Nezha Sadik, a researcher and consultant on gender studies and communication and co-founder of the Women for Diversity and Peace, announced that they have launched an initiative named “Women and Coexistence.” Mentioning women’s role in peace processes, she said, “Peace is not possible in an unequal world, and society cannot develop without women's rights.”

HENAN HARIT

Morocco- Nezha Sadik, a researcher, and consultant on gender studies and communication and co-founder of the Women for Diversity and Peace, announced that they have launched an international initiative named “Women and Coexistence,” on November 1 to increase women’s participation in peace processes. We asked questions to Nezha Sadik about women’s role in peace processes, coexistence, and how NGOs in Morocco can contribute to change in the country.

You launched an international initiative named “Women and Coexistence,” on November 1. Could you please give information about this initiative?

The Initiative for Women and Coexistence is an online activity group. The aim of the initiative is to reveal the fundamental role of women in peace and coexistence. We also aim to use all available digital tools to share the stories of people in order to inspire women of different origins and to explain that the concept of borders in NGOs is now different.

Could you tell us how you decided to launch this initiative?

The initiative was launched in two contexts. The first context is to support the works of women’s organizations, which aims to shed light on the role of women and spread a culture of equality, as key contributors to the peace and coexistence process, the projects of IFA, an international cultural relations organization based in Germany to promote peaceful and enriching coexistence between people and cultures worldwide, and the works of the Women for Diversity and Peace working on women’s issues in Morocco. The aim of the Women for Diversity and Peace is to spread a culture of equality and support among Moroccan women. The second context is to support all women who call for the use of all digital tools during the Covid-19 pandemic.

What kinds of activities are being carried out for women's participation in the peace processes?

There are some associations directed by women to create some change in society and support women. These associations try to hold programs to raise awareness against violence. We also try to create a culture saying that peace is not possible in an unequal world, and society cannot develop without women's rights.

How can women contribute to the peace process differently from men?

When we talk about the role of women in peace processes, we don’t ignore the role of men. In today's society, women are still influential in terms of history and reality. If women secure all their rights without distinction or exception, the people of the world can play an important role as members of society in creating strategies and taking steps for economic and social development.

What does your organization offer for the role of women in creating social peace?

Our organization tries to support women in every sense and to spread the culture of peace. It carried out its first project in 2019. Since the foundation of the organization in 2018, we have been focusing on basic concepts of education. Education affects people and it can affect societies to ensure gender equality and build peace in the world. A peace without women's empowerment is meaningless. Because women are the cornerstones of peace.

The initiative was launched in cooperation with partners from other countries. Could you tell us more about these partners?

The Initiative for Women and Coexistence is the fruit of the cooperation between German Foundation IIK Göttingen and the Women for Diversity and Peace with the support of the IFA. The importance of cooperation in the exchange of experiences between the two organizations in the areas of women, media, pluralism, and peace is obvious. It also contributes to the production of videos to convey messages and ideas promoting the role of women in peace processes.

Do you want to send any message to Moroccan women and society?

I want to tell women that they should believe in themselves. They should not allow any external factor to underestimate their existence. I call on them to participate in creating a space in order to raise a healthy generation to guarantee equality for both genders. Moroccan women such as Zaynab an-Nafzawiyyah, Sayyida al-Hurra, and our mothers have played an important role in the revival of ancient and modern societies and raising generations. For this reason, they should stay at home.