Dallas, TX – Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson today brought together international activists and authorities on peace-building and peace-keeping for her annual peace conference.  The peace conference, themed “Women’s Unique Perspectives on Waging Peace,” was held at Thanks-giving Square in downtown Dallas.  Congresswoman Johnson hosts the peace conference each year as part of her peace initiative, A World of Women for World Peace. More than 100 people attended the event.

“It is my true belief that women can bring about non-violent conflict resolution, through our unique bonds of friendship, sisterhood and motherhood,” Congresswoman Johnson said during her opening remarks.

The panelists included Aisha Al–Adawiya of KARAMAH: Muslim Women Lawyers for Human Rights and founder of Women in Islam; Dr. Qudsia Mirza, Visiting Professor of Law at the University of Cincinnati; Karen Blessen of MasterPEACE: Young Artists Making a Kinder World; Tatiana Androsov, President and Executive Director of Thanks-giving Square; and Lucy Mashua, President of Mashua’s Voice for the Voiceless International.

Al-Adawiya, the keynote speaker, discussed the indispensable role women play in peace-building.

“No solution can be found without the full participation of women,” Al-Adawiya said.  “Women are the ones with the responsibility to move peace forward.”

Congresswoman Johnson began “A World of Women for World Peace” to bring greater visibility to people around the world who are victims of war and conflict and to raise awareness of women who are promoting non-violent conflict resolution within their communities.

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U.S. Representative Eddie Bernice Johnson is the highest-ranking Texan on the House Committee on Transportation & Infrastructure and a senior member of the Science Committee. She represents the 30th Congressional District of Texas, which, includes Downtown Dallas, Fair Park, Oak Lawn, Old East Dallas, Pleasant Grove, & South Oak Cliff; all of Balch Springs, DeSoto, Hutchins, Lancaster & Wilmer and parts of Cedar Hill, Duncanville, Ferris, Glenn Heights and Ovilla.