October 30, 2010 - Opening Remarks by Ambassador Laurie S Fulton

Good Morning.

Thank you for being a participant in this conference.

Our goal for the conference is to share experiences among people with on-the-ground and first-hand experiences of the importance of women’s active involvement in peace and security-related processes.

Yesterday, we heard from many of you about such experiences:  the ladies in white t-shirts in Liberia who stood along a main road for two years with signs demanding peace, daily confronting Charles Taylor with their demands that the conflict cease, and forming a human chain around the negotiating room until the games stopped and the peace discussions began in earnest.
The mothers in Uganda who were able to get sons to release prisoners and lay down arms – the woman who became the negotiator – until eventually the Lord’s Resistance Army left Uganda.

The women in Afghanistan who wore the burqua during the Taliban period, but who kept alive the belief that women were needed – and kept going, regardless of the difficulties, to act as doctors and caregivers for women who otherwise would have none.

The confidence and dedication of a ten-year old student in Helmand Province  in school today who, when the teacher is late or does not show up, stands up in front of the class, reading the lessons aloud and writing on the blackboard – in effect adopting the role of teacher herself because her thirst to learn – and to share the learning experience with others – is so great.
And our FETs as Danish female soldiers who have been deployed in Afghanistan – whose very presence as female soldiers is an eye-opening experience – for the Afghan men and boys – and women.

Our challenge now is to learn from these experiences and identify and recommend “best practices” that governments, NGOs, IOs and civil society organizations can use to help more women become involved in processes that help resolve conflict and develop communities and economies in which sustained peace is possible.

The success of this conference depends on you.  The breakout sessions have created interesting discussions – we have one more this morning.  Please make the best  of this opportunity – in the workshops and at the kiosks – to share your thoughts and ideas.

I will see you back here for the closing plenary session.
Thank you for your commitment – for being part of this conference.