The Judy S. ’68 and Paul W. Ware Colloquium on Peacemaking and Global Citizenship began in 2007 as a way to tie together peacemaking—a central component of Elizabethtown College’s mission—and the College’s endeavor to create leaders who are prepared for a global society. That initial intent of helping students understand the nature of human conflict and resolution and giving them and the community the opportunity to meet global change agents—continues today.
One of the components of the Colloquium is the College’s signature Ware Lecture on Peacemaking, which brings thought-provoking speakers of international renown to the Elizabethtown College campus each year.
Tawakkol Karman, this year’s Ware Lecturer, is nothing short of ‘thought-provoking’. At 7:30 p.m. Thursday, April 10, in the Leffler Chapel and Performance Center, she will share her views on “Women, Human Rights and the Arab Revolution.”
Their actions are impacting more globally, especially in human rights.”
Awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2011 in recognition of her work in the nonviolent struggle for the safety of women and the assurance that women have full rights to participate in peace-building work in Yemen, she became the first Yemini, the first Arab woman and the second Muslim woman to win the Prize. At 32, she also is the youngest.
As an activist, she was imprisoned on a number of occasions for her pro-democracy, pro-human rights protests and, among Yemen’s Youth movement, she is known as the “mother of the revolution” and “the iron woman.”
“She is a relevant and contemporary speaker,” said Caroline Lalvani, director of Elizabethtown Community Affairs and College Special Events. “She is a big part of Arab Spring”—(the term coined for revolution, demonstration, protest and civil war that has been ongoing in the Arab world for the past three years). She is at the epicenter of this movement.
“On the world stage the Arab contingency is becoming more prominent,” Lalvani said. “Their actions are impacting more globally, especially in human rights.”
In addition to being a politician, a senior member of the Al-Islah political party and on the advisory board for the Transparency International organization, Karman is a mother of three, is a human rights activist, a journalist and president of the Women Journalists without Chains organization.
She, like past Ware Lecturers, “exemplifies the ideal of a peacemaker,” said David Kenley, director of the College’s Center for Global Understanding and Peacemaking (CGUP), noting that the Lecture also represents the twin goals of the Center. CGUP is host of the annual Lecture.
The day following the Lecture, Karman will meet with groups of high-achieving student leaders for a special breakfast and will give two seminars to small groups of hand-picked students as a means of sharing her views on peace and peacemaking and giving students personal attention. With the speaker’s background as a journalist and her deep involvement in human rights, “there is the hope she also will appeal to Women and Gender Studies and Communications, which might not necessarily think of themselves as affinity groups of the Center,” Kenley said. Past Ware Lecturers are Mary Robinson, former president of Ireland; F.W. de Klerk, Nobel Peace Prize recipient and former president of South Africa; Jody Williams, Nobel Peace Prize recipient and chairman of the International Campaign to Ban Landmines; Terry Waite, former hostage and founder of Hostage UK and Y Care International and U.K. Ambassador for the Freeplay Foundation; Shirin Ebadi, Nobel Peace Prize recipient and founder of the Association for Support of Children’s Rights in Iran; and Muhammad Yunus, Nobel Peace Prize recipient and founder of Grameen Bank.
“That caliber of person – they have been influential on the global stage – interfacing with our students on a one-on-one basis is unique,” said Lalvani said. “It’s a privilege for our students to engage with people who are really making a difference in the world. Look at what they have done. They are affecting change. They are changing the way people think.”
Other components of the Colloquium, made possible by a generous grant from Judy S. ’68 and Paul W. Ware of Lancaster, Pa., are the Ware Practicum in Conflict Resolution, which provides conflict resolution training to the campus community, and the Ware Seminars on Global Citizenship, which, throughout the academic year, involve students as members of the greater society and introduce them to universal principals of human rights. They are designed to engage the community in dialogue related to global and social justice issues. Well-known leaders from around the country and world bring their knowledge and experience to campus for these events.
The Ware Lecture is a distinctive educational experience for students and members of the neighboring communities that marries the College’s pivotal mission areas of international education and purposeful life work with the College’s Brethren heritage commitment to peace, nonviolence and human dignity.
Tickets for the annual Ware Lecture are free but must be reserved by calling 717-361-4757. For additional information contact Caroline Lalvani at lalvanmc@etown.edu or 717-361-1246.