Launch of French Women of Faith for Peace Network

Saturday, February 13th 2010, in St Francis of Assize Conference Room, in Capucin Covent in Paris XIV, a venue rich with long history of living together and dialogue between different religions, about forty women, deeply committed to their respective faith traditions and involved in various interfaith organizations have launched the French Women of Faith for Peace Network (FWFN). This initiative led by Mehrézia LABIDI-MAIZA, the Global Women of Faith Network coordinator and Brigitte CHEVALIER, the Religions for Peace representative at UNESCO was welcomed by women of faith from different traditions, Christians, Jewish, Muslim, Buddhist, Sikh and Baha’i.

The participants are representatives of interfaith dialogue and biblical groups, faith based women organizations, theologians, peace education teams and social workers groups working with immigrant women. After reading messages of support from Dr Vendley, RfP GS, Mrs. Jacqueline Rougé, RfP Honorary President,  Ms Yolande ILIANO, Coordinator of European Women of Faith Network (EWFN) introduced the EWFN and transmitted the message of support of her Colleague Mrs. Ravinder Nijjar. Then Mr. Ghaleb BENCHEIKH, president of Religions for Peace France, intervened to insist on the role of women of faith as educators for peace and supported the initiative while recalling that the creation of women of faith group doesn’t mean separating  women’ s activity from that of men, but reinforcing their common marching towards the realization of peace. He emphasized Religions for Peace’s desire to mainstream women program in its main plan of action. And he reminded that peace starts in hearts and spirits of men and women. Afterwards, participants discussed their vision statement and the guidelines of their plan of action and priorities. After the official announce of the launch of their network, they took two main appointments: the first one is at the Annual general assembly of RfP France to publicize the formation of the Coordinating committee, which is being constituted through cooptation of its members according to the criteria fixed by GWFN and shared by EWFN; The second appointment is with Mrs Jacky Ogega, Women program director who will come to Paris next May to launch the Restore dignity campaign.  

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