AIDA Nederland

International Women’s Day for Peace and Disarmament

24 May 2009

Voices of Peace from the Balkans and the Caucasus

Join pioneering women peacemakers and musicians on May 24 to discover the power of women’s peace activism!
On May 24, pioneering women peace activists and female musicians from the Balkan and Caucasus will come to Utrecht to share their experiences with peace building and reconciliation. In an exciting seminar they will explore similarities and differences between the regions, as well as opportunities for co-operation to strengthen each other’s work for peace. The women will interact with the audience in lively debates and workshops, focusing on women’s contributions to peace and security, and the role that music can play in bringing divided people together.
 

Panellists include:

Women in Black – Feminist Antimilitarist Peace Organization/ Serbia
Lesley Abdela – Gender and post-conflict specialist, winner of the Political Journalist of the Year Award 2009/ United Kingdom
Gulnara Shahinian – UN Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of slavery/ Armenia
Kathalijne Buitenweg – Member of the European Parliament
Arjeta Rexhaj – Executive Director Gender Training and Research Center and Board Member of the Kosova Women’s Network/ Kosova
Teko Goletiani – Cultural – Humanitarian Fund Sukhumi / Georgia
Performances by:
Mzetamze – a capella vocal ensemble/ Georgia
Merima Kljuco – accordion / Bosnia & Herzegovina
Belma Alić – cello / Bosnia & Herzegovina
Tijana Vignjevic – singer / Bosnia & Herzegovina
LéLé Mam – musical ensemble / the Netherlands
 
The day will be moderated by Lenneke Hoedemaker.
 
Program of the Day

10.00-11.00: Workshop Georgian singing
11.00-11.15: Welcome participants and opening of the day
11.15-12.20: Interactive panel discussion and musical intermezzo
12.20-12.40: Coffee/Tea break
12.40-13.30: Interactive panel discussion and musical intermezzo
 
13.30-14.10: Lunch
14.15-15.00: Workshops
14.15-15.00: Documentary ‘Picture me an enemy’
15.00-15.15: Coffee/Tea break
15.15-16.15: Concert
16.15-17.30: Closure of the day, drinks

Ongoing

Several (inter)national organizations active in the Balkans and the Caucasus will present their work on an information market.
In addition, the photo exhibition “Women of the South Caucasus” will be shown throughout the seminar.
Language of the seminar
The working language of the seminar will be English.
Registration is required
Although there is no entrance fee for the seminar, early registration is advised. Please register before May 10, 2009 by email to j.devries@ifor.org or call to +31 (0)72-5123014.
Location
Rasa Centre for World Cultures in Utrecht, the Netherlands. Address: Pauwstraat 13a, Utrecht, the Netherlands. For more information, please visit: http://www.rasa.nl)

For more information  www.ifor.org/WPP