Role of civil society/women in Mideast peace process – EC press release/Non-UN document

Role of civil society and women in the Middle East peace process

Anna Diamantopoulou met Hanan Ashrawi, head and founder of 'Miftah' (Initiative for the Promotion of Global Dialogue and Democracy) on the role of civil society and women in the Middle East peace process

Anna Diamantopoulou, European Commissioner for gender equality, met this morning Dr Hanan Ashrawi, a leading Palestinian civil society activist and Member of the Palestinian Legislative Council, to try to push the role of women in the Middle East peace process. Ms Diamantopoulou reported on her recent exploratory visit to Israel and the Palestinian Territories where she saw the living conditions of ordinary people at first hand. She also met representatives of 40 civil society organisations. Ms Diamantopoulou's message is that the EU should do more to support the role of women in peacemaking, in particular by encouraging women's full participation in projects under the EU's Partnership for Peace initiative. Ms Diamantopoulou also questioned Dr Ashrawi about employment and equal rights for women in the Palestinian Territories.