Rita Brudnik-Erlich (WWP) and Reem Hajajreh (WOS) in Women Peacemakers in the Middle East Conference, at The University of Milan

Recently, Rita Brudnik from Women Wage Peace and Reem Hajajreh from Women of the Sun, represented the 2 movements at a conference “Women Peacemakers in the Middle East” at Milan University-Bicocca

https://www.unimib.it/eventi/donne-pace-medio-oriente

Rita Brudnik reports:

The conference at Bicocca University in Milan on “Women Making Peace in the Middle East” focused on women’s roles in peace processes in Afghanistan, Syria, and Israel-Palestine.

The Israel-Palestine panel, moderated by Professor Adolfo Ceretti, an expert in mediation and reconciliation processes, included Reem Hajajreh from Women of the Sun, Dr. Manal Totry-Jubran, and myself – Rita Brudnik from Women Wage Peace. The panel addressed the statement “There is no peace in the Middle East” – sometimes a cliché but often a reality. Nevertheless, beneath the surface, through quiet diplomacy and house-to-house mediation, there is real movement, where women play a key role.

The conference drew significant public attention, with all seats – over 150 – completely filled. Attendees included students, the general public, and journalists from regional and national Italian media outlets, including radio, television, and print media covering the event. Among those present was Shulamit Asif, a longtime Women Wage Peace activist living in Milan, who shared with the audience how to leverage and promote peace processes and possibilities for supporting and strengthening ties between sides even from afar.

The strongest resonance centered on our panel’s message – that women are not just biological mothers but also political actors, with social responsibility toward both our Israeli and Palestinian communities. Our maternal call carries no language of blame or victory but focuses on bringing life, security, and peace to both peoples in our region, while maintaining mutual respect.

After the panel, audience members approached us to express gratitude and deep appreciation for our work. Many noted the importance of understanding the complexity of our reality, beyond media screens that present a one-dimensional black-and-white picture. Some asked how they could support and assist, while others described the evening as a “night of hope” – an opportunity to hear about the conflict through an unfamiliar, human perspective.

Media Coverage: