FROM THE HEART OF BELFAST TO THE HEART OF JERUSALEM
Since November 2020, the Herstory Education Trust has collaborated with the Jerusalem Centre for Women to co-create Movement and the Parallel Peace Project. In a time of heightened conflict, in areas besieged by violence, the project turns attention to peace building and the hope of resolution, by platforming and facilitating voices both currently affected by conflict and Northern Irish voices who have taken part in peace building during the Troubles.
The project's objective is to deconstruct the polarising rhetorics that define this era and co-create a new future inspired by the fundamental fact: we are one humanity. The pandemic is a reminder that borders and nationalities are fabrications that conceal our common humanity. From the heart of Belfast to the heart of Jerusalem, this is a chance for the students and women to share messages of hope, peace and wisdom.
THE ONLY VICTORY IS PEACE
Ireland has a painful history of colonialism, racism, famine, poverty, civil war, terrorism and mass emigration. We share these experiences with the ‘New Irish’, immigrants who have joined our communities from all corners of the world. Today children are born in a new Ireland that is emerging as a peaceful, progressive, multi-cultural society - a beacon of hope and proof of humanity’s potential to heal our histories and rewrite the future.
This short film by Peter Martin follows the journey of a little girl and her paper dove as she voyages through history, innocently witnessing the moments that have shaped our world, captured in powerful illuminations on women and iconic buildings. On her journey she meets awe-inspiring women’s rights and peace activists from Somalia, Kenya, Syria and Libya.
“The involvement of the Jerusalem Centre for Women in the Movement and Parallel Peace Project stems from our belief in building peace with all nations. We look forward to building the state of Palestine on a par with neighbouring countries based on peace and security and in accordance with the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325, which advocates protecting women in conflict zones.”
The names of Khadijah, Mary and Rachel - Mothers of the Muslim, Christian and Jewish faiths - created by renowned Palestinian calligrapher Saher Kabi for the Parallel Peace Project. All three world religions have a treasured foundational connection with the ancient city of Jerusalem. On #MothersDay we remember that all these religions share the core philosophy of love. We honour the essential role of women in peacebuilding, women who courageously rise above fear and division to co-create a peaceful future for all.
THE FIRST SUPPER
Northern Irish Artist and Belfast School of Art student Rebecca Lively created a powerful new mural named ‘The First Supper’ with portraits and parallel life stories of Northern Irish, Palestinian and Israeli peace and community activists, including the voices of women and youth who are often missing from the table at peace-building talks. There’s one place left at the table posing the question; “Who’s voice needs to be heard?” This time the art inspires the real future event and the activists are invited to meet together for the ‘First Supper.’ Click here and discover their incredible stories.
These include portraits of Bassam Aramin and Rami Elhanan. Bassam lost his 10 year old daughter when she was shot by an Israeli border policeman outside her school, and Rami lost his daughter in an explosion caused by two Palestinian suicide bombers. They are both members of the Parents Circle and have become close friends and advocates of peace in the region and across the world. Discover their extraordinary humanity.
EMPOWERING THE VOICES OF YOUTH
Students from Terra Sancta High School of Jerusalem and Hazelwood Integrated College in Belfast participated in a school workshop, sharing their experiences of conflict and dreams for peace in powerful art. We wanted to give the platform to young people, to speak their truth and empower their voices.
““Creating the Parallel Peace Project has been a heartbreaking and heart-opening process. The Herstory team listened to the women and youth, learning about the reality of the Occupation and how it impacts on the lives of the Palestinian people. Stories emerged of the Israeli soldiers who have left the military with psychological disturbances, tormented by their treatment of the Palestinians, with the return of their humanity. Hope rose when we heard about the thousands of Israeli and Palestinian women who are leading the movement together for justice, equality and peace. In fact, ALLMEP (Alliance for Middle East Peace) has over 150 member NGOs that are dedicated to equality and peace between Israelis and Palestinians. The highlight was the school workshop when we were awe-struck by the Palestinian students’ courage in the face of daily discrimination, their compassionate messages for Israeli students and their hopes for a peaceful future and harmonious co-existence. All key narratives that are rarely captured in the international media.””
EMPOWERING WOMEN PEACE-BUILDERS
Since 2019, Herstory has documented and championed the inspirational stories of the peace heroines who were instrumental in the Northern Irish peace process. The highlight of the 2020 Herstory Light Festival was a historic moment when Belfast City Hall illuminated in honour of the peace heroines with new portraits created by students and artists across Ulster. The role of women in the NI peace process is a key United Nations case study, however this story is not taught on the school curriculums in Northern Ireland or the Republic. Herstory’s objective is to rewrite the textbooks and write herstory into history. There are many mirrors to the Northern Irish and Israeli / Palestinian stories. The photos below capture the parallel stories of the women peace and justice activists in Northern Ireland and the Middle East.
“The Jerusalem Centre for Women strongly believes that women are key agents to achieve peace, social cohesion, and political legitimacy. We believe in the importance of women’s role in developing communities. Through our own experience as well as the exchange of experiences with other countries worldwide, we can undoubtedly say that women are the leaders of change in the revolutions around the world.””
The Movement project features the parallel life stories of 6 Palestinian women. Discover their stories: Rula Salameh & Sima Kuhail, Nijmeh Al-Atshan & Ghada Al-Atshan Shkoukani, Ibtisam Barakat and Fatme Chhayber.
Award-winning Palestinian film-maker Rula Salameh made this short documentary film for the Movement project, capturing the inter-generational life stories of two Palestinian women.
Women are deeply affected by the impacts of war and conflict, often being disproportionately affected by gender based violence, trafficking, and familial separation. Yet they are often excluded from the peace-building process. Research shows that achieving gender equality helps to prevent conflict and when women are involved in peace-building, the probability that violence will end increases by 24%. Peace agreements that involve women are 35% more likely to last at least 15 years. However, a report by UN Women revealed that only 4% of participants in peace processes were women.
In 2000, the UN Security Council made the landmark resolution 1325, which for the first time, enshrined the essential role of women in securing and maintaining peace. From this resolution, activists, academics, and policymakers began to address the specific "burden of war" women carry and how the international community could protect and empower them.
Advocates for greater female representation say that women are essential because they bring a more comprehensive peace plan to the negotiating table by addressing societal needs rather than solely focusing on what will make the warring parties happy. Local women from the conflict are vital for creating a lasting peace agreement.
Crossing borders
As part of the Parallel Peace Project, Herstory commissioned a Northern Irish poet to create almost a conversation through poetry - words of solidarity and peace from Northern Ireland to the world. The result was Crossing Borders by Nandi Jola.
Crossing Borders
The line can be crossed
Walls can come down
Sky was never the limit
Just, infinite.
Sea
A world of life
Land
Opens itself to us
With it's underground antennas
Connecting and breathing us in and out
Coded messages on tree trunks
Birds
Taking flight and Landing
Hear
The silence of roses
See
The seasons change
The ebb of a bud
Springing into life.
There was never a right time to look at regret
Peace
Is never too late,
Turned away
Or
Unwanted.
I want us to hold our hearts
Embrace change
For,
We are dust
Moulded breath
In fear
Inhaling the world
In our senses
We feed the brain.
Borders worth crossing
Sky
A landmark of flight
Invisible
Like sea
Land
Inconceivable world
Below the surface
Olive branch,
For us
Into the cycle of infinite
Existence of hope.
““When you taste peace and you have the prize of peace, there is no going back.””
The Parallel Peace Project is a Herstory Education Trust project created in collaboration with our partners and funders.
