The History
During 1992-95, the Republic of Bosnia-Herzegovina struggled in its recovery from three years of bloody inter-ethnic war. Following the break-up of Yugoslavia, an estimated 250,000 people died in the conflict between Bosnian Muslims, Serbs and Croats. Working to bring healing and help forge a lasting peace, our Religions for Peace affiliate, the Inter-religious Council of Bosnia-Herzegovina, was active in promoting inter-religious collaboration among the country’s women.
Under the auspices of the Religions for Peace, representatives of women of faith from the Inter-Religious Councils of Bosnia-Herzegovina (BiH) and Kosovo came together in the historic city of Sarajevo from 2–4 October 2003 for an inspirational, regional inter-religious training on mobilizing women for peace. The 30 women from the Islamic, Orthodox, Catholic and Jewish communities of Kosovo and BiH came together for the first time since the end of the Balkan conflicts to mark the beginning of the southeast Europe women of faith network.
The Network Today
The Religions for Peace–European Women of Faith Network (EWFN) brings together a wide diversity of faith and interfaith-based women's organizations in Europe to work together for peace. The EWFN creates opportunities for women to communicate and learn from each other, share good practice and work in partnership with other organizations on issues concerning women and girls, grounded in faith. As part of Religions for Peace Global Women of Faith Network, the Network promotes the building of peace by working with religious leaders, governmental, statutory and voluntary organizations as well as through practical projects at the grass roots level.
The European Women's Coordinating Committee
Joint Co-chair
Ravinder Kaur Nijjar, Sikh, UK- SCOTLAND, Co-Chair of Religions for Peace European Women’s Coordinating Committee, Scottish Inter Faith Council, The Inter Faith Network for U.K. GNNSJ Scotland Coordinator (International Sikh Organisation, Birmingham, UK)
Yolande Iliano, Christian, BELGIUM, Co-Chair of Religions for Peace European Women’s Coordinating Committee, Chair WCRP-Belgium-Council of Inter-Religious leaders of Belgium
Coordinator
Mehrézia Maiza Labidi, Muslim, FRANCE, Coordinator, Religions for Peace International Women’s Coordinating Committee
Members
Enesa Pazalja, Muslim, BOSNIA HERZEGOVINA, Advisor to the Prime Minister of Sarajevo Canton - Inter-Religious Council of Bosnia Herzegovina
Nadine Iarchy, Jewish, BELGIUM, International Council of Jewish Women -Co-Chair for Europe
Julia Maria Koszewska, Roman Catholic, POLAND, JECI-MIEC European Coordination (European Catholic students' organization)
Dina Sharana Mataji, Hindu, GERMANY, Religions for Peace Germany
Heidi Rautionmaa, Christian Lutheran, FINLAND, URI (United Religions Initiative) Global Council Trustee 2002- 2005, 2005-2008 and DIADI (Dialogue and Diversity) Director
Maureen Sier, Baha’i, UK, Development & Education Officer, The Scottish Interfaith Council; member of Baha’i Council for Scotland
Katarina Karkala-Zorba, Christian Orthodox, GREECE, member of the CeC Central Committee, member of the Church and Society Commission Executive Committee
Advisors
Adalberta Bernardini, ITALY, WCRP Representative to U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)
Brigitte Chevalier, FRANCE, Permanente Representative UNESCO
Carin Gardbring, Evangelical Lutheran, SWEDEN, Member Advisor Nordic Coordinator Inter-Faith Action for Peace in Africa
Cristina Monteys, Christian Catholic, SPAIN- Catalonia, Member Advisor, Division of Inter-Religious Dialogue, UNESCO
Miriam Riam Diez I Bosch, Roman Catholic, SPAIN, ITALY, Journalist, Communications in the Inter-Religious dialogue
Consultants
Jacqueline Rouge, Roman Catholic, FRANCE, Religions for Peace Representative to UNESCO
Christina Lee, Roman Catholic, ITALY, Focolare movement
Helena Fantil, Jewish, FRANCE, Consistoire de Paris
Dr. Theol. Annette Esser, GERMANY, member of the German Executive Committee of Religions for Peace, representative for European Society of Women in Theological Research (ESWTR), Inter-Religious Council of European Women Theologians
Noura Jaballah, Muslim, FRANCE, Coordinator in France and Chair of the European Forum of Muslim Women (EFOMW)
Iris Maci-Gjinishi, Muslim, ALBANIA, Chief of Women Department of Muslim Community of Albania (MCA)
Martina Heinrichs (NEDERLAND/ C) ECUMENICAL FORUM OF EUROPEAN CHRISTIAN WOMEN co-president
Isabel Smyth (UK) the founding CEO of the Scottish Interfaith Council, the Scottish Catholic Bishops Associate Secretary for Interfaith Relations and an honorary lecturer in the Centre for Interfaith Studies, Glasgow University. Secretary to the Catholic Committee for Inter – religious Dialogue of the Scottish Catholic Bishops’ Coference.
Dana Sirkovska Slovakia katedra evanjelikalnej teologie a misie PF UMB Protestant-United Methodist Church The Oxford Institute of Methodist Theological Studies 2007-2012 (committee member) European Center for Leadership Development (committee member) member of The Hymn Society in the United States and Canada
Ecaterina Evangelescu (ROUMANIA) Orthodox -President Allaince Belgo roumaine
Aneta Jovkovska (Replublic of MACEDONIA) Orthodox Faculty of Theology "St. Clement of Ohrid" Skopje, Macedonia
Eva Palmieri (ITALY / Jewish)
Szilvia Rozs-Nagy – HUNGARY (Christian Protestant Lutheran / C Europe / youth)
Shahrzad Houshmand Zadeh (IRAN –ITALY) – Moslem
Khatuna Tsintsadze, Georgia, Orthodox Executive Director, The Union Century 21
