EDITORIAL

WOMEN’S JOURNEY TO FREEDOM

BY Rafael Armada | EDITOR

ON 9 August 1956 a multi-racial group of 20 000 South African women led by Lilian Ngoyi, Helen Joseph, Sophie Williams–De Bruyn, among others marched to the Union Buildings in Pretoria asking for the derogation of the pass laws, a system imposed by the Apartheid government which controlled the movements of black men and women within the country. These women passed on a memorandum in which they demanded, not only their right to free movement but better education for their children, the end of forced removals and other human rights to be respected as well as the end of the system of racial segregation. To commemorate this peaceful march, South Africa declared 9 August National Women’s Day; by extension, this month became associated with women.

On 1 April 2003, in the heat of a devastating war in Liberia, between President Charles Taylor and various militant warlords, Leymah Gbowee—later awarded the Nobel Peace Prize—mobilized hundreds of Christians, Muslims and internally displaced women for peace.  Wearing all-white clothing they gathered at the fish market every day for a week. They sat, danced, and sang for peace. 

As the week went on, over 2 500 women held a candlelight prayer vigil urging Taylor and the rebels to negotiate the end of the war. The international community joined the call too.  On 11 April the women marched through the streets of Monrovia proclaiming: “The women of Liberia say peace is our goal, peace is what matters, peace is what we need.”, while hundreds more joined the back of the group as it passed their homes.  Their march concluded at Monrovia’s Municipal Office where 1 000 women assembled, demanding a meeting with Taylor. On April 23, they met him; some presented the President with a statement onstage while the rest sat in the audience, holding hands and praying.  After the meeting, Taylor agreed to attend peace talks.

Next, the group targeted the rebels.  A contingent of women travelled to Freetown, Sierra Leone as the warlords would be meeting there.  Locating the hotel where the rebel leaders were gathered, some of the Liberian women lined the streets while others sat in front of the hotel, refusing to leave until they were given a meeting with the warlords.  Their sit-in brought media attention, helping to further spread their message of peace to the international community.  The women soon met the rebel leaders and convinced them to attend the peace talks. (nvdatabase.swarthmore.edu/)

These are two examples of the many initiatives for freedom led by women. We might ask ourselves: what do these both have to do with women and mystics, the theme to which this edition is dedicated? There is, however, a deep connection between them. Mystics embark on a journey of liberation geared towards communion with a God who sends them to humanity. The world and humanity are at their heart and they persevere in loving them, in a direction led by the Spirit. Mysticism and transformation become, therefore, two sides of the same reality, communion with God and care for the common home and her dwellers.

Happy women’s month!