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#WILPF108

A Reflection on WILPF’s 108th Year

As we near the conclusion of our 108th year, Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF) pauses to reflect on the remarkable journey we’ve shared as advocates for peace, justice, and equality.

Image credit: WILPF
  • 2 min
WILPF International Secretariat
23 December 2023

All along the past year, and since 1915, WILPF stood resolute in its commitment to fostering a world free from violence, discrimination, and inequality. Fueled by the passion and dedication of our members, our collective efforts made a tangible impact on progressing feminist peace, equality and justice, worldwide. 

As we approach the close of 2023, let’s carry the invaluable lessons and achievements from this year into the next. Throughout the year, WILPF celebrated significant progress in amplifying the voices of women in conflict zones and championing the rights and dignity of those facing adversity. Our campaigns, initiatives, and partnerships took on oppressive systems and delved into the root causes of conflict, guiding us toward a more just and sustainable future.

Our commitment was evident in diverse efforts over the past year—from passionate advocacy against gender-based violence to weaving a feminist and antimilitaristic perspective into environmental justice. We stood unwaveringly in solidarity with movements for peace and freedom while responding urgently to crises worldwide, such as in Palestine. These endeavours, among others, consistently underscore our dedication to holistic solutions and the interconnectedness of various struggles.

WILPF’s vision of a world where justice, equality, and peace prevail isn’t a distant dream but a tangible goal within reach. As we step into the upcoming year, let’s embrace fresh opportunities for collaboration, innovation, and advocacy. Together, we can build bridges of understanding, break down barriers, and shape a future guided by the principles of peace and freedom. 

As the year concludes, take some time to reflect on our latest article, “Only Solidarity Will Bring Justice,” by Madeleine Rees. In this piece, WILPF Secretary-General emphasises the urgent recognition of conflict-related sexual violence as a profound violation of women’s rights, especially in conflicts like Israel and Gaza. As a last effort, join us in heeding Madeleine Rees’s call for feminist unity against attempts to silence voices. Read the article and contribute to the ongoing dialogue on feminist peace and justice.

WILPF warmly wishes you a peaceful and restful conclusion to 2023, eagerly anticipating a year ahead filled with progress, strengthened solidarity, and positive transformation.

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WILPF International Secretariat

WILPF International Secretariat, with offices in Geneva and New York, liaises with the International Board and the National Sections and Groups for the implementation of WILPF International Programme, resolutions and policies as adopted by the International Congress. Under the direction of the Secretary-General, the Secretariat also provides support in areas of advocacy, communications, and financial operations.

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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.

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