Concerned by the growing level of violence and the number of armed conflicts and women's often fragile situation within this context;
Encouraged by the many courageous and creative women's peace initiatives in different areas of the world;
Convinced that equality, development and peace are inextricably linked and that there can be no lasting peace without development and no sustainable development without full equality between women and men,
We the participants of the ICW General Assembly gathered in Helsinki, Finland, 2-8 July 2000,
COMMIT OURSELVES TO
Continue to work for the well being of all, including the most vulnerable groups of society, notably through confronting the root causes of conflicts and physical violence, poverty, injustice, inequality, ignorance and marginalization;
Continue to support national and international efforts to ensure girls right to education with a view to their empowerment and access to decision making;
Continue to promote peace education in and outside school systems that impart knowledge of human rights, democratic processes and skills of non-violent and gender sensitive conflict resolution;
With a view to establishing a focal point on women's contribution to fostering a culture of peace within ICW and encourage all National Councils to establish a national ICW focus on a culture of peace so as to strengthen ICW's action in this field and its cooperation with other peace initiatives.
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Source: International Council of Women (ICW-CIF) — 29th General Assembly, Helsinki, Finland, July 2–8, 2000. Resolution No. 16.
