“Every time we come together, we put another brick in the wall and the diverse bricks fit together in this wall to create solidarity..an overall unity and base to support our different views. Every dialogue I conduct is building a capacity for peace.

I believe that the only way we can understand one another is to come to the table.

For many years the US Federation for Middle East Peace has uprooted prejudice at every level through dialoguing and conducting interfaith and cross-cultural conferences.”

- Salwa Kader,
Transcript from Speech at Capacity for Peace

In recognizing the 2009 International Year of Reconciliation and Culture of Peace, the USFMEP hosted an Inter-Faith Dialogue that supports peace building, conflict prevention, and protection of Human Rights and Dignity.

In the words of Mrs. Kader, USFMEP President ,”The international economic, social, cultural and humanitarian issues that we are suffering today due to conflicts that have affected and divided societies in their various internal, national and international levels require the rule of law with the principles of justice. This is the sure way to lead to initiation and process in promoting international cooperation to resolve world disputes.

Speaking at the event was:

Introductions by:? Ambassador Francis Lorenzo of Dominican Republic
Moderated by: Mrs. Salwa Kader, US Federation for Middle East, President

Speakers:
HH Bhakti Charu Swami, spiritual leader, ISKCON.
Imam Shamsi Ali, Imam at the Islamic Cultural Center of New York
H.E. Archbishop Celestino Migliore, JCD, DD, Holy See.

In context of sharing of responsibilities between women and men, including our roles in the care giving of AIDS victims, the focal point of this conference was to discuss "The role of the family in building social and Economic security for humanity".

The importance of understanding the concept of shared responsibility within the family is a priority in all cultures.

The family unites all humanity across cultural and national boundaries as well as the essentiality of basic and continued care-giving measures. This includes the important economic, medical, psychological and social infrastructure concerns in combating the devastating and multiplying impact of AIDS on the family.

Co-sponsoring the event was the Association National Al Hidn of Morocco. Presenters included: Professor Mina Oumlil; Professor Khadija Moufid, President and organizer of Al Hidn; Salwa Kader, President of USFMEP; and Professor Dr. Christine Schiwietz of Georgetown University.

Some of the highlights at the conference included a summary of the Horton and Hunt's seven family functions and the impacts of AIDS on families.

The panel brought together Muslim Christian and Jewish women who share the vision of understanding, tolerance, and peace. The focus was on the commonalities between the respective religions at the heart of which lie values of coexistence and respect. A world that is free of religion-driven violence must start with a compassionate dialogue between peoples of various faiths where similarities are emphasized and bridges of acceptance are built.

Speakers (left to right) were Rev. Patricia Ackerman, Dr. Diana Pinto, USFMEP President Mrs. Salwa Kader, Mrs. Aida Alzhanova Kazakhstan Permanent mission to the UN diplomat, and Mrs. June Jacobs, at the CSW53 Conference at the United nations

The USFMEP workshop provided an introduction to gender analysis. Participants considered key gender concepts and a selection of gender analysis frameworks, approaches, tools and questions. Non-Government Organizations (NGOs) are being called upon to play a more proactive role in supporting gender equality. In this workshop we explored the tools and instruments NGOs can use to facilitate gender analysis and build awareness on two important international instruments -Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) and UN Security Council Resolution 1325. See the workshop summary report.