laureates, notably 2003 Nobel Peace Prize winner Shirin Ebadi, the first Muslim woman chosen for the distinguished award. Championing the rights of women, children, and political prisoners in Iran, Dr. Ebadi has shown throughout her career that Islam, women’s rights and social justice are compatible.

(from top) Yemeni peace activist Tawakkol Karman, Liberian social worker Leymah Gbowee, and Liberian President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf. (Photos Creative Commons)

In 2011, the Nobel Peace Prize was shared by three women, Tawakkol Karman, a 32-year old mother of three from Yemen, for defending and promoting human rights in her country; Liberian social worker Leymah Gbowee, who brought Christian and Muslim women together to form the Women for Liberia Mass Action for Peace, which played a pivotal role in ending Liberia’s 14-year civil war; and Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, subsequently elected President of Liberia and Africa’s first ever female head of state.

Empowering Muslim women

Despite women’s capacity to foster peace, Dr. Djalal said, far too many Muslim and non-Muslim women are marginalized from peace-building efforts. “The question that we must address is how we can empower and increase opportunities for more Muslim women to take part in the peace-building process.”

“Much of the marginalization of Muslim women can be traced to a lack of education,” she said. “To the weak, the poor and the voiceless, education is a tremendous liberating force.

“We have consistently seen that when girls and women have the opportunity to empower themselves through education it not only benefits them, but it leads to a multiplier effect that benefits their families as well as their larger communities.

“The role that Muslim women play in fighting radicalism and terrorism is often overlooked, but it shouldn’t be underestimated,” Dr. Djalal added. “Indeed, Muslims believe that heaven is found at the soles of a mother’s feet. Thus, in the family, an educated and loving mother can be the most effective antidote for children who are at risk of [becoming radicalized]. . . . There can be no peace in the world without good loving mothers.”

“Indeed, Muslims believe that heaven is found at the soles of a mother’s feet.” ~Dr. Djalal Dr. Djalal said that universal suffrage and economic opportunity were also essential to empower Muslim women. Universal suffrage “naturally changes the political dynamics, and changes the political significance of women in Islamic societies. This is one of the most important reasons why Muslim-majority countries such as Bangladesh, Turkey, Indonesia and Pakistan, have elected women as Presidents and Prime Ministers.”

She said microfinance loans have transformed not only women borrowers, but also families and communities. “Entrepreneurship will be a key driver of change in the twenty-first century,” she said, “and it is critical that women–including Muslim women –do not miss this window of opportunity.”

The post Muslim Women in Peacebuilding Addressed at Capitol Hill Forum in the U.S. appeared first on Hyun Jin Preston Moon.

My wife, Junsook Moon, spoke on women’s role in peacebuilding at the recent Global Peace Women Awards Ceremony in Paraguay.

Yesterday, May 10, my wife spoke at the 4^th Annual Global Peace Festival Foundation awards ceremony in Paraguay. This year we recognized outstanding women peace leaders. The event and her address reaffirmed that peace needs the involvement of such exemplary women. They are the mothers, wives, sisters and daughters that contribute and complete our human family.

I wanted to share this excerpt from her address.

“Women have increasingly important roles to play today in our communities and nations.  In fact, many today talk about this being the “age of women.” I believe you will also agree that women bring unique qualities to whatever roles we play. In fact, it has been said that women hold up one-half of heaven.

But for women to fully realize this potential – and for humankind to truly become “One Family under God,”  the innate, God-given, dignity and value of women must be recognized and respected. In this age of globalization, we hear much about the need for resources – energy resources, mineral resources, and so on. But the most important resources for the future of our planet are human resources – not only for material progress – but also, and more importantly, for moral advance and social harmony.

Women, as a little over half of the world’s people, represent a great and often untapped resource, that humanity can no longer afford to ignore. It is time to set this “woman resource” free for the sake of peace in families, communities, and the world.”

The post Women and Peacebuilding appeared first on Hyun Jin Preston Moon.

Every one of us has been blessed with a mother.  I want to recognize the mothers of the world for their selfless investment in giving life and raising the next generation of humanity.

credits istockphoto

A mother carries her children in her womb for nine months. Literally, her body is her children’s.  She takes careful consideration of her diet and health, knowing that her energy and time are for the new life growing inside. Mothers invest body and soul into the sacred process of bringing the next generation of life into this world. They are real examples of what it means to live for the sake of another.

Mothers are also the first educators. They are pivotal to forming the foundations of their children’s character. I believe in the innate goodness of a mother’s heart. A mother strives to provide the best classroom in the family for her children to learn to love. She teaches her children how to respect elders, care for their siblings and the natural world, and carry a sense of greater good.  She also demonstrates unconditional love. She will always encourage her children to see and strive for the best of themselves.  No matter what mistakes her children may make, she believes that they can live righteous and fulfilled lives. It is this attitude of optimism and conviction that inspires children to get better with every generation.

As such, the role of mothers is critical for our world today. Their indiscriminate love and selfless investment can melt the barriers which separate and divide humanity. Their care and nurturing can unlock new models of development that consider the well-being of each individuals and the conservation of the environment. Their commitment to a better life for their children can inspire each generation to become better.

Many nations around the world celebrate Mother’s Day in May. Hungary, Netherlands, Spain celebrated their mothers earlier this month.  Korea just had Parents Day on May 8.  The United States, India, Japan, South Africa, and nations in South America will celebrate their mothers this weekend.

Let us take time to recognize the mothers of the world. Let us never diminish or take for granted their powerful role and tremendous contributions in each of the lives their touch, including ours.

The post Celebrating Mother’s Day appeared first on Hyun Jin Preston Moon.