A stylized flower with five petals depicting symbols of peace and unity: a dove, raised fists, a plant sprouting, a protest sign with #FeministPeace, and broken weapons. Each petal is a different color: blue, yellow, green, pink, and red.

We are a global membership-based feminist peacebuilding organisation

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Advancing Gender and Inclusivity in Small Arms Control: Key Takeaways from REVCON4

Building a World Without Violence: A WILPF Toolkit on Gender-Based Violence

Here Is How We
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Latest News and Stories

A Recap: Beyond Borders – Stories of Feminist Resistance

In Geneva’s historic old town, the Salle Centrale de la Madeleine hosted Beyond Borders – Stories of Feminist Resistance on 29 May. Organised by WILPF, the event showcased the powerful narratives of feminist resistance through various artistic performances from Ukraine, Iran, Afghanistan, and Palestine, drawing attention to ongoing conflicts and the unwavering spirit of those striving for peace and justice.

Illustration of two women wearing headscarves, exchanging glances amidst a backdrop of smoke, fire, and silhouetted figures. Drops of red paint and a fragmented landscape evoke themes from "Rethinking the Narrative on Palestine: Towards a Feminist Liberation Agenda.

Rethinking the Narrative on Palestine: Towards a Feminist Liberation Agenda 

One year has passed since the world witnessed the intensification of war crimes and the horrific genocide in Gaza, perpetrated by Israel. It has not stopped, and the violence continues […]

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Two women seated and engaged in discussion at a panel event. The background displays the GCSP logo and the words Geneva Centre for Security Policy. Audience members are visible in the foreground. One woman gestures expressively while speaking.

Blog

“We’re Not Here to Trigger Your Feelings—We’re Here to Inspire Action”: Key Insights from Our GPW Panel on Conflict, Gender and Disasters

An illustration titled "Voices from Gaza: Unraveling the Genocide" depicts two women on opposite sides, framed by buildings and a roaring flame with Arabic text at its heart. This powerful image intertwines personal stories with the lens of international law.

Article

New Podcast Episode — Voices from Gaza: Unraveling the Genocide through Personal Stories and the Lens of International Law

Illustration of two women wearing headscarves, exchanging glances amidst a backdrop of smoke, fire, and silhouetted figures. Drops of red paint and a fragmented landscape evoke themes from "Rethinking the Narrative on Palestine: Towards a Feminist Liberation Agenda.

Blog series

Rethinking the Narrative on Palestine: Towards a Feminist Liberation Agenda 

An activism guide cover titled African Union Silencing the Guns in Africa features a persons hand stopping a revolvers gun barrel. The cover has red background with logos of Gun Free South Africa and WILPF.

Webinar

JOINT STATEMENT: With murder rates in Africa predicted to increase, Silencing the Guns Activism Guide launched to support activists. 

A group of diverse individuals stands behind a large purple banner reading Feminists Demand Climate Justice. They raise their fists in solidarity. A mural with In Solidarity for a Green World is visible in the background.

Article

COP29 in Review: Failures, Progress and What’s Next

A person holding a snowboard and giving a thumbs-up stands in front of colorful graphics with the word Afghanistan, a peace symbol, and Young WILPF Network logo. Curved lines and a globe icon adorn the backdrop.

Article

Q&A with Musawer Khanzai: From Snowboarding to Supporting Afghan Women through Art and Tradition

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Stylized flower with petals featuring images symbolizing peace, diversity, and activism: a dove, raised fists, wooden figures on blocks, a seedling, and peace sign. One petal includes a hand holding a #Feminist Peace sign with crossed-out weapons.

We are a global membership-based feminist peacebuilding organisation

Berit Aasen

Europe Alternate Regional Representative

Berit Aasen is a sociologist by training and has worked at the OsloMet Metropolitan University on Oslo. She has 40 years of experience in research and consultancy in development studies, including women, peace, and security, and in later years in asylum and refugee studies. Berit Aasen joined WILPF Norway five years ago. She is an alternate member of the National Board of WILPF Norway, and representing WILPF Norway in the UN Association of Norway, the Norwegian 1325 network and the Norwegian Women’s Lobby. Berit Aasen has been active in the WILPF European Liaison group and is committed to strengthening WILPF sections and membership both in Europe and relations across continents.

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Melissa Torres

VICE-PRESIDENT

Prior to being elected Vice-President, Melissa Torres was the WILPF US International Board Member from 2015 to 2018. Melissa joined WILPF in 2011 when she was selected as a Delegate to the Commission on the Status of Women as part of the WILPF US’ Practicum in Advocacy Programme at the United Nations, which she later led. She holds a PhD in Social Work and is a professor and Global Health Scholar at Baylor College of Medicine and research lead at BCM Anti-Human Trafficking Program. Of Mexican descent and a native of the US/Mexico border, Melissa is mostly concerned with the protection of displaced Latinxs in the Americas. Her work includes training, research, and service provision with the American Red Cross, the National Human Trafficking Training and Technical Assistance Centre, and refugee resettlement programs in the U.S. Some of her goals as Vice-President are to highlight intersectionality and increase diversity by fostering inclusive spaces for mentorship and leadership. She also contributes to WILPF’s emerging work on the topic of displacement and migration.

Jamila Afghani

VICE-PRESIDENT

Jamila Afghani is the President of WILPF Afghanistan which she started in 2015. She is also an active member and founder of several organisations including the Noor Educational and Capacity Development Organisation (NECDO). Elected in 2018 as South Asia Regional Representative to WILPF’s International Board, WILPF benefits from Jamila’s work experience in education, migration, gender, including gender-based violence and democratic governance in post-conflict and transitional countries.

Sylvie Jacqueline Ndongmo

PRESIDENT

Sylvie Jacqueline NDONGMO is a human rights and peace leader with over 27 years experience including ten within WILPF. She has a multi-disciplinary background with a track record of multiple socio-economic development projects implemented to improve policies, practices and peace-oriented actions. Sylvie is the founder of WILPF Cameroon and was the Section’s president until 2022. She co-coordinated the African Working Group before her election as Africa Representative to WILPF’s International Board in 2018. A teacher by profession and an African Union Trainer in peace support operations, Sylvie has extensive experience advocating for the political and social rights of women in Africa and worldwide.

WILPF Afghanistan

In response to the takeover of Afghanistan by the Taliban and its targeted attacks on civil society members, WILPF Afghanistan issued several statements calling on the international community to stand in solidarity with Afghan people and ensure that their rights be upheld, including access to aid. The Section also published 100 Untold Stories of War and Peace, a compilation of true stories that highlight the effects of war and militarisation on the region. 

IPB Congress Barcelona

WILPF Germany (+Young WILPF network), WILPF Spain and MENA Regional Representative

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Demilitarisation

WILPF uses feminist analysis to argue that militarisation is a counter-productive and ill-conceived response to establishing security in the world. The more society becomes militarised, the more violence and injustice are likely to grow locally and worldwide.

Sixteen states are believed to have supplied weapons to Afghanistan from 2001 to 2020 with the US supplying 74 % of weapons, followed by Russia. Much of this equipment was left behind by the US military and is being used to inflate Taliban’s arsenal. WILPF is calling for better oversight on arms movement, for compensating affected Afghan people and for an end to all militarised systems.

Militarised masculinity

Mobilising men and boys around feminist peace has been one way of deconstructing and redefining masculinities. WILPF shares a feminist analysis on the links between militarism, masculinities, peace and security. We explore opportunities for strengthening activists’ action to build equal partnerships among women and men for gender equality.

WILPF has been working on challenging the prevailing notion of masculinity based on men’s physical and social superiority to, and dominance of, women in Afghanistan. It recognizes that these notions are not representative of all Afghan men, contrary to the publicly prevailing notion.

Feminist peace​

In WILPF’s view, any process towards establishing peace that has not been partly designed by women remains deficient. Beyond bringing perspectives that encapsulate the views of half of the society and unlike the men only designed processes, women’s true and meaningful participation allows the situation to improve.

In Afghanistan, WILPF has been demanding that women occupy the front seats at the negotiating tables. The experience of the past 20 has shown that women’s presence produces more sustainable solutions when they are empowered and enabled to play a role.