For Immediate Release

Contact: Anne Glauber/Millicent White
Phone: (212) 715-1571
Fax: (212) 593-6345
whitem@ruderfinn.com
glaubera@ruderfinn.com


SWAMINI MAYATITANANDA INVITED TO PARTICIPATE IN THE GLOBAL PEACE INITIATIVE OF WOMEN, AN HISTORIC COLLABORATION TO REDUCE RELIGIOUS VIOLENCE AND CONFLICT

Initiative spearheaded by women religious and spiritual leaders worldwide , frustrated by political stalemates and increasing levels of violence , who are determined to build new models of peace based on women’s priorities and perspectives .

New York-For the first time in history, women leaders from religion, business and government representing every region and faith tradition will gather at the Palais des Nations (United Nations) in Geneva, Switzerland on October 7th to claim a more active global role in peace building. More than five hundred women are expected to participate in the launching of this Global Peace Initiative of Women, including many prominent leaders from different sectors of society. Swamini Mayatitananda was invited to participate at the meeting to contribute her experience to this Initiative.

The goal of the Initiative is to build a strong global network of women leaders committed to mobilizing their resources and expertise to develop specific peace-building activities in regions of conflict. Women from regions of tension will participate to draw public attention to the traumatic impact of conflict on women and children, and to highlight ongoing violence against women.

The Initiative was conceived and developed by a group of women religious leaders from the major faith traditions who see the urgent need for greater participation of women in peace building efforts. They have reached out to women leaders from business, government and non-profit to join them in creating and implementing a concrete plan of action where the resources of businesses could be directed to womens’ peace building initiatives.

Co-chairs of the Initiative are:
Saleha Mahmood Abedin-Saudi Arabia, Muslim scholar and professor, Director of General Education, Dar Al-Hekma College in Saudi Arabia
Rev. Joan Brown Campbell-U.S.A., Director of the Dept. of Religion of Chautauqua Institution, and first clergywoman to serve as spiritual leader and General Secretary of the National Council of the Churches of Christ (NCC) in the U.S.
Kamla Chowdhry, India, a long standing proponent of Gandhian non-violence and values and a member of the United Nations Secretary General’s Experts Group for the United Nations World Summit on Sustainable Development
Jane Goodall, U.K., world-renowned primatologist, award-winning advocate for non-violence, United Nations Messenger for Peace
Blu Greenberg, U.S.A., author and lecturer, co-founder and first president of the Jewish Orthodox Feminist Alliance and current chair of the Petschek National Jewish Family Center
Sobonfu Some, Burkina Faso, Africa, author and spiritual teacher, dedicated to preserving the wisdom of the Dagara and other indigenous tribes of West Central Africa
Mae-Chee Sansanee Sthirasuta, Thailand, Buddhist leader and Director of the Sathira Dhammasthan (retreat center) in Bangkok

The initiative is being organized in close cooperation with the United Nations, in particular the United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM).

“A strong coalition of women from religion, business and government can have an impact in reducing tension. It is the children who are suffering the most in the current conflicts. Women must come together on their behalf and demand an end to the violence that is taking too many young lives,” says Dena Merriam, Convener of The Global Peace Initiative of Women.

In order to ensure that the peace programs developed at the Global Initiative will be implemented in regions of conflict, the women will collaborate with the United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM), which works to involve the participation of women in all levels of development planning and practice. The women will focus on areas in the Middle East, the Congo, Afghanistan and Pakistan among other regions.

“Women bring a different perspective and sense of urgency to the desperate need for peace. We want to support the right kind of leadership and programmes that involve women from all backgrounds to create a future we all want-a future free of violence, poverty, hatred and fear in which all people can live to their fullest potential,” says Noeleen Heyzer, Executive Director, UNIFEM.

The Global Peace Initiative of Women is a direct outcome of the Millennium World Peace Summit of Religious and Spiritual Leaders that brought over 2,000 pre-eminent religious leaders and their delegations to the United Nations in New York in August 2000. Less than 15% were women. This led to a commitment to build a network of accomplished women religious and spiritual leaders along with their counterparts from business and government who can support United Nations activities aimed at eliminating the causes that lead to conflict. For more information about the Initiative call 212-715-1571.

All journalists wishing to cover the portions of the Global Peace Initiative of Women taking place at Palais de Nations (United Nations) must obtain UN Press Credentials. Interested journalists must submit a request to the UN Public Relations Section of UNIS-Geneva (fax: 011-41-22-917-0073) accompanied by a letter of assignment on official letterhead of a media organization and signed by a publisher, assignment editor or bureau chief. The letter should specify the name of the journalist seeking accreditation. The status of the request may be checked by calling 011-41-22-917-2313 or 011-41-22-917-2336. Once approved, a UN grounds pass can by obtained by presenting your passport at 13 Peace Avenue outside of the Palais de Nations, Geneva, Monday to Friday between the hours of 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.