2015 has been a very important year for WILPF!
Not only did we turn 100, but we also hosted the most vital conference of the year: Our Women’s Power to Stop War conference in The Hague, the Netherlands (where it all started in 1915), gathering more than 1.000 peace activists and women’s human rights defenders from more than 80 nations to discuss and set the new peace agenda of the century.
2015 was also the year that we held our International Congress. During this Congress we launched our new manifesto, adopted 11 Congress Resolutions, and welcomed three new National Sections: Cameroon, Ghana and Israel. We now have 33 Sections all over the globe and are proud to say that we keep growing.
Additionally, we have participated in discussions on the international level: Among other things, we strongly supported the negotiations of a binding treaty on transnational corporations and human rights, called on states to stop the use of explosive weapons in populated areas, advocated for a feminist foreign policy, and continued advocating for turning commitments to the Women, Peace and Security Agenda into action.
We are honored to share that we were nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize this year. Although we did not receive it, we were so privileged to have four Nobel Peace Prize laureates to open our Women’s Power to Stop War conference along with our Secretary General Madeleine Rees and former long time Secretary GeneralEdith Ballantyne.
While 2015 has been an amazing year, it has also been tumultuous. Bombing and shelling in towns and cities has been out of control, generating humanitarian suffering and refugee crises. Attacks in Europe have led to renewed war cries, bombing raids, and rising military spending. Weapons have been sold into conflict zones, fueling further destruction.
WILPF is more needed than ever.
Unfortunately, 2015 has also been a year where some states have started to cut the funding to peace work and peace organisations. WILPF is facing difficulties finance wise for 2016.
If you would like to support our work for next year, please consider giving us an end-of-the-year donation. Just click on the box below and you will be guided to our donation page.
We would like to thank all of you for your support in 2015.
The success of WILPF would not have been possible without the support of our sections, members, followers, and donors.
Thank you for supporting our work for peace during this last year, for reading our updates, articles, and blogs on current issues, and for spreading the word on social media in particular.
We are taking a little break for the holidays, but we look forward to continuing the discussion in 2016.