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WILPF Advisory Board meeting (2)

WILPF’s Advisory Board members are convening to discuss recommendations to put forward to the International Board. On the agenda: This is a closed meeting for Advisory Board members (there is an identical session on 13 May to accommodate different time zones). For any questions contact membership@wilpf.org

WILPF Advisory Board meeting (1)

WILPF’s Advisory Board members are convening to discuss recommendations to put forward to the International Board. On the agenda: This is a closed meeting for Advisory Board members (there is an identical session on 15 May to accommodate different time zones). For any questions contact membership@wilpf.org

Informal Consultations on Lethal Autonomous Weapons Systems

An image features a raised hand in a stop gesture on the left. Two drones are on the right, each in separate blue circles. Three icons, a peace sign, handshake, and coin, are on a red triangle in the bottom left corner.

Pursuant to resolution 79/62 adopted by the General Assembly on 2 December 2024, an informal consultation will take place on 12 and 13 May 2025 in Conference Room 1 at United Nations Headquarters in New York.  Read WILPF resources related to this topic from Reaching Critical Will: https://www.reachingcriticalwill.org/disarmament-fora/others/informal-consultations-laws Reaching Critical Will produces regular reports during meetings related to autonomous […]

Peace Team Community of Practice

A simple line drawing of two open hands holding a heart shape, with abstract flowing lines suggesting care and support.

To support WILPF’s collective learning and exchange, our Peace Team is launching a Community of Practice for members to explore and exchange on methodologies that can help us facilitate safe spaces, navigate tensions and address conflicts constructively within our organisation and in our peace work! Join this space to learn more about a new Culture Building Toolkit, to […]

Peace Team Community of Practice

A simple line drawing of two open hands holding a heart shape, with abstract flowing lines suggesting care and support.

To support WILPF’s collective learning and exchange, our Peace Team is launching a Community of Practice for members to explore and exchange on methodologies that can help us facilitate safe spaces, navigate tensions and address conflicts constructively within our organisation and in our peace work! Join this space to learn more about a new Culture Building Toolkit, to […]

Addressing Compliance Gaps in Arms Transfers: Is the Arms Trade Above International Law?

Rows of pink tanks cast shadows on a matching pink background. The image promotes a public event on arms trade and international law, hosted by Geneva Academy, WILPF, and QUNO, with event details at the top.

Against a backdrop of escalating global militarisation, WILPF, Geneva Academy of International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights, and the Quaker UN Office in Geneva (QUNO) are hosting a public event to discuss: Participants will also engage with the priority areas for action identified in the latest OHCHR report on arms transfers (A/HRC/58/41), with a focus on enhancing safeguards, strengthening […]

WILPF UK Webinar: ‘Is degrowth a way forward for feminist peace-building and demilitarisation?’

Title: WILPF UK Webinar ‘Is degrowth a way forward for feminist peace-building and demilitarisation?’ Host/event owner/convener: WILPF UK Open to: Public When? 12 May 2025 from 7PM Event type: Webinar About: We are in a climate emergency compounded by a headlong pursuit of militarism, destructive economic growth, and the massive inequalities created by colonialism and capitalism. In this webinar […]

Women, Peace and Security at 25

Purple gradient graphic with text: Women, Peace and Security at 25. Anniversary Conference of UNSCR 1325. Oslo 5-6 May 2025.

Join global leaders, activists, researchers and experts to commemorate 25 years of UN Security Council Resolution 1325 and chart the future of women’s participation in peacebuilding during the two-day international conference “25th Anniversary Conference of UNSCR 1325 Women, Peace and Security”.  When: 5-6 May 2025  Where: Red Cross Conference Center, Oslo, Norway and online  Prepare for insightful […]

Environment Working Group Meeting

A group of six people standing together, smiling, in front of a sign that reads COP27 Sharm El Sheikh. They are dressed in a mix of colorful traditional and modern clothing. Sun-themed artwork decorates the sign.

The next Environment Working Group (EWG) meeting will provide space to discuss ongoing work, share updates, and hear from Sections on their Earth Day activities.  Open to: EWG members How to participate: EWG members can join via Zoom. Contact membership@wilpf.org for the Zoom link! Host: This meeting is hosted by the EWG Convenors.

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.