Women’s Federation for World Peace NZ
Report on the Annual Global Women’s Peace Network Assembly held from 2.30pm, Saturday, 19th October 2019 at the Parnell Peace Embassy, Auckland, New Zealand
Theme: The Role of Women in the Challenges of Our Time
The MC, Mrs Matapa Shelley, welcomed and thanked everyone for giving up their
Saturday afternoon to attend the meeting. There were about 30 women attending and
about four men, seated at round tables in the room. Matapa introduced Felicity Cairns
as the President of the Women’s Federation for World Peace New Zealand as the first
speaker.
Felicity addressed the theme with a focus on the role of women as caretakers within the family and the challenges families face. Women are the primary caretakers of children and elders in every country of the world. International studies demonstrate that when the economy and political organizations of a society change, women take the lead in helping the family adjust to new realities and challenges. They are likely to be the prime initiator of external assistance, and play an important role in facilitating changes and challenges in family life.
Some of the challenges families face is: abuse, addiction, divorce, parenting, grief,
hardship, illness and sexuality issues. To assist families in these challenges women
have a unique ability to provide care, guidance and love to alleviate the tension and
stress that goes hand in hand with these challenges. For example as women we have 9
prominent roles in our lifetime that we can utilise to minimize or prevent the
breakdown of the family. We can be seen as a sister, a friend, a wife, a daughter–in –
law, a mother, a professional, a mother-in-law and a grandmother. It is a scientifically
proven fact that a female’s body is equipped with hormones that make her more
sensitive and emotional, than a man and therefore make us more empathetic and
loving, suited to making a loving home and creating peace in the home, community,
nation and the world.
Our next speaker was Geraldine Henderson, the youngest member of the National
Council of Women, founded by suffragette Kate Sheppard. The National Council of
Women works to overcome the inequalities of gender and race. They write submissions to Parliament to ensure the voice of women is heard in the decision making. Change is very slow though. Discrimination is more subtle today. Women will be more affected by challenges and issues of our time. Data and Social Media exert most influence today.
The next speaker was Mrs Zabila Khan, President of the Ahmadiyya Muslim
Women’s Association NZ. She was born in Pakistan but grew up in New Zealand.
She majored in biology and immunology, but now looks after family and farm in
Bombay. She said that the challenges of our time occur because of the denial of
human rights. The right to education, life, liberty and security is threatened by terror.
The depletion of natural resources threatens the future of our children. Women can
preserve the human race by their love and affection, able to melt the hardest of souls.
Mohammed said that Paradise lies at the feet of the mother. Mothers are the first
teachers of the children and can teach respect, empathy and living for the sake of
others. Woman is the unsung heroine. We hold the fate of mankind in our hands. Let
us not emulate men, but use our love and purity to usher in the age of Universal
Peace.
Ms. Tara Singh was the next speaker. She is a philanthropist and a public advocate
for women, children, animals and the environment. She is also an executive member
of UN Women Aoteroa NZ Auckland Branch, an organisation that addresses issues of
gender equality and empowerment of women. She feels that women are the key to
unlocking and solving the challenges of our time. Although few women are involved
in security, the resulting peace agreements, with women involved, are more likely to
succeed.
Peace starts with us. This requires compassion for others and us. Compassion is
empathy for an unjust serious situation. Recent studies from the USA are looking at
the dualism of co-operation, as in the Buddhist ideas of yin and yang. Yin is like the
softness of the most loving grandmother, while Yang is like the tiger protecting our
self and others. Soft and fierce need to be in harmony. We need to embody both the
soft and fierce in our compassion. We need to create space for men and women to embrace the yin and yang of their natures. We can access more articles and research
published by the UN by joining up.
After the speakers, the Japanese volunteers entertained us with a song and dance. The
MC concluded the event by acknowledging other Women leaders in the Audience, Ms
Violet Noel from Shakti NZ and Mrs Ruth Cleaver, President of the Auckland
Interfaith Council and by getting us all together for a group photo. Felicity thanked
everyone again for coming and invited us to stay for afternoon tea.
Everyone stayed to talk for quite a while afterwards. It was a very worthwhile
occasion and an opportunity to meet new people and make new friends. We got to
sing along to the guitar as well.
Report compiled by Felicity Cairns.
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