As an intersectional feminist organisation committed to advancing the health, well-being, and safety of women, children and their communities, WHISE is deeply concerned about all the ongoing wars and armed conflicts across the world. It is crucial to acknowledge the disproportionate impact that power imbalances and access to military weapons have in perpetuating violence and abuse, affecting people’s ability to live peaceful lives.
Armed conflicts have far-reaching consequences beyond direct casualties. They result in displacement, limited access to essential healthcare (including sexual and reproductive health services), and enduring intergenerational trauma stemming from sexual violence. Rape and sexual violence are often used as tools of genocide, terrorising and controlling communities while reinforcing patriarchal norms.
As advocates for women’s health and well-being in Melbourne’s South Eastern region, we stand in solidarity with global women’s peace movements. Recognising gender power dynamics as underlying factors in perpetuating war, we challenge entrenched notions of masculinity associated with violence and domination. By doing so, we pave the way for more inclusive and sustainable peace processes.
Understanding war as a patriarchal system underscores how gender intersects with other aspects of identity and power dynamics, shaping the experiences of survivors and perpetrators alike. By challenging patriarchal norms and addressing the gendered dimensions of genocide, we can strive towards justice, healing, and reconciliation for all affected communities.
While we welcome the recent United Nations Security Council’s ceasefire resolution, we echo the appeals of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women, calling for this to be sustained – to halt violence and prevent further loss of lives and infrastructure. We advocate for constructive peace dialogues that involve the leadership and decision-making of all powers who are at war with each other, to pave the way for lasting peace and security for all peoples, and especially women and their children.”