The Joan B. Kroc Institute for Peace & Justice marked the 10th anniversary of their Women PeaceMakers Program by hosting "Breaking Barriers: What it will take to achieve Security, Justice and Peace" Conference in San Diego (September 26-28, 2012). Nobel Women's Initiative and Campaign Advisory Committee member World Pulse co-convened this momentous Conference with NGO Working Group on Women, Peace, and Security, UN Women, Women's Initiative for Gender Justice and Women's Learning Partnership.
The Conference brought together women peacemakers from around the world, academics, and leading activists including Asma Jahangir, Former Chair of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan and Brigid Inder, the newly appointed Special Advisor to Fatous Bensouda, Chief Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court. The Conference's panels were led by activists involved on the frontlines of efforts to end violence and secure a just peace. Representatives from the International Campaign to Stop Rape & Gender Violence in Conflict were among the panellists.
Advisory Committee members Fahima Hashim, Director of Salmmah Women's Resource Centre in Sudan and Korto Williams, Country Representative of ActionAid Liberia along with Campaign Coordinator Yee Htun participated in the Conference's Global Voices Testify for Security, Justice and Peace panel. They gave public testimonies on rape and gender violence being barriers to security, justice and peace globally.
Hashim presented on the threats to women's security globally and in Sudan. Htun spoke about the need to end impunity for perpetrator of rape and gender violence in order for there to be justice for survivors. Williams lastly discussed her experiences in Liberia and the need to include women in the peace process.
