IN ITS first ever action on the ground, the Suzanne Mubarak Women's International Peace Movement (SMWIP) sent a delegation to Palestine earlier this week to help lend moral support to Palestinian women during legislative and presidential elections. "We have responded to the call made to us by Palestinian women but we will try to do the same for other women who need our support and solidarity," Mrs Mubarak said in a statement addressed to an event that took place last Thursday on the eve of the trip to Palestine. The delegation brought together women from nine countries. Led by Gertrude Mongella, president of the African Parliament, the SMWIP delegation includes 11 women peace activists who work for a host of regional and international peace organisations. "We know exactly why we are going there -- to tell our Palestinian sisters that they have an opportunity to participate in making peace by taking part in the elections," Mongella said hours before taking off for Palestine via Israel. Reporting to SMWIPs Cairo headquarters, the delegation said women had participated actively in the 9 January presidential elections and demonstrated an unmistakable will to elect a government that could help bring about independence and peace. During its stay in Palestine, the delegation met high-ranking representatives of the Palestinian Authority and parliamentarians, as well as representatives of women's organisations. It travelled throughout the occupied Palestinian territories and met local representatives. The delegation, however, took no part in the monitoring of the elections. "Our mandate is not to monitor elections. This role is being performed by others," Mrs Mubarak said. "The mandate of this mission is to provide moral support to the women of Palestine by encouraging them to assume leadership positions alongside men and enabling them to fulfil their role in the peace process when it resumes." The delegation is due back home tonight.
