'Netanyahu must include more women in peace talks'

Feminist NGOs demand gov't uphold UN resolution on giving women a greater role in conflict resolution, peace negotiations.

By LAHAV HARKOV
Resolution 1325 - Female Leaders for Peace and Security 370 (photo credit: Courtesy)
Resolution 1325 - Female Leaders for Peace and Security 370
(photo credit: Courtesy)
More women need to be involved in peace talks, Resolution 1325 – Female Leaders for Peace and Security, wrote in a letter to Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and government ministers Sunday.
The group, made up of feminist organizations and activists, including WIZO and Na’amat, based its name on UN Resolution 1325, which urged member states to give women a role “in the prevention and resolution of conflicts, peace negotiations, peace-building, peacekeeping, humanitarian response and in post-conflict reconstruction and stresses the importance of their equal participation and full involvement in all efforts for the maintenance and promotion of peace and security.”
“Resolution 1325” wrote to remind Netanyahu of the UN decision and that the 1951 Equal Rights for Women Law includes equality in all government teams, including those that negotiate treaties.
“Our request that women from different population groups be represented [in peace talks] includes the hope of bringing different points of view to the table that were not previously there in peace-making efforts,” the letter reads.
The group expressed hope that the implementation of Israeli and international law will send a message to the general public that it is necessary to include women in major diplomatic decisions.
Resolution 1325 previously wrote to Justice Minister Tzipi Livni, who will lead the negotiations, saying that this is a historic opportunity not only to reach a peace agreement with the Palestinians but to include women as decision-makers.