On Tuesday January 28th, Reem Hajajreh of the Palestinian Women of the Sun, Yael Braudo-Bahat of Women Wage Peace from Israel, and Hanna Assouline, president of des Guerrières de la Paix, were nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize at the Vrije Universiteit in Amsterdam. Students of the Nobel Peace Prize working group had put their names forward to Wolfgang Wagner, professor of International Security. He is eligible to make nominations for the Nobel Peace Prize.
Women Wage Peace lost its co-founder during Hamas attacks on 7 October. Women of the Sun lost 30 of its members mainly due to the war in Gaza. Despite this, the women called for peace. Reem Hajajreh outlined how she loves her son with all her mother’s heart, and that she hopes she can see him grow old happily. Yael Braudo-Bahat and Reem Hajajreh wrote a ‘Mother’s call’ expressing their desire for a future with peace, freedom, equality and rights for their children and the following generations.
When asked by the audience what can be done to contribute to peace in Israel and Palestine, the women replied that we can ask our political leaders for a place at the negotiating table for them. So here goes. If we really want lasting peace, let us immediately stop sending arms to Israel, but let us ensure that these brave women who long for peace have a place at the negotiating table. They want to work until lasting peace is achieved. This is in line with UN resolution 1325, which called on UN member states to allow more women to participate in peace negotiations. UN Women states in their facts and figures that women’s participation in peace agreements ensures that the chances of a peace agreement lasting at least two years increase by 20%, and the chances of a peace agreement lasting at least 15 years increase by 35%.
I have mentioned Professor Séverine Autesserre’s research before. In Frontlines of Peace, she outlines that it is important to put local people in the driver’s seat when it comes to conflict resolution. After all, they should live with each other, know the country, the culture and the language. An organisation like Standing Together also deserves a place at the negotiating table. They were guests on the TV programme Buitenhof and are also featured in the documentary ‘Resisting for Peace’ by Hanna Assouline, president of des Guerrières de la Paix. This impressive documentary was screened after the nomination. UN Women indicates that peace agreements are 64% less likely to fail if civil society representatives participate.
Furthermore, Yael Braudo-Bahat of Women Wage Peace noted that funds are particularly important. However, Women Wage Peace’s funds have just stopped. I therefore believe that more should be invested in supporting grassroots organisations. As Yael said, peace is underfunded. So let’s not spend more and more money globally on weapons to destroy each other, but work for peace and support each other. And care for nature.
Reem Hajajreh and Yael Braudo-Bahat rightly advocate living in peace, equality, and with rights for their children and future generations. They also put their hearts and souls into t their mission. Hopefully there will soon be: A World Where All Children Can Play.
May-May Meijer, chair Peace SOS
Photo: Professor Wolfgang Wagner, the translator (sorry I don’t remember her name), Reem Hajajreh (Women of the Sun), Yael Braudo-Bahat (Women Wage Peace) and Hanna Assouline (des Guerrières de la Paix) during the nomination ceremony of the Nobel Peace Prize at the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam.
Note 1: This article was published in Dutch under the title ‘Laat Israëlische en Palestijnse grassroots organisaties meebeslissen in vredesonderhandelingen’ on the Joop BNNVARA website on January 22nd 2025.
Note 2: A couple of years ago, Women Wage Peace wrote a blog for the website of Peace SOS. You can read it here: https://peacesos.nl/women-wage-peace-brings-israeli-and-palestinian-women-together/
For more information, see the website of Women Wage Peace and Women of the Sun.
Many thanks to Inge Marit Wielinga of Women of Peace the Hague for raising awareness about the nomination ceremony at the Vrije Universiteit in Amsterdam and for the Mother’s call.