News
Release
WOMEN NOBEL LAUREATES URGE NEGOTIATION
TO AVERT U.S.-IRAN CONFLICT
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AFSC general secretary Mary Ellen McNish (center) met with Nobel Peace Prize Laureates including Shirin Ebadi (left) and Jody Williams (right). |
PHILADELPHIA, PA –– Mary Ellen McNish, general secretary for the American Friends Service Committee (AFSC), and a delegation of Nobel Peace Prize Laureates are pushing for increased negotiations between Iran and the United States. Findings from a recent dialogue between these women and the Board of Governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) were released at a press conference Wednesday, June 14, at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C.
Invited by Peace Laureates Dr. Shirin Ebadi and Professor Jody Williams, McNish and a number of Iranian and U.S. organizations came together for the historic meeting in Vienna in early June.
The effort is part of the Nobel Women’s Initiative, a new project of women Nobel Peace Prize Laureates that, in addition to McNish, includes: Jody Williams (U.S. 1997), Shirin Ebadi (Iran, 2003), Wangari Maathai (Kenya, 2004), Rigoberta Menchú Tum (Guatemala, 1992) and Betty Williams (Ireland, 1976).
Joining McNish in the trip were representatives from 10 civil society organizations that work on children’s rights, landmines, nuclear power, human rights, women and disarmament issues. They met with government representatives of the IAEA Board of Governors and other IAEA officials. They also promoted greater exchange between Iranian and U.S. non-governmental organizations.
The women called upon their governments to respect human rights and refrain from using the fight against terrorism or the excuse of national security as pretexts for violating human rights. Additionally, they called on governments to stop misusing religious beliefs and the pursuit of democracy to legitimize both the erosion of rights of their own people and aggression against other nations.
Organizations represented include: the Nuclear Information and Resource Service, Feminist Majority Foundation, Global Fund for Women, Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom and Greenpeace from International.
The Service Committee is a co-recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize, accepted on behalf of Quakers worldwide, in recognition of efforts to ease the suffering of war. These efforts include launching massive programs to feed starving refugees in post-war Germany.
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The American Friends Service Committee is a Quaker organization that includes people of various faiths who are committed to social justice, peace and humanitarian service. Its work is based on the belief in the worth of every person and faith in the power of love to overcome violence and injustice
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