With the title “Women advancing democracy” five Nobel Peace laureates took part in a panel at the World Summit of Nobel Laureates in Barcelona: Dr. Shirin Ebadi, Tawakkol Karman, Prof. Jody Williams, Mairead Corrigan Maguire, Betty Williams together with a representative from the UN, Cristina Gallach.
The Yemeni, Tawakkol Karman made a call for reflections about what is happening in the Middle East where, in her words, in just one and half years IS has grown surprisingly.
Jody Williams commented on an initiative by an organisation of women for peace that will soon visit European countries where there a large number of Syrian refugees can be found such as Croatia and Slovenia.
Shirin Ebadi warned of the importance of a struggle by women. In a society such as Iran the government knows that if women achieve their demands it will the first step towards democracy and the abolition of the Islamic regime.
The Irishwoman, Mairead Corrigan Maguire reported on the action that is going to take place in Syria. Invited by the Syrian Patriarch, they are going to call for peace and reconciliation.
Her countrywoman, Betty Williams thought that the role of women is crucial. Women should displace men a little and take the reins of the work for peace. In this direction they work with the Peace City Foundation which welcomes child refugees.
The UN representative, Cristina Gallach agreed that the UN had not achieved its objectives either in the field of peace or in the field of gender equality.
Text Pilar Paricio / Video Raquel Paricio
