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Sign the Manifesto for a Culture of Peace

http://www3.unesco.org/manifesto2000/uk/uk_6points.htm

Click here to sign the Gaza Peace Petition.

VOW Statement: Ending the Crisis in Gaza - Building Peace in the Middle East

We, the Canadian Voice of Women for Peace (VOW), a non-partisan NGO comprised of women from across Canada and around the world, call for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. We urge all involved parties in the region to come to the peace table without delay.

Recognizing that the present violence in the region arises from a deep-rooted history of violence begetting violence, we are strongly convinced that a peace process is the only solution and that polarizing the conflict gains nothing. At the same time, the extreme humanitarian crisis which exists and is growing in Gaza demands immediate action now.

We call on the Canadian government to do its utmost to support ongoing demands for a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, and to use its diplomatic influence with all parties to respect humanitarian law, human rights, and the Geneva Conventions. We especially urge the Prime Minister and Foreign Affairs officials to encourage the new Obama administration to do all in its influence to bring a lasting peace to the Middle East, and to assist in any diplomatic way possible with furthering nonviolence, peacebuilding and humanitarian approaches in the region.

We remind the Canadian government and the UN Security Council to ensure that women, who promote peace, from all parties involved in the Gaza crisis, are at the decision-making table in accordance with Article 1 of Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security (2000) which “Urges member states to ensure increased representation of women at all decision-making levels in national, regional and international institutions and mechanisms for the prevention, management, and resolution of conflict.”

We further urge the international community, and especially the United Nations Security Council, to continue to work toward a ceasefire, and to ensure that combatants on both sides of the conflict respect international humanitarian law, human rights and the Geneva Conventions.

SIGN THE GAZA PEACE PETITION NOW

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Donations to help further the work of VOW are always welcome! If you are interested in becoming a member of VOW, please click here for more information.