Women Making Peace

Peace and justice require changing social behaviors, witnessing and speaking out.

I met women in Rwanda making baskets and paper jewelry to earn some money. Hutu and Tutsi women sat together. The nature of basket weaving, like quilting, encouraged conversation and talking can be a path to peace.

I found the women more affiliated to community than the men and are more willing to find compromise in settling disputes. But, rather than pressuring victims to forgive we need to think about moving offenders to contrition and changed behavior.

Colleen Wagner