From the 20-22 May 2008, women’s groups from Israel and Palestine gathered for a conference. The meeting was organized by Kvinna till Kvinna and held in Jordan. Jordan was chosen as the location because Israeli groups could not travel into Palestinian territory and Palestinian groups could not travel into Israel from Gaza or the West Bank. The meeting between the Israeli and Palestinian groups served to open discussion on issues that women face in both societies. The subjects included discrimination, militarism and sexual violence. The groups are partner organizations with Kvinna till Kvinna, an NGO that funds women’s groups in post-conflict countries.

Kvinna till Kvinna works in the Western Balkans, the Middle East and the South Caucuses and collaborates with partner organizations to invest in peace. Kvinna till Kvinna “regards gender equality, sustainable peace and progress as inseparable.”

KWN’s Executive Director Igballe Rogova was invited by Kvinna till Kvinna to attended the conference and speak about the activities of the KWN. Igo spoke about the methods KWN used to monitor the implementation of Resolution 1325 and on the development of the Women’s Peace Coalition.

“In the week leading up to 8 March, representatives of KWN and Kosovo Women’s Lobby (KWL) appeared in more than fifteen electronic and print media (e.g., televised talk shows, news articles) with Kosovo-wide audiences where they increased citizens’ awareness about UNSCR 1325 and its importance for including more women in decision-making, especially during negotiations concerning Kosovo’s final political status.”
On the second day of the conference, a video documenting the Women’s Peace Coalition was shown. The video was moving and empowering, as the Israeli and Palestinian women’s groups are trying to establish a similar coalition and are working toward similar goals in the Middle East.