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First Intra-Kashmir Women's Dialogue Begins in Srinagar

By Fayaz Wani

Srinagar, Nov 16: Over 50 women from both sides of Kashmir met in Srinagar today at the start of a three-day Intra-Kashmir Women's Conference titled "Connecting Women across the LoC".

It is the first meeting of it kind.

The Centre for Dialogue and Reconciliation organized the conference for the women's studies centre of Jammu and Kashmir universities.

At the inauguration, Dr. Sayeda Hameed, member of the Planning Commission asked, "Why are there no women when it comes to discussions about the future of Kashmir and India and Pakistan? Why is there no gender parity and gender balance in this area?" She said this first meeting of women from both sides of the border demonstrated that if people want to connect, governments ultimately give in.

Sharing the platform with Dr. Hameed were Dr. Naseema Jogezai, a women's rights activist from the capital of Pakistani Administered Kashmir (PAK) and Mrs. Nighat Shafi Pandit, chairperson of HELP foundation, Srinagar. Dr. Jogezai said that crossing the border for the conference was like "a dream come true" for her and the other women. "It is ironic that Muslims and Hindus have so much in common in Kashmir and yet there is conflict", she said and suggested that it was time to focus on the similarities rather than the differences.

Nighat Shafi Pandit spoke of the impact of conflict on women and children. Misery and disaster have trans-territorial dimensions, she said, and these acted as binding factors in terms of social response. "Experience has shown that when women from states of India forged unity on certain social issues, their combined action proved more fruitful and result-oriented than the scepter of law wielded by the State agencies responsible for maintaining law and order".

Sushobha Barve, Executive Secretary of the Centre for Dialogue and Reconciliation said that women from both sides of the border needed to come together to think of the role women can play in the peace process. Why after three years of peace efforts were women's voices absent, she asked. The conference, she said, was an attempt to make these voices heard.

Fayaz Wani reports on life in Srinagar, Kashmir.