Maria Riehl, WFWPI UN Representative Vienna, informed the delegates and made a celebration for the UN Day of the Family.

87 women, delegates from 14 countries in Europe, participated, discussing : EDUCATION FOR A CULTURE OF PEACE-INVESTING IN PARTNERSHIPS AND TRANSFORMING OUR SOCIETY”

Esperanza Bautista, a Catholic Theologian and Lawyer, expressed that ‘in the same way that the feminization of poverty has been recognized, women have to work with the aim of creating a process of feminization of peace’.

Lan Y. Moon-Pak, conveyed her thanks to the WFWP Europe chapter Presidents and representatives gathered.

Lois Herman, a brilliant woman, the coordinator for Women’s UN Report, Network, personally and thoroughly committed to peace, gave an inspiring talk

Carolyn Handschin, WFWPI Vice-President  newly designated to Europe delivered words of encouragement and then Marcia de Abreu, WFWP Spain President, welcomed everyone, requesting :‘Structural, effective collaboration and partnership both within WFWP as well as other organizations to activate concrete social projects ’.

Saturday Session 1, was entitled Dignity in human relationships as a  cornerstone for a culture of peace, with Ingrid LIndemann explaining the importance of first granting dignity to ourselves as women. Its time to cherish ourselves she said, and realise that we possess special values, capabilities and talents which our society desperately needs. Raising awareness about and “living our dignity” are the first steps of any further steps, the cornerstone for the creation of a “culture of peace”. She continued to say that a culture of peace can only come about when both aspects, masculine and feminine, work with each other on an equal-value basis.

Contribution to Women´s dignity was presented by Dr. Isabel Costa Where does dignity start? It starts within ME. And how does it start? By knowing who AM I. As a doctor of alternative therapies she explained how our thoughts and emotions, if they are negative, all kind of diseases can appear in our bodies. She continued to say, that whatever we give to the world will come back, like a boomerang and that gratitude is the key that opens up the doors and gives us power.

Session 2: Understanding Gender Differences for Mutually Enhancing Cooperative Relationships- Christine Sato

One of the biggest mistakes Mrs. Sato mentioned is to expect that someone of the other gender will react or behave in the same way that we ourselves do. From the book of John Gray “Men are from Mars – Women from Venus” she pointed out the difference between man and woman. She said, that studies have confirmed, that companies with a mixed (male and female) management achieve better results then those which have only male executives. She believes that the desired gender equality will occur automatically as soon we women discover the unique qualities of our female nature and learn how to live it out to its fullest potential.

Session 3:Acquiring the skills, attitude and perspective within the couple to build a culture of peace around us

Mr. And Mrs. Sattlberger spoke about the importance of non-violent communication and explained about the CHIP-Program (Chip – Constellation of Heart centred Inner Processes) ‘We always have 2 ways to cope with problems, either we blame ourselves or we blame our partner. What we need she said is an alternative and we have to get in contact with our feelings, with the needs and longings behind. Frustration always comes up when a certain desire in my heart is not met.’

Mother-Daughter-Relationships and Women`s Power Circles – Rosjke Hasseldine

Mrs. Hasseldine spoke how vital the mother-daughter relationship is, stating :’Half of  the world’s population is a daughter, every female is part of three generations of women, a daughters first image of what it means to be female is her mother’. Furthermore she said that every woman and girl deserves to be surrounded by a loving circle of females. Every woman and girl deserves to be heard, valued and respected, and to know that anything less is just not okay. Women learn best about themselves and each other when sharing openly and freely in mutually supportive groups.

In the afternoon a Visit of UNESCO World Heritage EL ESCORIAL

Coming back in the early evening, Session 4 Women in the process of creating peace, Societal transformation towards a Culture of Peace

Carolyn Handschin told as about her work in the UN. Human Rights and women’s rights.

Mrs. Lois Herman, WUNRUN, Women and the Human Right to Peace spoke about many ongoing conflicts, expressing  that many may be on our doorstep , however a shocking general  disinterest is to be found.

Session 5: was a short Panel, moderated by Ann Schaffner,  with working groups on the following themes:

-Developing caring partnerships through bridges of peace: Dr. Maja Riehl

-War and Women in Congo:  Aline Afazali

-Partnership Skills:  Kurt and Bernadette Sattlberger

-Circles of Empowerment: R. Hasseldine

-Social projects as caring partnerships: Patricia Earle

-Dignity of beauty, caring education for our youth: Christine Sato

-Alliances for peace as caring partnerships among NGOs: Carolyn Handschin

The conclusions were summarized by Lilly Gundacker.

On Saturday evening Tina Coombs prepared a memorial ceremony for Ester Calovkova, the late WFWP Slovakia President, who had passed away in February 2011.

Sunday morning, Session 6: with WFWPI President Lan YM Pak, who spoke of her family’s escape from North Korea to the South. Since then she travelled many times to North Korea to unite with her relatives, and is a member of the Korean North South Dialogue process, as well as the initiator of the WFWPI 1% Love sharing charity action to support needy people, in North Korea.

Thanks need to be given to Mrs. Marcia de Abreu , who worked intensively over the 6 months prior to the conference.

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(The program consisted of 8 sessions in which the speakers talked about: ‘Dignity in Human relationships as cornerstone for a culture of peace’ by Ingrid Lindemann and Dra. Isabel Costa; ‘Understanding gender differences for mutually enhancing, cooperative relations’ by Christine Sato and Bernarda Jiménez;  ‘Acquiring the skills, attitude and perspective within the couple to build a culture of peace around us’ by Bernadette and Kurt Sattlberger, with the Heart Power Program and Rosjke Hasseldine, with Mother-Daughter Relationships; ‘Women in the process of creating peace societal transformation towards a culture of peace’ by Carolyn Handschin and Lois Herman, WUNRN coordinator.)