The Religious Consultation
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July 13, 2005 Maria Jose Rosado is One in 1000
This special honor recognizes her contributions as an international leader in the fight for women's rights. "Professor Rosado is a giant in the struggle for peace," says Daniel C. Maguire, President of The Religious Consultation. "She has made enormous contributions to the cause of women." He noted that she is a member of the newly-formed "Violence Against Women Project: Roots and Cures in the World Religions" project. Professor Maria Jose Rosado teaches
in the Dept. Clemcias da Religiao at FACTBOX 1000 Women for the Nobel Peace Prize 2005
project
Q. What are the goals of the project? A. The goal is to increase the visibility of women’s efforts in social justice and peacebuilding, and to increase understanding of, and support for their work.
Q. What do we mean by ‘peace’? Peace is more than the absence of war. There is no peace without justice. The project is grounded in an understanding of peace in terms of human security. This relates to UN criteria and includes Economic security (assured basic income), Food security (physical and economic access to food), Health security (relative freedom from disease and infection), Environmental security (access to sanitary water supply, clean air and a non- degraded land system), Personal security (security from physical violence and threats, right of human dignity and freedom), Community security (security of cultural integrity), Political security (protection of basic human rights and freedoms)
Q. Why 1000 women? The number 1000 is symbolic. It is a symbolic way of saying: peace is not a dramatic activity but is done bit by bit. Peace is not an individual act. You cannot make peace alone.
Q. Who are the 1000 ‘Peace Women’? The 1000 women come from all religious, cultural and class backgrounds. Some are working in war-zones, some work in developed countries. All are dedicated to justice and increasing human security. A sample of 27 of the women is available at the Press Conference, but identities are embargoed for a further 12 hours.
Q. How many women are nominated from the Pacific? 36 women in the Pacific are a part of the collective nomination of 1000 women. Their short biographies and contact information are available in the press kit.
Q. What was the criteria for selection of the women? 1. Each woman must be "worthy of the Nobel Peace Prize" in her own context 2. The woman must employ and/or promote active, non-violent responses to conflict 3. The woman’s work must be sustainable and long-term 4. The woman’s work must be exemplary and worthy of emulation 5. The woman leads by example, acting with moral courage and responsibility 6. The woman’s activities must be for the cause of peace and not for political and or personal gain 7. The woman’s work must be transparent and based on tolerance
Q. Who made the nominations? Nominations were made by members of the public and by organisations, and were informed through media and through various networks (peace networks, women’s networks, academic networks).
Q. How were the women selected? The selection process began at a regional level. Regional coordination teams worked with a group of advisors from different fields to come up with a recommended list of nominees according to numbers previously agreed to in coordination workshops. In addition to the criteria, the regional teams and advisors referred to a set of guidelines that sought diversity in areas of work, backgrounds and levels of working (grassroots through to international arena)
Q. Who are the organisers? The project began in Switzerland by a group of women led by Ruth-Gaby Vermot-Mangold. The five women formed an Association to be legally and financially responsible for the project, and set up a small international coordination office in Switzerland. 19 regional coordinators from different fields of work and countries were contacted to implement and guide the project.
Q. Who supported the project? The Swiss Foreign Ministry has been a major financial supporter, but also the Swiss public has contributed over NZ$40,000 through purchasing ‘peace shares’. In the Pacific, NZAID, Oxfam Australia, Global Fund for Women and PADET have supported the nomination process and documentation of women in this region.
Q. How does the Nobel Peace Committee view the project? The Association of the project has met with the Director of the Nobel Institute on two occasions to explain the project and discuss the importance of its collective principle and its goals. The Director agreed to receive and consider the nomination and has clearly indicated support for the goals of the project. At the same time, the nomination is not assured of success, and lobbying is strictly forbidden by the Nobel Institute.
Q. How do the nominated women benefit from the nomination? Through the nomination, the women receive much higher media and public interest, which increases their credibility at the official level and their influence in policy matters. The nomination is also an enormous moral support and encouragement to these women whose work is typically marked by opposition and challenges and very few success stories. Finally the nomination is also accompanied by documentation and research phases of the project. A publication is due at the end of this year which will present the biographies and photographic images of each of the women and their work.
Q. What if the 1000 women don’t receive the prize? Even if the 1000 women do not receive the prize, the project has ensured that the work of 1000 women, most working at the grassroots and community level are recognised, and their work is validated and encouraged. The women will have been documented and become part of a vibrant network that should provide support to them when needed.
Q. When will the winner be announced? October 10, 2005 |
Professor Maria Jose Rosado has been chosen
as one of the 1000 Women for the Nobel Peace
Prize 2005 Project.