Unstoppable Women for a World Without Violence

May's Unstoppable Women for a World Without Violence gathering may have been moderate in size, however in terms of the experience, wisdom and issues represented by the the 23 women present, it was HUGE. 

This was so much bigger than our time-slot or agenda could possibly do justice to, and so rich in perspectives and intersections that we - well, okay, I - abandoned the planned agenda and instead allowed the discussion to flex as required. 

At the vortex of conversations about war, peace and violence

In the national context, our meeting followed close on the heels of this year's mammoth Anzac Day/Gallipoli centennial commemoration of the battle of Gallipoli, with its two-way split grieving the costs of war and celebrating the heroism by individuals and groups on behalf of comrades and their country and, out of that, of a national story that positions this battle as defining Australia a nation.  

Internationally, our hearts and vision connected with the centennial of the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom and the international gathering of over 1000 women for the Women's Power to Stop War Conference, held in The Hague. 

And back in Australia once again, May was the start of Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Certainly there is no shortage of data to highlight the growing crisis for women in this country, nor the connections between war, gender inequity and violence against women. 

Every participant that evening brought a unique, personal experience of the violence-to-peace continuum, and in some cases a little-considered take on the matter.  Truly, you'd need to be there to gauge the magnitude, however a few notes taken from the discussion will give an idea.

Whiteboard notes: mapping the terrain

In terms of the bigger picture of time, our event recorded some key messages from the threads and conversations. 

Structural dimensions

• be aware of the forms of violence
• understand root causes and disconnects
• understand and address inequalities

• create gender equality
• challenge the futility of war and the building of a national myth that war defines us
• address domestic violence
• address inequalities
• address the historical and ongoing violence against the traditional owners of this land
• address systemic violence - building gratitude, a nice life for all
• address sex industry violence: punishing the victims
• decriminalise sex purveyors, criminalising the buyers
• build support for victims and emergency accommodation

Community
  

• philosophy for children - build understanding 
• build connectedness with self and others
• work with men and women
• build men against violence momentum
• practise and build compassion / support for Muslims
• Consider how we can connect and not judge
• provide practical immediate and long term support for refugees in our communities
• welcome dinners, continuing practical support, connecting with others
• address disrespect for the languaging of migrants and migrant speakers 
• work with resistance to change 
• support for WAVSS and similar
• spaces and groups for women to not be in victim role
• support for victims and emergency accommodation
• spaces and groups for women to not be in victim role

Peace - the change comes from within

• build survival skills, autonomy 
• build connectedness with self and others
• Consider how we can connect and not judge
• cultivating mindfulness - for self and others
• empathy and compassion
• compassionate conversation / mindful dialogue
• peaceful communication
• connect with own power / knowledge
• open heart policy
• living without worry
• explore what is "choice"
• practising nonviolence in diet

Tools

• awareness
• critical thinking
• compassion and meditation
• mentoring - peer support
• persistence

Examples of lived experience

The experiences of refugees, asylum seekers and migrant speakers of English
Fiona (R: right) is a languages teacher who  spoke of the intersection of deep levels of previous trauma with teaching and learning of a new language for refugees. 
Elina, from Finland, spoke of the enculturated disrespect by resident Australians towards the English spoken by migrant speakers. Suhaila and others spoke of the need to offer community integration support to refugees over many years.
Gender equality and the construction of masculinities
Maria reminded us all of the critical role of gender and the basic requirement for equity. Kat spoke both about issues relating to the practice of surrogacy; and the need to rewrite prostitution laws to target the buyers of sex rather than the providers. Alanah spoke powerfully about the role of DVConnect and the Shimmy Mob. 

It was quickly clear that domestic violence had been the experience for many women in the room. We wouldn't have known had we not been having a conversation exactly on that topic.

Peace begins at home
From practising nonviolence in our diet by eating without killing, and ensuring that our animals and pets are treated fairly, through to and others and teaching philosophy for children in our schools and homes, there are a myriad of ways we can each make a difference towards peace.
Connecting with the global Women's Power to Stop War conference
A highlight of the evening was beaming in Brisbane woman Kerry McGovern who was attending the international WILPF meeting for a first hand report on global thinking and the actions needed to end war. More on this in future blog posts, following the Australian conference on this same theme in late May.

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Thoughts for daily practice ...

• Cultivate mindfulness
  
• Practise compassionate conversation and an open heart policy in all ways
  
• Make a difference - from small daily actions through to large changes.
  
• Undertake positive action in any sphere - create a ripple effect. 
  

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Sample of what women liked most about the evening: Meeting with awesome women ... Non judgemental, open, real conversations, variety of women and input ... an enlightening and essential experience ... Women only space ...

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