WPP considers it important to document and disseminate activists’ experiences and stories, to raise awareness about the importance of women’s participation in, and leadership during peace processes.
Since its establishment in 1997, WPP publishes the annual May 24 publication called “May 24 Pack”. This May 24 Pack is published in celebration of the International Women's Day for Peace and Disarmament, during which we highlight the contributions pioneering women and men are making to gender-just peace, as well as provide suggestions for action to the reader. In addition to the May 24 Pack, WPP regularly publishes reports on its activities, such as its Training of Trainers (ToT) Cycles and Consultation Meetings.
Please find hereunder the most recent WPP Reports and Publications. If you have any questions regarding publications, you can send an email to info@womenpeacemakersprogram.org.
On October 2, 2017, 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, organized an interactive event entitled “Financial Inclusion for Freedom and Security” in The Hague.
The event brought together 60 members of civil society, government, inter-governmental organizations, academics and the financial sector to discuss the implications of countering terrorism financing regulations (CTF) in the aftermath of the events of 9/11 on shrinking civil society space, and to formulate a set of policy recommendations. This report highlights the main points of the panel discussion as well as the policy recommendations set forth by the group.
DownloadThis consultation report provides the reader with brief background information on the issue of countering terrorism financing (CTF); its impacts on women’s civil society organizing in the MENA region; and key recommendations formulated by the participants during the consultation.
Tightening the Purse Strings: What Countering Terrorism Financing Costs Gender Equality and Security represents the culmination of research, interviews, surveys, and statistical analysis carried out by the International Human Rights Clinic at Duke University School of Law and the Women Peacemakers Program, to begin to fill this gap in understanding how responses to terrorism and violent extremism may in practice squeeze women’s rights and their defenders between terror and counter-terror. As a direct and indirect result of these rules, women’s rights organizations have lost critical access to resources, as well as the ability to fully use banking facilities, all of which circumscribe how, where, and in some cases, even if, women’s rights organizations can undertake their core work on mobilizing human rights, gender equality, and advancing the women, peace, and security agenda.
DownloadThe Women Peacemakers Program, together with Cordaid and the Global Partnership for the Prevention of Armed Conflict (GPPAC) are pleased to present the Action Research Report: "Candid Voices from the Field: Obstacles to a Transformative Women, Peace and Security Agenda and to Women's Meaningful Participation in Building Peace and Security". This research and action project was launched in the context of the 15th anniversary of UNSCR 1325, to discover the deep-rooted obstacles to women’s participation in peace and security efforts. Moving beyond the UN Security Council’s definition of conflict situations, the project looks at a broader geographic picture, with case studies that illuminate conflict prevention, nonviolent conflict resolution, and post-conflict rebuilding. Focusing on a broad regional representation, the project addresses conflicts traditionally under-represented in the discourse, and how women are working in these areas and can be better supported.
DownloadOn International Women's Day for Peace and Disarmament, WPP is happy to publish a bundle of five teaser articles from the upcoming 2015 May 24 Pack "Women, Peace and Security: Business as Usual?" In the week of May 24, WPP published each day a teaser article of the upcoming May 24 Pack, as a run up to this special day. The actual launch of the full 2015 WPP May 24 Pack will coincide with the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Based Violence Campaign, in November 2015.
DownloadThis Policy Brief discusses the impact of counterterrorism measures (CTM) as a worrying emerging trend affecting women’s organizations worldwide - having the potential to become a serious disabler to women’s human rights and peace activism and hence UNSCR 1325 implementation in upcoming years. In light of the Global Study on UNSCR 1325, it is critical to shed light on the CTM-related structural obstacles that women’s organizations and activists are increasingly facing on the ground. This is needed in order to develop appropriate responses that can ensure that women’s transformative work for peace and gender justice around the world can actually continue to be supported in the future.
DownloadInternationally, recognition is growing that men are important stakeholders in the struggle for gender justice and gender-sensitive peacebuilding, which is reflected by a growing number of organizations and institutions starting to incorporate a masculinities approach in their gender and/or peace work. As a response to feedback from women peace activists in the WPP network, WPP has pioneered this approach since 2009, when it organized the first Training of Trainers program ever focusing on integrating a masculinities approach in gender-sensitive peacebuilding. It confirmed for WPP that changing cultures of violence requires the empowerment of women peace activists, as well as more men working with women as partners for gender-sensitive nonviolent social change. As a result, the concept of masculinities, and how this relates to war and peace, became firmly incorporated in WPP’s strategic focus and work. Building upon WPP's experience and multiple consultations with WPP partners, this Policy Brief highlights key insights and specific recommendations for integrating a masculinities approach in gender-sensitive peacebuilding.
DownloadWith the 15th anniversary of UNSCR 1325 around the corner (October 2015), this brief draws upon the discussions held during the WPP Global Consultation (July 2014) about current trends and challenges in advancing implementation of UNSCR 1325. For 2,5 days consultation participants analyzed, from a holistic gender perspective, UNSCR 1325 in connection with militarism and the current global security framework. This analysis exposes the negative impact of current trends to militarize security for the Women, Peace & Security agenda; it also provides an alternative nonviolent framework for creating sustainable peace for both women and men. WPP has included recommendations to advance gender-sensitive peace and security in the brief, addressing a wide variety of stakeholders, from international (UN) to the local level, from governmental officials to (women) peace organizations."
DownloadThis May 24 pack comprises of 23 articles written by leading academics, pioneering women peace activists and civil society representatives from all over the world, critically reflecting on the links between gender & militarism from multiple perspectives.It is a collection of academic articles, personal testimonies and civil society initiatives advocating for awareness and action around the multi-layered connections between gender and militarism, and highlighting gender-sensitive nonviolent action (people power) as a powerful alternative to address conflict. It contains contributions from, among others, Cynthia Cockburn, Cynthia Enloe, Sharon Bhagwan-Rolls and the Center of Women’s Global Leadership about the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence Campaign.
DownloadBased on two consultations on Gender, Religion & Peace and a panel discussion discussion in New York, WPP developed a policy brief outlining the importance of integrating a gender perspective in faith-based peacebuilding. Considerable attention is given to the role that religion plays during situations of conflict, especially when this manifests itself in the rise of religious fundamentalisms and the consequent erosion of women’s rights. Less attention is given to the many examples when religion plays an important role in promoting peace and human rights. Read here about the challenges in regards to Gender, Religion & Peace, as well as recommendations to overcome them.
DownloadFor the 13th anniversary of UNSCR 1325, the Women Peacemakers Program, the Global Partnership for the Prevention of Armed Conflict and Conciliation Resources organized a panel discussion on gender, peace and security, hosted by the Permanent Mission of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to the UN. This report outlines key recommendations formulated during the panel discussion to advance the implementation of the transformative agenda of UNSCR 1325.
DownloadThe 2013 May 24 Action Pack is a collection of stories of transformation written by former trainees of the WPP Training of Trainers Cycle 2009-2010 on Masculinities, Violence and Peacebuilding. Thirteen men share on how this training impacted their personal and professional life, and how they continue to work as partners of women peace activists for gender-sensitive peacebuilding. Women activists reflect on the stories of the men and their own experience of working with men in their community work.
DownloadThe first training of the Asia Training of Trainers Cycle (2012-2013) brought together female and male peace activists and trainers from Asia for a 8-day training to advance using gender- sensitive nonviolence as a tool for inclusive and sustainable peacebuilding. This report provides an impression of the training exercises and some of the discussions that took place during the eight training days
DownloadThe 2012 edition of the May 24 Action Pack pays tribute to the courage and drive of young activists, who are working all over the world for the cause of gender justice and sustainable peace. It highlights the important role of young women and men in effecting nonviolent social and political change, and gives attention to new strategies and tools in their activism.
DownloadThis May 24 publication looks at the nexus of religion, women’s rights and peacebuilding, and provides an analysis of obstacles and opportunities in terms of integrating a gender perspective in faith-based peacebuilding. It also considers the importance of building bridges: Between secular and progressive religious women activists; between women activists who are working within different faith traditions and settings; and between women peacemakers and men.
DownloadFrom 13-15 September 2010, leading women peace activists representing a variety of religion-inspired and secular organizations came together in Cyprus for WPP's Consultation on faith-based peacebuilding and gender. This report provides an impression of the discussions that took place during the Consultation, along with recommendations.
DownloadFollowing the pilot Training of Trainers Cycle 2009-2010 on masculinities, violence and peace, this 2010 May 24 Pack goes beyond seeing UNSCR 1325 as merely a women's issue. It explores the opportunities and risks in terms of including men and the topic of masculinities in the Women, Peace and Security Agenda. The publication also shares inspiring examples of the work being done by men and women all over the world, who are challenging patriarchal structures in order to bring about inclusive and peaceful societies.
DownloadThis report gives an overview of the experiences of the male participants after they returned home following the first training block of the pilot ToT Cycle. It covers the development and implementation of their country-based follow-up initiatives; the content of the second block of the pilot ToT Cycle; as well as the results of the external evaluation of the ToT Cycle.
DownloadIn this report, WPP shares the rationale, motivations and lessons learned from the first training block of the WPP Pilot Training of Trainers Cycle on Masculinities, Violence and Peacebuilding for male peace activists. In addition, it gives an overview of the lessons learned and highlights of the first training block.
DownloadGender-Sensitive Active Nonviolence (GSANV) ensures that nonviolent actions and strategies are gender-sensitive. It highlights the importance of women’s nonviolent leadership, and underlines that any successful nonviolent strategy needs to include women’s perspectives and take into account women’s needs and concerns. This checklist offers points to consider when organizing a Gender-Sensitive Active Nonviolence training or action.
