Dear Peacemaker,<\/p>\n
After three years of horrendous fighting, a death toll now exceeding 100,000 and more than seven million Syrians forced to leave their homes, Syrian peace talks will finally take place in Montreux, Switzerland, on January 22, 2014.<\/p>\n
In response, a coalition of women\u2019s groups have launched Women Lead to Peace<\/i><\/b><\/span><\/a><\/span>, a global alliance of women and male allies calling for an immediate ceasefire in Syria, greater humanitarian aid for the refugees and displaced, and the full participation of women at the peace negotiations. The group will be mobilizing a physical presence in Montreux from January 20-22.<\/p>\n Lakhdar Brahimi, the UN and Arab League Special Envoy to Syria, continues to ignore the call by prominent international organizations for women to be fully represented at the peace table. Resolution 1325 states that the United Nations must recognize the important role of women in the prevention and resolution of conflicts and promote their equal participation in all efforts to maintain and promote of peace and security.<\/p>\n Women\u2014and male supporters\u2014will arrive in Montreux by January 20, 2014 to plan and learn from each other. On January 21, we will hold a Summit with testimonies from Syrian women and humanitarian aid workers, testimonies from women from countries that made the transition from war to peace (such as Liberia, Ireland, Bosnia, Rwanda) and testimonies from Arab women who have been leaders in non-violent struggles in countries such as Egypt and Tunisia. The summit will end by modeling what the next day could and should look like. \u00a0On January 22, the day of the official peace talks, participants will be inside and out with creative, beautiful and exciting protests.<\/p>\n We are writing to you today because we would love for you to be involved in this initiative. This invitation is open to all peace-loving people. You can join or endorse as organizations or as individuals. You can support this effort locally and\/or join the activities in Montreux.<\/p>\n The people of Syria have suffered too much, for too long. Let’s show them that we will take a stand to end the violence and alleviate the hardships they are enduring.<\/p>\n Please endorse this call. Other endorsers include WILPF Secretary General Madeleine Rees, CODEPINK Cofounders Jodie Evans and Medea Benjamin, MADRE Executive Director Yifat Susskind, Nobel Women\u2019s Initiative Executive Director Liz Bernstein, Kavinna Till Kavinna Secretary General Lena Ag, Karama CEO Hibaaq Osman, European Union former Vice President Luisa Morgantini, Nobel Peace Prize winner Mairead Maguire, V-Day Founder Eve Ensler, Actress Geena Davis, Comedian and Producer Roseanne Barr, Global Fund for Women, We are the XX, Women Under Siege, Peace People\u2019s Ann Patterson, The Square Director Jehane Noujaim, Chicken and Egg Pictures\u2019 Julie Parker Benello, Institute for Policy Studies\u2019 Phyllis Bennis, Embrey Foundation President Lauren Embrey, Journalist Chris Hedges and Center for Constitutional Rights\u2019 President emeritus Michael Ratner.<\/p>\n Please choose any of the following options and respond to Perrine at Perrine.codepink@gmail.com<\/a> or Alli at Alli@codepink.org<\/a>.<\/p>\n Endorsements for Women Lead to Peace: Call for a Ceasefire in Syria, More Humanitarian Aid and Women at the Peace Table<\/b><\/p>\n ___ Yes, I support Women Lead to Peace. (org or individual or both)<\/p>\n Name, contact info, organizational affiliation (if any)_____________________________<\/p>\n ________________________________________________________________________<\/p>\n ___Yes, I will join you in Switzerland on January 20-22.<\/p>\n ____I can finance my own way.<\/p>\n ____I will need financial support.<\/p>\n ____Sorry I can\u2019t join you in Switzerland.<\/p>\n Thank you for your support!<\/p>\n The CODEPINK team & Women Lead to Peace partners<\/p>\n