On Saturday, May 3, 2014, Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson hosted the 14th annual ‘A World of Women for World Peace’ conference in Dallas, Texas. There were 200 local citizens, peace activists, and community leaders in attendance.
Every year, hundreds of international peace activists, politicians, and local citizens gather in Dallas to share solutions on how to increase the role of women in bringing peace to areas of conflict and political unrest across the globe. Congresswoman Johnson began ‘A World of Women for World Peace’ to bring greater visibility to victims of war and conflict and to recognize women who are promoting non-violent conflict resolution within their communities.
“I knew that there was something I had to do to prevent the loss of human life,” Congresswoman Johnson said explaining why she began the peace conference. “I turned to women who are natural peacemakers. I know that women have a unique ability to connect to both sides of any conflicts, because they are the mothers; they are the wives, and they are the daughters of the soldiers who are losing their lives in battle. Women can have a powerful influence on the peacemaking process when they are brought to the table.”
This year’s conference featured an esteemed international panel of peace activists. Presenters included Abigail Disney, international peace activist and executive producer of the internationally acclaimed miniseries , Women, War, & Peace, who is also the granddaughter of Walt Disney Company’s founder, Roy Disney.
Additional presenters included: Dr. Dilshad Dayani of World Women Global Council; Rais Bhuiyan of World Without Hate; Saudi Arabian princess and international women’s rights activist, Princess Ameerah Al-Taweel; Judy Chen Hsieh, a television executive and peace activist in Asia, as well as Dilshad Dayani, the founder of the World Women Global Council, a peace advocacy group. WFAA TV 8 anchor, Shon Gables served as moderator.
“My faith dictated to me that I should attempt to save the life of the man who tried to kill me,” said Rais Bhuiyan, a native of Bangladesh, who was left for dead after being shot by a white supremacist after September 11, 2001 attacks.
Bhuiyan, who pleaded with officials for clemency for the man who left him sightless in one eye, was one of four “global peacemakers” who spoke to the conference attendees.
“Women perform quiet and patient work to resolve wars and conflicts around the world… {and} have a special concern for seeing a peaceful world. One of the things that we have never tried is listening to women in our efforts to prevent war and conflict,” said Abigail Disney.
