Here we are, trying to imagine peace in a women’s conference.  The title says it all:  we need to imagine peace, because unfortunately we do not have it yet. Maybe womankind will succeed where mankind has failed.

My obsession for peace developed from what I consider a natural drive to live in harmony, what many consider an inspiration from God, which we all share. But my determination to dedicate my art and work, my mind and soul, to this endeavor was forged in conflict.  I had to endure war while trying to raise a family in Beirut, an experience that no mother could ever forget or ignore. The sleepless nights wondering how to protect my loved ones, the everyday anguish of not knowing if my children were safe when they were out of sight, the puzzling look in their eyes as they fought back their tears so as to not frighten me, were wrenching experiences that left a deep mark.

And of course there were also the bombings, that did not spare our home, that nearly hit our car, and the deafening noise of helicopter gun-ships chasing their prey, snipers and machine guns in the streets engaged in mortal combat to advance just one block.

As a victim of violence, I could not; I would not accept any escalation of conflict through a vicious cycle of retribution, attack and counterattack. Violence only generates more violence. 

How could I let other families suffer the senseless destruction without an active engagement to prevent war and mitigate its terrible effects?

Because of my experience in Lebanon, I decided to actively pursue my dream for peace.  As a painter, art allowed me to convey a powerful message without the handicap of language, religion or background.  Through it, I was able to captivate the audience through the senses, but also to appeal to the mind. 

I was drawn to politics partly because most of my family was in politics, but also out of my conviction of the need for women to become more active in this field, and to influence events that shape our own lives and those of our families.  However, I must admit that I have never wanted to become a traditional politician, to hold a post or office.  My objectives are much simpler, just to encourage dialogue, consensus building and participation by those left behind in the wheels of bureaucracy and the backroom dealings of the powerful.

My political goals inspired my art, and my art expressed my political beliefs and aspirations: peace, understanding, and frustration at the shortcomings of the political system that is not responsive to the people.  I could sense the two were intertwined:  the search for peace and art. 

Art is inspiration, dream, the expression of Beauty and Love. It is pure feeling.  And politics…politics is about making it all happen, the dream, the inspiration, the Beauty.  Art inspires and politics tries to fulfill the aspirations. 

Through my art, I have aspired for a better world.  I have expressed my hopes and my pain.   And yet, I had to go further.  So I went deeper into politics to make the dream come true. 

My deepest involvement was in the Ecuador-Peru peace process, which led to the signing of the Peace Accords in October 1998, ending what had been considered one of the most intractable disputes in the Western Hemisphere.  I have to point out that in these two plus years, our countries have increased trade dramatically, and our friendship has strengthened. 

How was it possible to resolve this dispute that had lingered for centuries and seemed beyond any possibility of agreement?  The process itself took three years, and involved three consecutive Administrations in Ecuador, but the more contentious issues were left for final negotiations, and it is at this stage that I was personally closer to it. 

We had many doubts as to the specific details of the agreement and the reaction of politicians in our capitals, and usually had to burn “the midnight oil” trying to devise formulas that would accommodate our positions.

But the most important aspect was that we remained unwavering in our support of the peace process, and that thanks to our previous contacts in more informal settings and the relationships established we were able to discuss candidly about our positions. 

Through dialogue, we realized that we could trust each other, for we all sincerely wanted peace but had legitimate concerns that needed to be addressed. 

The successful negotiations in our conflict with Peru encourage me to think that no matter how many years a conflict dates back, or how irreconcilable positions appear, peace can prevail if dialogue is maintained and if everyone, all of us, preserves in our commitment to peace. 

Just as my first reaction was to examine myself when as a young mother I had to witness devastation, I still try to derive lessons from my own personal experience.  There is nothing extraordinary in my longing for peace, so it has to be shared, at some level, by everyone else, not only in Latin America or the Middle East, but all around the world. 

Although life is seldom black and white, and there are strong differences of interests and perceptions, it seems to me that the cause of peace is one that should have universal support.  If war is avoidable, then why do politicians insist on escalating confrontation, rather than defusing it and promoting understanding?  Many politicians would protest that they always have advocated peace, and certainly in the mainstream their speeches usually pay lip service to it, yet despite numerous proclamations, action does not follow discourse and the price paid is indeed very high. 

Whatever the reasons for the continuous confrontation, I sense that at the grassroots level there is a genuine desire to lead peaceful lives.  In some cases, years of conflict have left scars and, perhaps even more troubling for the prospects of peace, there is a breakdown of direct communication.  I have always said that the three mis-es that induces and sustain confrontation are miscommunication, misinterpretation and misunderstanding. 

How can this barrier come down, when every gesture from the opposite side is regarded with contempt and suspicion?  I believe that the way to overcome them is a more inclusive process, a deeper level of engagement of what is now called the “civil society”, and particularly women. 

I think that the empowerment of women and other groups within society would forge a wider dialogue, and through it a better understanding of our common interests and shared values, and also of our differences.  We need to recognize our differences and embrace them, rather than fear them or try to suppress them.  Communication is, for me, they key to unlock our potential for cooperation, for friendship. 

Why would higher participation of women make any difference?  Certainly given the state of affairs, it couldn’t hurt. 

Many would argue that we live in a female-driven society, because women give birth and bear the primary responsibility for caring and educating children. 

I agree, but despite this we must acknowledge that it is a male dominated political and economic system, and to put it simply, men are attracted to toys; they want to accumulate as many as possible and as fancy as we could imagine. 

Maybe you have noticed the ad for a financial institution in Washington (not the World Bank) that says: “he who dies with the most toys is still dead”.  So the moral is that we should focus more on people and less on things, and women are more people-centered, we value family and friends more than fame and fortune, and this is a fundamental difference in our perspectives. 

Perhaps the society we women imagine is not as affluent, but it is definitely more rewarding and it would be much more caring.  I think that for us it is even redundant to say, “imagine peace” for whenever we imagine a society it is a peaceful one, where peace is not only treasured, but also nurtured with love. 

But we should go beyond imagining, although it is probably the beginning of a new direction in our lives.  I do hope that one day women will be the decision-makers, but our work, our commitment must start today, from our different positions.

We can all make a change, and together we can make our dreams come true, not only from the President’s podium, the Senator’s Office, the Judge’s bench, but as advocates, artists, professionals, sisters and mothers.  We also need to hold our leaders accountable, to make our voice heard. 

There is so much we can do, and there is nothing I can think of more precious than peace.  Just imagine….

Thank you.