INTERVIEW: with Carla Koppell-Women as Peacemakers

Peace talks between Israel and the Palestinian Authority continued this week with little progress made. Essentially, the talks are between two men, Binyamin Netanyahu and Mahmoud Abbas, who are ideologically aligned in very different directions.

It was with this background that I read an interesting blog about the potential of women as participants in the Israeli-Palestinian peace talks. I have always known of the power of women in the peace movement. After all, the peace in Northern Ireland was initiated by women and the emergence of democracy in Liberia was driven by women seeking peace. The blog turned me to the Institute of Inclusive Security, which is a project of the Hunt Alternative Fund. The Institute uses research, training, and advocacy to promote the inclusion of all stakeholders, particularly women, in peace processes. It works with a global network of well over 1,000 women leaders from more than 40 conflict regions

Carla Koppell directs The Institute for Inclusive Security and the Washington, D.C. office of Hunt Alternatives Fund. In that role, she works extensively with women and civil society leaders from conflict areas worldwide including the Middle East, Iraq, Sudan, and Uganda. Over the last 20 years, Carla has held a number of positions in and out of government focused on various aspects of international peace and peace building. She received her master's degree in public policy from the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard and her bachelor's degree from Cornell University.

I start the conversation by asking Carla her views on why women have been excluded from peace processes. She tells us that the fundamental reason is that most peace processes bring together men who have been at war with each other. Because men bear arms, they are invited to the peace table, and women are excluded.

Emerging research is demonstrating that the more inclusive the peace process, the more sustainable peace will be. This research supports the idea that women should be included at the peace table as participants and negotiators. Carla gives us examples such as women in Sudan who found a place at the peace table. The issues they brought to the table were issues the men were not even thinking about which included basic needs such as fuel and water gathering. Carla tells us that no matter what the culture, women play an important role. Thus, even in Sudan, the men agreed to having women at the table to discuss "women's" issues.

I ask Carla how the Institute gains entry into conflicts, and she tells us that sometimes people contact the Institute. However, the Institute sponsors the Women's Peace Network, a group of 1000 women leaders around the world, which provides a powerful source of connection.

Carla gives us an example of a woman in Pakistan working against religious extremism. She works with mothers to de-radicalize their sons working in very traditional ways that are culturally appropriate. Every tradition and culture allows for women to be peacemakers and peace builders.

I ask about the policy of the United States towards women as peacemakers. Carla says that there is more rhetoric in favor of including women in peace processes. However, foreign-policy experts and diplomats continue to argue that the peace process is too fragile for women to participate. This is why, Carla says, the Institute for Inclusive Security, includes in its mission advocacy for women as peacemakers.

I ask Carla about the nature of the training that the Institute provides. She tells us that training gives women knowledge about peacemaking and mediation, teaches them how to become advocates for peace within their cultures and countries, and teaches them culturally appropriate ways to intervene in conflict. In many cases, the Institute trains trainers within countries with the hope of seeding a global movement of peace.

A listener e-mails in a question asking if the Institute was affiliated with Women Waging Peace. Carla says that the Institute and Women Waging Peace are the same, and that the name was changed several years ago to reflect the need of women to be involved in security. Another listener e-mails in a question asking if men will pay attention to women? Carla points out that in Afghanistan, hundreds of women are running for political office, and elections will be this weekend. Women in Afghanistan are proving to be a powerful force for peace. Likewise, in Liberia, women ended the civil wars and elected a woman as president.

I ask Carla how the Institute for Inclusive Security is funded. Carla tells us that the Institute is a project of the Hunt Alternative Fund, which is a family foundation.

We talk about the importance of adding women to the peace process. Carla observes that women bring different issues to the table that are often ignored or not even thought about by men. The issues that women bring forward to the peace table will often make the peace more sustainable and more durable. She points to the work in Northern Ireland as an example of how women's issues deepened and strengthened the peace process. A listener e-mails in a question asking, "Isn't this just liberal white Americans telling other people how to live?" Carla responds by saying that the work of the Institute is to animate a discussion on how to give women a larger voice in peacemaking. I respond to the question by pointing out that women constitute half or more of the human population. By numbers alone, they have a right to be at the table.

I ask how people can become involved with the Institute for Inclusive Security. Carla asks that people contact her through the website www.huntalternatives.org . You can listen to the show at The Doug Noll Show.