It’s 2025, and we are marking 110 years of WILPF! 110 years of feminist organising, peace activism and solidarity across borders. On 28 April 1915 we started in The Hague to today, we are carrying a powerful legacy forward and continue to shape it every day. Through wars, crises and day to day patriarchy, our movement around the world has persisted, adapted and evolved in the face of adversity.
But this moment calls for more than a celebration. It is also a time to come together and face the reality of our world today.
The multilateral system, where WILPF has placed so much hope and done so much work – is under immense strain. The pillars of peace, justice and human rights are being eroded. Governments are diverting resources to war, militarisation and repression, often at the cost of the most marginalised. In parallel, civil society is under attack and the spaces where people come together are shrinking. We are in the moment of a profound crisis – but also one of possibility and deep solidarity.
That is why we’re launching “WILPF Then and Now”– a yearlong campaign not just to honour our history, but to mobilise and strengthen our movement in these urgent times. Together, we’ll reflect on our past, confront today’s challenges and look to the future we must build – grounded in justice, equality and feminist peace.
WILPF Then and Now – Honouring our legacy, confronting today’s challenges, and shaping a feminist peace future.
WILPF has stood for 110 years—and we’re still here. Our legacy isn’t behind us; it lives in our actions today. This campaign is a call to reflect, mobilise and gather our strengths in radical solidarity. From 1915 to now, we’ve been building feminist peace across generations, borders and crises.
Let’s get together in a virtual space to reflect on our shared story, acknowledge the current challenges we face and envision how we can strengthen our movement moving forward. We will take some time to:
Monday, 28 April at 10:00 Dakar | 12:00 Madrid | 06:00 Toronto | 19:00 Tokyo (Check your time zone here)
Online via Zoom. Contact membership team at membership@wilpf.org to register.
We’ve created a dedicated set of visuals for you to use in your digital outreach—or even print for your local activism. Need messages to go with the visuals? Download pre-drafted posts in English, Arabic, French, and Spanish.
Don’t forget to tag #WILPF110 and #WILPFThenAndNow so we can share and amplify your contributions across our platforms.
🟠 110 Years of WILPF: Then and Now
For over a century, we’ve been confronting militarism, from resisting tanks at disarmament conferences to calling out the military’s role in climate destruction. WILPF was founded in 1915, during the First World War, by women who refused to accept war as inevitable. Today, we carry forward their resistance and their radical imagination.
#WILPF110 #WILPFThenAndNow
🔵 From 1915 to Today
WILPF began with women crossing borders in wartime to demand peace. Over 110 years later, our struggle continues – in courtrooms, on the streets, at the UN and in our own communities. The world has changed, but our vision remains: a demilitarised, just and feminist future.
#WILPF110 #WILPFThenAndNow
![Two people hold protest signs reading #Feminist Peace and World Peace Starts w[ith] Equal Rights below large text: 110 years, same vision: feminist peace on a blue and purple background.](https://www.wilpf.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/110-Same-Vision_Front.webp)
🟣 110 Years, Same Vision: Feminist Peace
Our feminist peace activism began with a commitment to dismantling the systems that make violence possible — militarism, patriarchy, racism, and capitalism. That work continues. This isn’t nostalgia – it’s a call to keep organising, learning and resisting together.
#WILPF110 #WILPFThenAndNow
🟡 Our Legacy, Our Future
This legacy isn’t just about what we’ve done, it’s about who we’ve stood with, what we’ve resisted and what we’re building now. A world beyond war needs justice and equality. WILPF’s future is grounded in care and solidarity – shaped by the visions of today’s feminist peacebuilders.
#WILPF110 #WILPFThenAndNow
🔶 110 años de WILPF: Ayer y Hoy
Durante más de un siglo, hemos confrontado el militarismo — desde resistir tanques en conferencias sobre desarme hasta denunciar el rol de los ejércitos en la destrucción del clima. WILPF fue fundada en 1915, en plena Primera Guerra Mundial, por mujeres que se negaron a aceptar la guerra como destino inevitable. Hoy continuamos con su resistencia y su imaginación radical.
#WILPF110 #WILPFThenAndNow
🔵 De 1915 hasta hoy
WILPF comenzó con mujeres que cruzaban fronteras en tiempos de guerra para exigir la paz. Más de 110 años después, la lucha continúa — en los tribunales, en las calles, en la ONU y en nuestras propias comunidades. El mundo ha cambiado, pero nuestra visión sigue siendo la misma: un futuro desmilitarizado, justo y feminista.
#WILPF110 #WILPFThenAndNow
🟣 110 años, misma visión: Paz feminista
Nuestro activismo por la paz feminista comenzó con el compromiso de desmontar los sistemas que hacen posible la violencia — el militarismo, el patriarcado, el racismo y el capitalismo. Ese trabajo continúa. Esto no es nostalgia — es una invitación a seguir organizándonos, aprendiendo y resistiendo colectivamente.
#WILPF110 #WILPFThenAndNow
🟡 Nuestro legado, nuestro futuro
Este legado no se trata solo de lo que hemos hecho, sino también de con quiénes hemos caminado, lo que hemos resistido y lo que estamos construyendo hoy. Un mundo más allá de la guerra requiere de justicia e igualdad. El futuro de WILPF está arraigado en el cuidado y la solidaridad, y moldeado por las visiones de quienes hoy buscan construir una paz feminista.
#WILPF110 #WILPFThenAndNow
🔶 110 ans de WILPF : Hier et aujourd’hui
Depuis plus d’un siècle, nous confrontons le militarisme – nous résistons face aux chars lors de conférences sur le désarmement et dénonçons le rôle des armées dans la destruction climatique. La Ligue Internationale des Femmes pour la Paix et la Liberté (WILPF) a été fondée en 1915, pendant la Première Guerre mondiale, par des femmes qui ont refusé de considérer la guerre comme inévitable. Aujourd’hui, nous poursuivons leur résistance et leur imagination radicale.
#WILPF110 #WILPFThenAndNow
🔵 De 1915 à aujourd’hui
WILPF est née grace à des femmes traversant des frontières en temps de guerre pour exiger la paix. Plus de 110 ans plus tard, notre lutte continue – dans les tribunaux, dans la rue, à l’ONU et au sein de nos communautés. Le monde a changé, mais notre vision reste la même : un avenir démilitarisé, juste et féministe.
#WILPF110 #WILPFThenAndNow
🟣 110 ans, même vision : la paix féministe
Notre engagement pour la paix féministe a commencé avec la volonté de démanteler les systèmes qui rendent la violence possible – le militarisme, le patriarcat, le racisme et le capitalisme. Ce travail continue. Ce n’est pas de la nostalgie – c’est un appel à continuer à nous organiser, à nous transformer et à résister ensemble.
#WILPF110 #WILPFThenAndNow
🟡 Notre héritage, notre avenir
Cet héritage ne se résume pas à ce que nous avons fait, mais il concerne aussi les personnes qui ont été à nos côtés, ce à quoi nous avons résisté et ce que nous construisons aujourd’hui. Un monde au-delà de la guerre nécessite la justice et l’égalité. Le futur de WILPF repose sur une bienveillance collective et la solidarité – porté par les visions des bâtisseuses de paix féministes d’aujourd’hui.
#WILPF110 #WILPFThenAndNow
🟠 ١١٠ عامًا من رابطة النساء الدولية للسلام والحرية: بين البارحة واليوم
على مدى أكثر من قرن، واجهنا العسكرة؛ من مقاومة الدبابات في مؤتمرات نزع السلاح إلى فضح دور الجيوش في تدمير المناخ. تأسست رابطة النساء الدولية للسلام والحرية في عام ١٩١٥، خلال الحرب العالمية الأولى، من قبل نساء رفضن اعتبار الحرب أمراً حتمياً. اليوم، نواصل مسيرة مقاومتهن ونستلهم خيالهن الراديكالي.
#WILPF110 #WILPFThenAndNow
🔵 من ١٩١٥ حتى اليوم
انطلقت رابطة النساء الدولية للسلام والحرية عندما عبرت النساء الحدود في زمن الحرب، مطالِبات بالسلام. وبعد أكثر من ١١٠ عامًا، لا يزال نضالنا مستمرًا – سواء في قاعات المحاكم، أو في الشوارع، أو داخل الأمم المتحدة، أو ضمن مجتمعاتنا. لقد تغيّر العالم، لكن رؤيتنا تظل ثابتة: مستقبل خالٍ من العسكرة، يقوم على العدالة والنسوية.
#WILPF110 #WILPFThenAndNow
🟣 ١١٠ عاما، رؤية واحدة: السلام النسوي
بدأ نشاطنا من أجل السلام النسوي من خلال التزامنا بتفكيك الأنظمة التي تُنتِج العنف، مثل العسكرة والباترياركية والعنصرية والرأسمالية. ولا يزال هذا العمل مستمرًا. فهذه ليست لحظة حنين، بل دعوة لمواصلة التنظيم والتعلُّم والمقاومة الجماعية.
#WILPF110 #WILPFThenAndNow
إرثنا ومستقبلنا 🟡
هذا الإرث ليس مقتصرًا على إنجازاتنا فحسب، بل يشمل من وقفنا إلى جانبهم، وما قاومناه، وما نبنيه اليوم. إن عالمًا بلا حروب يتطلب رعاية جماعية، وتضامنًا، وتحولًا جذريًا وهيكليًا. يعتمد مستقبل الرابطة على العدالة ويتشكل برؤى بناة السلام النسويات اليوم.
#WILPF110 #WILPFThenAndNow
We invite all WILPFers, from long-standing members to new activists, to reflect on what brings us together in this moment and why WILPF’s mission is more urgent than ever.
Email us at communications@wilpf.org – we’d love to collaborate!
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 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.
Your donation isn’t just a financial transaction; it’s a step toward a more compassionate and equitable world. With your support, we’re poised to achieve lasting change that echoes through generations. Thank you!
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 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 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.
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.
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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.
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.
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.
