"The instinct of self-preservation in human society, acting almost subconsciously, as do all drives in the human mind, is rebelling against the constantly refined methods of annihilation and against the destruction of humanity."
- Bertha von Suttner (Peace & Disarmament Activist and First Woman Nobel Peace Prize Laureate)
Happy 21st International Women's Day for Peace & Disarmament! On this day we celebrate the historic and current efforts of women for peace and disarmament around the world. The message behind this day is clear: We refuse violence as a solution to the world’s challenges. While we remember and rejoice in the many strides the women’s peace movement has made over the years, we are also deeply concerned about the growing violence and militarization across the globe, and the shrinking space for women’s civil society to counter that.
Last year we witnessed enthusiastic commitments by governments around the world to the Sustainable Development Goals, which included a strong focus on gender equality and peace. During Fall 2015, there was a critical reflection on UNSCR 1325 implementation in the Global Study, followed by an unprecedented response from member states that they would step up in order to ensure women’s equal participation in peacebuilding.
Yet, these commitments have not resulted in increased concrete support for women civil society worldwide. In fact, according to a recent OECD report, although aid to support gender equality has been growing overall, these funds are rarely channeled through women’s rights groups. Global support to women’s rights organizations has actually significantly decreased.
Not only are women’s organizations facing an increasingly challenging donor landscape, globally legislation clamping down on civil society has been ubiquitous. Over the past three years, more than 60 countries have drafted or passed laws curtailing the work of civil society organizations. These laws have a particularly devastating effect on women’s organizations because of the highly political nature of their work, and the fact that many women's rights groups and organizations are often smaller organizations - also due to lesser funding opportunities - which makes them more vulnerable.
Despite the challenges, women all over the world continue voicing their agency and drive for peace and social justice loud and clear, often at great personal cost.
Today, on the 21st anniversary of the International Women’s Day for Peace and Disarmament, while we should remember and take joy in how far we have come, it should also be a firm reminder to us all to never loose sight of addressing the root causes of conflict and structural violence and exclusion. Involving women in the solution in a meaningful way and taking their analysis on root causes seriously is an essential component in any genuine struggle for sustainable peace.
12 Dec '17 Today, we are pleased to share with you the Conference Report “Financial Inclusion for Freedom and Security” by the Women Peacemakers Program, Duke Law International Human Rights Clinic, Human Security Collective, Transnational Institute, the Charity & Security Network, in cooperation with the Knowledge Platform Security and Rule of Law.
7 Dec '17 Today, on the 13th day of the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence Campaign, we bring you the sad news that from 15 December onwards, the Women Peacemakers Program (WPP) will have to close its doors. We would like to ask for your time to read what has driven us to make this decision.
7 Nov '17 On Thursday, 26 October 2017, a side event entitled, “Pulling the Rug from Under Our Feet: What is the UNSCR 1325 Without Civil Society Freedoms?” was hosted on the margins of the 17th anniversary of United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1325. The event was hosted by the Women Peacemakers Program (WPP) and the Dutch Mission, in collaboration with Duke Law’s International Human Rights Clinic, Al-Hayat Center for Civil Society Development, Arab Women Organisation of Jordan, NOVACT, Free Sight Association, Iraqi Al-Amal Association, Women Empowerment Organisation, NGO Working Group on Women, Peace and Security and Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom. This article briefly looks at the main issues discussed during the event.
