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Celebrating Feminists’ Voices, Inspiring Global Peace

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#WILPFThenAndNow

Lessons from the WILPF Peace Train: A Q&A with Former Secretary-General Barbara Lochbihler

Thirty years ago this month, feminists from 40 countries boarded the Peace Train from Helsinki to Beijing, creating a moving space for dialogue, solidarity, and action just before the Fourth World Conference on Women (4-15 September, 1995). The Peace Train brought together more than 230 people from 40 countries, crossing borders and ideologies to call for peace, justice and equality.

A small decorative train with Peace Train written on it, adorned with colorful flowers and images of white doves, sits on a stone surface outdoors.
Image credit: WILPF
  • 5 min
WILPF International Secretariat
20 August 2025

Three decades on, in a world still reeling from militarisation, shrinking civic space and global inequality, we reflect on the journey of the Peace Train — a powerful symbol of resistance and hope. As we mark 110 years of WILPF, we’re not just celebrating our legacy; we’re facing the urgent realities of today. In a time when multilateralism is under pressure and peace work is being undermined by rising authoritarianism, repression and underinvestment, the lessons and spirit of the Peace Train remind us why our work remains as vital as ever. 

In this conversation with Barbara Lochbihler, WILPF’s Secretary-General from 1992 1999 and a key organiser of the Peace Train, her reflections offer a stark reminder of what still matters: feminist organising, political clarity and cross-border solidarity. This conversation is part of WILPF’s “Then and Now” campaign — a space to reflect on past actions and connect them to the work we face today. 

You played a key role in launching the WILPF Peace Train to Beijing in 1995. What inspired this bold and symbolic journey across continents? 

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The history of WILPF began in 1915, with women crossing borders to advocate for peace, cooperation, justice and freedom. Eight decades later, in August 1995, we departed from Helsinki – after WILPF’s 80th Congress – on a journey to the World Conference on Women in Beijing. 

The Peace Train traveled through Eastern Europe and Asia, crossing borders and passing through countries experiencing economic and social transition, as well as countries affected by conflicts and wars. Along the way, we met with women from Chechnya and the former Yugoslavia. 

The unique experience of having a train to ourselves – one that we could shape around our feminist anti-war agenda, was inspiring and adventurous, compared to the usual serious, input providing mechanisms to UN Documents.   

The Peace Train brought together women from diverse countries and backgrounds. How did this diversity shape the conversations, priorities and actions that emerged during the trip? 

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The participants came from all walks of life. Many were women who challenged systems of injustice and discrimination in their countries. They advocated for peaceful conflict resolution, educated for peace and human rights, and stood in solidarity against violence against women and for democratic structures. 

We had participants from 42 countries, ranging in age from 18 to 86—223 women and 9 men, both WILPF and non-WILPF members. They lived and traveled together in a confined space for 22 days – a journey filled with surprises and even some conflict. 

We had two empty train cars that we used for discussions, dancing, conflict resolution, and storytelling. Thematically, we covered issues like health and nuclear radiation, disarmament, and the redirection of military spending to improve women’s lives. We talked about eradicating racism, building alternative economies and promoting women in politics. 

In what ways did the Peace Train experience influence the feminist and peace agendas at the Beijing Conference? 

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On our route to Beijing, the Peace Train stopped in St. Petersburg, Saratov, and Voronezh in Russia; Kiev and Odessa in Ukraine; Bucharest in Romania; Istanbul in Turkey; and Almaty in Kazakhstan. Sadly, a planned stop in Urumqi, China, was cancelled at the last moment. 

At each stop, we held activities and roundtable discussions with local women’s organisations, parliamentarians and researchers. The themes were chosen by the local women and connected to the broader, global concerns we carried with us. 

WILPF participants linked these themes to the inputs we prepared for the Beijing Platform for Action. We shared these insights widely and discussed them in the Peace Tent at the NGO Forum in Beijing itself. 

Reflecting on the Peace Train’s significance today, how do you view its symbolism in a world where multilateralism is under threat and civil society spaces are shrinking? 

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We are seeing a sharp increase in authoritarianism, nationalism and racism, along with serious attacks on international institutions like the United Nations. 

WILPF, with its ECOSOC consultative status and its offices in Geneva and New York, must continue to bring women’s peace demands to UN forums and strengthen the Women, Peace and Security agenda. 

What lessons from that experience do you believe are most crucial for feminist peace activists today, especially as we confront growing militarisation, shrinking civil society and rising global inequality?

The Peace Train was a learning and sharing experience for everyone involved. WILPF has never claimed to offer a blueprint for change, but rather a way of interacting, thinking, and working that is dynamic, renewing, and ready to meet new challenges.

International solidarity is just as necessary today as it was 30 years ago. We must continue to work closely with organisations at the local, national and international levels. And we must stay convinced: peace is possible. War is not inevitable.  

What Comes Next 

Barbara’s reflections take us back to a moment of feminist organising that was bold, joyful and deeply political. The Peace Train brought people together across borders to stand for peace and justice – and that sense of collective purpose still resonates today. 

As we look back through WILPF Then and Now, we are not only honouring that history, we’re also reconnecting with the organising tools, values and solidarity that carried us through. Because the struggles we face today demand that same clarity and courage.  

That’s why we’re still calling to Move the Money, away from war and militarism, and toward care, climate, and justice. The Peace Train was about building momentum. Today, we need to build pressure.

→ Explore the WILPF Then and Now campaign 
→ Take action with Move the Money 

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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.

Matt Mahmoudi

Matt Mahmoudi (he/him) is a lecturer, researcher, and organizer. He’s been leading the “Ban the Scan” campaign, Amnesty International’s research and advocacy efforts on banning facial recognition technologies and exposing their uses against racialized communities, from New York City to the occupied Palestinian territories.

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.

A woman in a blue, black, and white dress smiles radiantly in front of a leafy green background.

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.