The Women Peacemakers Program (WPP) was originally established in 1997 as a program of the International Fellowship of Reconciliation (IFOR), to support and empower women peace activists worldwide, and to advocate for a gender perspective in nonviolent peacebuilding.
During the nineties, women peace activists within IFOR organized themselves to call for more gender balance and gender awareness inside the peace movement. In response, WPP was established to systematically support and empower women’s nonviolent activism; highlighting women's experiences of conflict and contributions to peacebuilding; and disseminating women's perspectives, experiences, and solutions for peace to a wider audience.
In 2009, WPP’s work took a new turn: Following feedback received from women peace activists during several consultation meetings, WPP began working on the topic of masculinities in relation to war and peace. Women peace activists had indicated that two main obstacles continued to interfere with their peace activism:
Since the conclusion of its very successful pilot training cycle on Masculinities, War and Peace (2009-2010), WPP has been incorporating a masculinities perspective in its work.
During October 2012, 15 years upon its establishment as a program, the Women Peacemakers Program became a women-led independent organization, dedicated to advancing peace through gender-sensitive active nonviolence.
Since 1997, WPP has been able to do much of its pioneering work through financial support from the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Currently WPP’s work is financially supported by Cordaid, through a MFSII program alliance.
1997: The Women Peacemakers Program is established as program of IFOR, in order to support and empower women peace activists worldwide and to advocate for a gender perspective in peacebuilding.
1997-2001: WPP starts to work with women peace activists from different parts of the world to gather women’s perspectives, needs, concerns and solutions, in order to inform WPP’s overall program strategy. The focus of the work lies on the empowerment of women peacemakers for gender-sensitive active nonviolence. Activities include the organizing of regional consultations with women peacemakers (Africa, Asia, Europe); raising broader awareness by issuing publications; and supporting women’s peace initiatives with seed funds.
2000: Adoption of the United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1325, recognizing women's experiences during war and women’s crucial role in conflict prevention, transformation and peacebuilding processes. WPP makes UNSCR 1325 implementation one of its core activities, by raising awareness about the resolution as well its practical implementation, amongst both activists and policy makers.
2001-2004: Next to organizing regional consultations for women peacemakers in Latin America, the Pacific region and the MENA region, WPP starts to implement international Training of Trainers Cycles (ToT) on gender-sensitive active nonviolence (GSANV). In addition, WPP continues to support women's peace initiatives with seed funds; and conducts gender trainings for peace organizations as to broaden support for, and implementation of, the WPS agenda.
2005-2008: WPP starts to regionalize its work through the establishment of regional WPP desks in Africa and Asia. Next to its international ToT cycles, regional ToT cycles are initiated in Africa and Asia. In addition, regional gender trainings are organized to increase gender awareness within the peace movement. WPP expands its work on lobby and advocacy for UNSCR 1325, by providing its expertise to the development and evaluation of National Action Plans (NAPs), including the Dutch 1325 NAP.
2009-2010: WPP pioneers the integration of a masculinities perspective in gender-sensitive peacebuilding through the pilot ToT Cycle “Overcoming Violence: Exploring Masculinities, Violence, and Peace”. This two-year training cycle focuses on how hegemonic masculinities relate to war and peace, and how a masculinities perspective can be integrated into the WPS agenda as to support its implementation. The ToT Cycle contributes to increasing men’s understanding of, support for, and involvement in addressing gender justice issues in relation to peacebuilding, as well as exposes the deeply gendered nature of armed conflict.
In addition, WPP raises awareness on the need to incorporate a gender perspective in faith-based peacebuilding, through the organizing of an international consultation with women activists and theologians, and through several publications on the topic. As part of national and international platforms, lobby and advocacy for UNSCR 1325 implementation intensifies. During the 2010 IFOR Council, WPP submits a proposal for continuation of the work as an independent organization.
2011-2015: WPP starts to cooperate with Cordaid via a MFS II program alliance. The WPP vision and mission statement are reformulated following the insights gained from WPP’s masculinities work. From October 2012 onwards, WPP continues as an independent foundation based in The Hague.
Currently, the core focus of our work is supporting the creation of a dynamic network of gender-sensitive nonviolent activists. For example, WPP organizes regional ToT Cycles for female and male activists in the Asia and MENA region, building upon its strategy of women and men working as partners for GSANV. Network Consultation Meetings, sometimes held adjacent to the ToT Cycles, enable WPP to connect its Network Partners, in order to advance GSANV movement building and to stimulate the development of new and innovative approaches. Through its publications and social media outreach, WPP keeps the network informed on latest developments in the Women, Peace and Security field, as well as GSANV initiatives taking place in different parts of the world.
To get an idea on how we implemented our work during 2013, go to the WPP Activities section.
“I want to stress the importance of using a feminist approach in peace and security. In this regard, the 2009-2010 Training of Trainers Cycle on masculinities, violence and peace of WPP opened my eyes as it provided a sharp analysis of patriarchy, militarization and hegemonic masculinities. Women have started the transformative peace agenda and should remain leading it.”
– Anand Pawar, SAMYAK - India
