The Global Women’s Peace Network a New Culture of Leadership and Living - 16th Annual WFWP Europe Women's Leadership Training and Conference Bratislava, Slovakia

The Global Women’s Peace Network a New Culture of Leadership and Living 16th Annual WFWP Europe Women’s Leadership Training and Conference Bratislava, Slovakia, November 18 – 20, 2016 Speech at Opening Session by Carolyn Handschin, President WFWP- Europe

W hat qualities of leadership are needed leadership in families, specifically, the role of in these challenging times? To answer mother, must be clearly understood and protected. that, we need to ask, “What are the In some nations in Europe, the notion of mother challenges” of our day? Poverty, (and father) is being replaced with a generic noun. loneliness and depression, juvenile delinquency, Who could come to such a conclusion without unemployment, corruption and bad governance, anticipating the long-term dangers to our children low quality education- and access, materialism, and to the future of our world? If mothers apathy, violence at school, work and home, lost themselves or grateful sons and daughters who childhood and early maturity, substance abuse, peer value their mother’s influence do not organize pressure- and all accelerated by the speed of the themselves and fight for what their mind, heart and social media. Can women’s leadership and more soul tells them is so critical, then who will? I have feminine attributes in governance help prevent or read so many autobiographies of women and men solve today’s problems? Do we believe that? Why? that I admire. Without exception, the guidance, If we aren’t convinced, no one else will be either. love and example of parents have played a large Most of the issues we are confronting today and part in their achievements and quality of character many of the choices we make can be traced back to development. the influence of parents and family. Arguably the There are many issues like this- where the solutions leadership role that has the potential to most seem to be worked out in a vacuum by “experts” profoundly influence the life course of another who are lost in their own theories and experiments. individual is that of a parent or early childhood They keep pushing their theories further, but who nurturer. have unfortunately lost any sense of essential, long- It is therefore not only that feminine leadership and term life priorities. Almost without the general wisdom is needed in government policy-making or population realizing it, over the recent decades, corporate management, but that feminine some of our most fundamental norms and values 1

have been relativized. And because we’ve taken so Cheytanov arranged a luncheon for our WFWP long to wake up, much has been already delegation with a current Swiss Parliamentarian institutionalized in our schools’ curricula, and from the Christian Democrat Party. It was a very policy law. For some of us, the real wake- up call is similar experience as we shared our vision, strategy in seeing how our children have been affected by and some projects of the Women’s Federation. She the years of trying to justify the ethical or religious told us that her course as a young woman politician values they learned at home with the rigorous effort had been very difficult. She was again just re- made to remove values in school and society- but elected and she seems to be very successful. actually ending up by vigorously promoting Although she didn’t give up she said sadly that she confused and destructive values and behaviors. It is did have to give in for less than she had hoped to a dangerous time and the leadership that is needed change. We listened to each other and went deeper is that which understands what is good and and deeper into what we as women leaders really recognizes that the most perilous threats are those want to provide to our communities -and what are that attack our core value systems. the obstacles. Probably our most profound When things are in motion sometimes the current moments were when we spoke at the end about our seems unstoppable. Now, however the political children and could sense an automatic transferal of and social landscape is shifting -and that’ can be that longing for the happiness and success of our good if it allows reflection and regrouping. People concerns and joy’s as parents to our concern and in the USA and in some European nations are strategy in politics and activism. When I came realizing that a decision -making elite has been home and shared this with one of my daughters and deciding their future without taking their real saw how she was moved, I was reminded that this concerns to heart- and are finding strength to raise isn’t just something triggered when we give birth, their voices and demand change. Leadership is but something deeper about femininity and the critical in this moment and it is a time of capacity to care in a unique way, perhaps also a opportunity to appeal to common sense and innate preparation for eventual motherhood. Nature is like goodness of people. Should we leave this up to that. populist leaders who have caught the ear of the After 20 years building up grassroots programs and people- or should we continue to insist upon the developing personal leadership skills, WFWP agenda we want? Founders gave a new mandate to WFWPI in July Part of our agenda for this meeting is to compare, 2012. We were asked to dare to reach out beyond develop and distribute curricula counterproposals our “comfort zone” with the creation of a “Global to our confused western value system. Women’s Peace Network”. Our reach should go much further and deeper and we should seek We cannot all be politicians or public figures, or partnerships with like-minded women and their but we all are influencers in our circles. organizations because we need a global This is a rallying call and a time for women of mobilization that would start small but powerful. good conscience, concern, talent and experience to Dr. Moon often spoke to us about the dawning of sit together in thought and to separate the right the Era of Women and the importance for the shift from the wrong ideas and then to move together in from logic of power to logic of love. We were action. Our strength will be in our “right” and our warned that we would see the opportunities and numbers. that we shouldn’t shy away. I see this happening During our WFWP-Europe annual meeting in around me- at the UN, in my local community. Prague last year, we visited the Czech Parliament. Humanity- and even God, they would say, is We had a chance to speak with some women hoping we can rise to the occasion. Women were parliamentarians there. During one discussion over given their intuition for a reason- to be developed coffee, our delegation shared some of these same and finetuned the more we use it wisely. We’ve all ideas. Just before getting up to leave, this very experienced that raising our children or caring for reputable woman MP thanked us for giving her those around us. I am still in the process of helping hope and quietly confessed that she had a similar my last 2 girls though their teenage woes- and as vision and passion upon entering politics. She you know, it requires incredible wisdom, delicacy realized how she, as a woman without much and concern for detail. There is no guidebook. support in her concerns, had to compromise or reset Is it different in the broader sphere of governance her goals along the way- and regretted it. and politics? One can sense: leaders need to be And again, just 2 weeks ago in Zurich, Switzerland, able to navigate through the daily opportunities and our Women’s Federation President, Goya dangers- finding the right time and words to 2

convince, to mediate, to disagree but always with • Advocacy: Non-governmental organizations, concern for their constituents wellbeing foremost in especially women’s should Influence mind. If women of today can catch the spark and governance and policy making, as well as help one another to bring in those vital, but sorely spread awareness in society about the priorities missing elements to leadership, there is a hope for that have been shuffled. transformation. It isn’t guaranteed, nor easy that we • Networking: lead by example with a paradigm can cultivate such empathy, concern, willingness to of one human family in mind. sacrifice- beyond our own families. The call is Men and women have different ways of problem here and the opportunities seem to be growing. solving, but the starting point of shared leadership Instructions for the building up of the GWPN were is common concern- as in a family. I see it with my basic: husband, the moments that I feel the most love and • Education: Protect and promote the natural warmth for him isn’t necessarily when he brings goodness of youth by providing a safe and me flowers, but when I see him in action loving environment that will prepare them to live in a others. Can bring that love-ability out in one culture of peace and shared prosperity, which another? My thinking is that we women, given our they should have been trained for in their capacities for child bearing and as nurturers and families. peacemakers, have the greater portion of responsibility to make this work!!!

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