Fifty-two women in Mali bridging divides

Invited by 'Women in Law and Development in Africa-Mali' (WILDAF-Mali), Creators of Peace [1] President, Daphrose Ntarataze and Burundian colleague Marthe Mukerabirori, made two visits to Mali in recent months to facilitate Creators of Peace Circles for 52 women from the north and south of the country. The theme under which the Circles were held was, 'Space for dialogue and inclusive exchanges between women from Mali'.

In recent years the north especially has experienced much violence and massive displacement of peoples. The country is diverse and divided. The Creators of Peace Circles, invited in recognition of the influential role of women in bridging those divides, were seen as one step in a longer process of women's engagement. The programme was supported by the Swiss Department for Foreign Affairs, Oxfam Novib and IMRAP (Malian Institute of Research and Action for Peace). Key to the success of these Circles was the willingness of the women to listen to each other, to acknowlege the validity of each other's feelings and then the ability to reach out to the other in her pain and together find a way out. As Daphrose commented, 'Before you can ask your partner to change the music you must first dance with them.' - See more at: http://www.iofc.org/creators-peace-circles-mali#sthash.fbJyBGKE.dpu [2]