URGENT UPDATE: Two trailblazing women, Riman Barakat and Peta Jones Pellach, are set to visit Australia to inspire hope and dialogue following the devastating conflict in Gaza that erupted on October 7, 2023. Their tour, titled “Building Peace for the Day After,” aims to reignite faith in peace amidst the ongoing turmoil.
The brutality of Hamas and the subsequent war have left deep emotional scars, but Barakat and Jones Pellach are determined to show that non-violent conflict resolution is possible, even in the darkest times. Barakat, a Palestinian Muslim from East Jerusalem, is co-director of FeelBeit, an innovative cultural center that fosters Israeli-Palestinian dialogue through art. Her international advocacy for non-violence and women’s leadership has garnered significant recognition.
Meanwhile, Jones Pellach, originally from Australia and now residing in Israel, is a senior member of Women Wage Peace, Israel’s largest grassroots peace movement. She works closely with Palestinian women to promote the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1325, emphasizing the crucial role of women in peace negotiations.
In light of the tragic loss of peace activist Vivien Silver, co-founder of Women Wage Peace, whose life was taken on October 7, both women view their efforts as part of her legacy. Silver famously stated, “Look among the women. We don’t need violence. We don’t want violence.”
Their Australian tour will feature events in Melbourne and Sydney, providing local communities with a platform to engage in critical discussions about peace. The Melbourne event will take place on August 31, 2023, at 6:30 PM, focusing on “Nonviolent Conflict Resolution: Lessons from Israeli & Palestinian Peace Builders.” In Sydney, the discussion is scheduled for September 4, 2023, at 4:30 PM, at Sydney University.
Melinda Jones, the Australian representative for Women Wage Peace, emphasizes that the tour is inclusive: “The tour is not just for the Jewish community. Peace is not a zero-sum game. Everyone will win if we work together. Everyone will lead a better life. There can be hope for a sustainable future.”
This initiative is supported by several organizations, including the Uniting Church in Australia, the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom, and Pax Christi, among others.
To participate in these pivotal discussions, attendees can book tickets through the following links:
– Melbourne: Mending Our Social Fabric
– Sydney: Nonviolent Conflict Resolution
This tour represents a vital opportunity for Australians to engage with the pressing questions of peacebuilding after profound suffering. The stories and visions shared by Barakat and Jones Pellach are poised to spark necessary conversations about hope and reconciliation during a critical time.
