International Conference "Women defending Peace" in Geneva
A sound message for Peace was sent in November 2004 from Geneva, where the International Conference with the topic “Women defending Peace” was realised.
The Conference was organised with the initiative of Mrs Suzanne Mubarak of the “Suzanne Mubarak Women's International Peace Movement” in collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Switzerland, at the headquarters of the International Labour Organization (ILO) and is the continuation of the Conferences which were organised in Sharm El Sheikh of Egypt, 2002 and in the headquarters of UNESCO in Paris, 2003. Great personalities from all over the world who dedicated their work in the construction of Peace –Nobel Prize winners, academicians, representatives of governments, international organisations and non governmental organisations and many others were present.
The speakers in the opening ceremony of the Conference were the President of the “Suzanne Mubarak Women's International Peace Movement”, Mrs Suzanne Mubarak, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Switzerland, Mrs Micheline Calmy- Rey, the Director-General of ILO, Mr Juan Somavia as well as representatives of the local authorities of Geneva.
The Conference was attended by the members of the Board of Directors of the “Suzanne Mubarak Women's International Peace Movement - Queen Sabika of Bahrain, the wife of the former President of Lebanon, Mrs Mona Harawi, the former Secretary-General of the UN, Mr Boutros-Boutros Ghali, the Director of the Library of Alexandria, Dr Ismail Serageldin, the UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador, Mrs Marianna V. Vardinoyannis, Dr Leila Takla and many others. Also personalities such as the First lady of Lebanon, Mrs Nazek Hariri, the Minister of Expatriates of Syria, Dr Bouthaina Shaaban, the Ambassador of Egypt in Switzerland, Mrs Nihad Zikry, etc. were present.
The aim of the Conference was to give a voice to the women who have experienced the war or fought for Peace in their countries. Their genuine stories, stories of resistance and courage, literally touched the participants and reveal the importance of the role of women in the establishment and maintenance of Peace with the most sound way.
As Mrs Mubarak stressed in her opening speech: “the presence of these women in the Conference is the living proof that, through determination, it is possible to collect great power, overcome the pain of the armed conflicts, limit the extent of violence even if we are the first ones that have suffered from it and to focus with no hesitation on the reconstruction of the demolished houses, countries and society in general”.
Many personalities left their personal mark in the Conference such as the Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, Mrs Jody Williams, the UN Delegate for Human Rights, Mr Louise Arbour, the former President of Ireland, Mrs Mary Robinson, the former Director General of UNESCO, Mr Federico Mayor, the Member of the European Parliament, Mrs Emma Bonino, the President of the Belgian Senate, Mrs Anne Marie Lizin, and many others.
In her speech, Mrs Vardinoyannis stressed the importance of the possibilities given through this Conference: “the understanding and collaboration among the women of Europe and the women of the rest of the world, through the potential of a human puzzle of different cultures” and underlined the role of education to the configuration of mentalities, saying inter alia that “Peace is not an issue of just political decisions; it is rather an issue of ethics, ideology and everyday practice”.
In the end of the Conference, a Plan of Action concerning the co-ordination of women and women organisations was set and unanimously voted by the session. The fundamental strategic axes of the Plan were:
1. The creation of a “World Alliance of Women defending Peace”
2. The preparation of a “Chart of Peace” where the parts of the world where the women activities for peace take place will be located.
3. The dialogue with people of high ranks in politics, economy and the Mass Media.
4. The creation of a World Bank for Peace Initiatives.
5. The creation of a data base as well as a communication network for immediately warn and inform the women about issues that may cause problems and threaten peace.
- 2011
- UNESCO Heads of States Forum
- There is HOPE!
- Cultural Heritage - Climate Change - The teacher's role - Presentation of the book "The country of two suns"
- International Women's Day - The Educational Institute AKMI IVT honours Marianna V. Vardinoyannis.
- The "Pancretan Association of Athens" honours Marianna V. Vardinoyannis.
- Marianna V. Vardinoyannis "Woman of the year 2011".
- Excellence Awards, Greeks who are Role Models for the New Generation.
- Presentation of the Greek publication of Mrs Marianna V. Vardinoyannis' book "Labouring with the Challenges of Female Identity: Insights into Minoan Society".
- 2010
- Presentation of the book "Labouring with the challenges of female identity: Insights into the Minoan society" at the UNESCO headquarters in Paris.
- The Global Forum against human trafficking.
- Marianna V. Vardinoyannis - ELPIDA Children's Oncology Unit.
- Makistos smiles again!
- 83000 signatures for the "1GOAL: Education for All" campaign.
- 10th Annual Meeting of UNESCO Goodwill Ambassadors
- An event for the "1GOAL: Education for All" campaign.
- International campaign supporting Greece.
- The international "1GOAL: Education for All" campaign.
- First meeting of the Friends of the Aswan Heart Centre.
- 2009
- Global Campaign for the Climate Justice.
- Inauguration of the new Acropolis Museum.
- Declaration of the International Conference "Climate Change and Challenges for the Future Generations".
- International Conference "Climate Change and Challenges for the Future Generations".
- International Conference «Crossing Borders to Protect the Children of the World» and the Cairo Declaration.
- International Conference in Bahrain "Human Trafficking at the Crossroads of East- West" and the Manama Declaration.
- Summer Deaflympics - Athens 2013.
- 2008
- The Vienna Forum against human trafficking.
- Mothers - Olympic Champions of Love.
- Universal call for the Climate Change.
- The 4th Global Youth Employment Summit on the fight against poverty and unemployment, in Azerbaijan and the Baku Declaration.
- The appeal of Ancient Olympia.
- The “Alexandria Center for Hellenistic Studies” in the Bibliotheca Alexandrina.
- Marianna V. Vardinoyannis "Great Lady of the Patriarchal Throne of Alexandria".
- 2007
- 2nd Workshop on the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflicts.
- The Chart of Paris against cancer.
- The first Oncological Hospital for children in Greece.
- Lecture of the H.E. Mrs. Suzanne Mubarak in Athens, Greece.
- Fairuz Concert in Athens, Greece.
- International Youth Forum for Peace in Sharm El Sheikh.
- Global Humanitarian Forum.
- Makistos smiles again.
- 2006
- Round Table " The Business Community against Human Trafficking".
- Fundraising Dinner to support the “End Human Trafficking Now” global campaign.
- The "Athens Principles" in Davos.
- International Center for Peace Studies.
- Protecting youth from drugs.
- The Multicultural Children Centre “Athina” in Belgrade.
- 1st Workshop on the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflicts.
- Marianna V. Vardinoyannis – Chevalier de la Legion d’Honneur.
- 2005
- Helping the children of Palestine- Fundraising dinner in Cairo.
- The UN Millennium Development Goals and Civil Society.
- The Declaration of 22 Greek organisations on the UN Millennium Development Goals.
- 2004
- Exhibition of Traditional and Contemporary Handicrafts from Jordan.
- International Conference “Women in the Service of Peace” in Paris.
- International Conference “Women defending Peace” in Geneva.
- 2003
- 2nd European Conference of Legal Practitioners on juvenile matters.
- Exhibition "Breaking the Veils", Exhibition of women artists from the Islamic World, at UNESCO.
- Exhibition “The Unity of an Unique Monument: the Parthenon”, at UNESCO.
- The Mentor Awards.
- Awards to mothers.
- 2002
- Bibliotheca Alexandrina. A wonder of the modern world.
- Mother: A Symbol of life, hope and peace.
- Speak Truth to Power: Human Rights Defenders who change our world.
- Contemporary Societies - Multicultural Co-existence- The position of the child.
- The protection of the World Cultural nad Natural Heritage.
- 2001
- The child: victim of war and messenger of peace.
- 2000
- A Model Area for creative activities in the Municipality of Ano Liosia.
- Mother: A Symbol of life, hope and peace.
- Children: Symbol of hope, will, courage.
- The Meeting of Athens and Delphi on Children and Peace.
- The Declaration of Delphi on Children and Peace.
- 1st International Conference for the Culture of Peace.
- Early Childhood Resource and Training Center in Bethlehem.
- 1999
- By the side of mothers and children behind bars.
- Juvenile disappearance and abduction.
- The Hague Appeal for Peace.
- International Conference “Family and Children in the European society of the 21st Century” in Paris.
- Support for the children - victims of war in the Balkans.
- By the side of the earthquake victims.
- International Conference “Sexual abuse of children and paedophilia in the Internet”.
- 1998
- A three-point shot for a life.
- European Forum "FAMILY - EUROPE - 21ST CENTURY: Vision and Institutions".
- Family and the mass media.
- Presentation of the Minutes of the European Forum "FAMILY - EUROPE - 21ST CENTURY: Vision and Institutions"
- 1997
- International Conference “Priority to the Dignity and Safety of the children in Europe”.
- By the side of the children of Xanthi.
- Embracing children suffering from AIDS.
- The International Convention on Children's Rights and the role of the European Union.