New TV Special Lauds Women in War and Peace

Debuting tomorrow, October 11, is a powerful new mini-series entitled Women, War, and Peace that examines the lives of female activists living in war-torn societies. With a focus on Bosnia, Afghanistan, Colombia, and Liberia, the documentary shows remarkable women affecting serious change in their respective countries with regard to injustice and abuse towards female civilians. The five-part PBS series, narrated by Matt Damon, Tilda Swinton, Alfre Woodard, and Geena Davis, is a groundbreaking look at women bonding together to fight rape, broker peace, and forge new international laws governing conflict.

The series begins with I Came to Testify — the compelling narrative of 16 Bosnian women held as prisoners and raped repeatedly by Serb-led forces in their small town. By taking the witness stand against their assailants in an international court of law, these brave women helped change sexual violence in war laws.

The subsequent episodes follow Liberian women who tackled brutal dictator, Charles Taylor, Afghani women who are fighting to be involved in peace talks between the U.S. and the Taliban, and Colombian women refusing to be pushed off of their gold-rich lands by warring civil armies. The final episode, War Redefined, is a collection of interviews with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, peace activists, war crimes investigators, and survivors of war. This critical production, also set to be channeled through radio, print, web, and worldwide community screenings, will undoubtedly transform the way we think about women and their essential roles in negotiating peace within modern war.

Women, War, and Peace will broadcast on five consecutive Tuesday evenings at 10pm EST: October 11, 18, and 25 and November 1 and 8, 2011. You can find out more at womenwarandpeace.org.