"Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly" - Martin Luther King jr.
Sometimes you are provided with a key moment, when you can make a difference in an individual's life, and through this, the life of many. In this light, WPP strongly supports the nomination of Leyla Yunus, a courageous Azerbaijani woman human rights and peace activist, by Women Human Rights Defenders International Coalition (WHRDIC) for the 2015 Nobel Peace Prize. We join WHRDIC in endorsing Leyla to receive this Prize.
The Nobel Peace Prize will be a recognition for her dedication to human rights, her pioneering role in the field of Women, Peace & Security, and an encouragement for women’s leadership for peace all over the world. Moreover, the award has the possibility to change her life, and that of many other Azerbaijani human rights activists - and consequently ordinary citizens.
Leyla Yunus has been and remains a leading example of women’s leadership for peace. She has been at the forefront of attempts to bridge the country’s long hostility with Armenia over the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region through people-to-people dialogue.
In conflict and social injustices, women are often the first “crossing the lines”, reaching out to the other side to start initiatives for peace and justice. This requires courage and dedication, because as pioneers, women often face severe repercussions for taking the first steps for dialogue and reconciliation. Given the constant threats Leyla Yunus has been facing over the years due to her work for justice and peace, with her recent arrest and inhumane detention as latest addition, the dedication and courage that Leyla has shown makes her a role model for us all.
Although there is increasing recognition for women’s leadership for peace, Leyla’s situation – being detained for more than 90 days under the accusation of treason due to her peace work - illustrates the extreme pressure women peace activists have to face on a daily basis. Facing harsh prison conditions on a daily basis - including being denied proper medical care - have resulted in a quick deterioration of her health and well-being.
As fellow human rights and peace activists, we find it disturbing that, so close to the borders of the European Union, space for civil society working to uphold peace and democracy is shrinking rapidly, with worrying efforts to silence them completely. The Nobel Peace Prize will be a support for Leyla Yunus, her husband Arif – also detained – and the 96 other political prisoners in Azerbaijan, showing them that we stand with them in their struggle for justice and peace. It can help turning things around in Azerbaijan, for Leyla, for all political prisoners, and for the Azerbaijani people.
In a world where human rights and peace is increasingly under pressure, civil society needs brave activists such as Leyla for truly democratic and peaceful societies. Awarding Leyla Yunus the 2015 Nobel Peace Prize Leyla is crucial to make sure her unique voice calling for peace, human rights and justice across borders will not be silenced.
Read here more about her nomination
Find the latest updates about the detention of Leyla and Arif 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.
