To celebrate May 24 – International Women’s Day for Peace and Disarmament – the Women Peacemakers Program, in cooperation with Humanity House, organized the public event “Peace: Men & Women as Allies”.
Over 15 activists, men and women from all over the world, shared their personal story on gender-sensitive active nonviolence from a masculinities perspective with a packed Humanity House.
A speech contextualizing the work on masculinities from a feminist perspective and two panel discussions, the first focusing on men and women working as allies for gender- sensitive peacebuilding and the second highlighting the different regional contexts of working on masculinities and advancing women’s leadership within peacebuilding, informed the public on the theory and practices of the theme.
Here are some quotes of the speakers:
“No talking masculinities without feminisms” - Anand Pawar, India
"As we interact as a man and woman in a respectful manner, I have seen a change in the community, as we are a role model for working together.” – Seconde Nyanzobe, Burundi
“If we raise our children with violence and wean them with aggression, they will have no appetite for peace” – Alimou Diallo, Guinea
“First we as women did not see the added value of working with men, but the transformation of the young men by the training of WPP convinced us.”- Netsai Mushonga, Zimbabwe
The evening also marked the launch of the annual WPP May 24 Publication – “Men and Women working as Partners for Gender-Sensitive Active Nonviolence. Stories from the Field” - by Joost Andriessen, Director Stabilisation and Humanitarian Aid Department of the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs. This year’s publication features the personal stories of men trained on gender-sensitive active nonviolence and reflections of pioneering women peacemakers on the stories of the men.
“With UNSCR 1325 as the cornerstone for involving women in peace processes, the International Women’s Day for Peace and Disarmament becomes more acknowledged. I encourage WPP to carry on their work, because recognition of women’s leadership in peacebuilding has still a long way to go.” – Joost Andriessen, the Netherlands
The WPP May 24 Publication 2013 can be retrieved here:
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.
