WILPF is delighted to announce that Dr Amrita Kapur will be its new Secretary-General. She will step into her role in February.
Dr Kapur, from Australia, is a highly regarded intersectional feminist leader. With over 18 years of experience in justice, security, and peacebuilding, she is a gender expert specialising in conflict-affected contexts. As a domestic and international lawyer dedicated to transformational change, Dr Kapur has spent 15 years providing strategic, operational and policy-driven expertise, along with research and capacity-building support. She has worked with international organisations, governments and civil society entities in more than 20 countries. She has deep experience in the MENA region, spanning Yemen, Libya, Palestine, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria; and Ukraine.
“It is a privilege to have the chance to contribute to WILPF at this challenging time, where feminist advocacy is needed more than ever to challenge the root causes of violence with a transformative vision for peace”, said Dr Kapur.
Most recently, in her capacity as the Head of the Gender Section at UNRWA and institutional gender lead, Dr Kapur developed the Agency’s Gender Strategy (2023-28) and Gender Action Plan, and led on Agency-wide gender priorities, including with donor States. She previously facilitated Track 1.5 and Track 2 peacebuilding dialogue sessions at the Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue and DCAF – Geneva Centre for Security Sector Governance, complimenting her gender expertise in transitional justice, international criminal justice and the WPS Agenda.
“We are thrilled to have Amrita as the new WILPF Secretary General . Her skills and expertise will undoubtedly strengthen our movement and our vision for sustainable peace”, said Sylvie Ndongmo, WILPF International President.
Dr Kapur takes over this role from Madeleine Rees who was the Secretary- General of WILPF for 14 years.
WILPF a le plaisir d’annoncer que Dr Amrita Kapur deviendra sa nouvelle Secrétaire générale en février.
Originaire d’Australie, Dr Kapur est une leader féministe intersectionnelle de renom. Avec plus de 18 ans d’expérience dans les domaines de la justice, de la sécurité et de la consolidation de la paix, elle est une experte en genre, particulièrement spécialisée dans les contextes touchés par les conflits. En tant qu’avocate tant nationale qu’internationale, engagée en faveur du changement transformationnel, Dr Kapur a consacré 15 ans à fournir des expertises stratégiques, opérationnelles et politiques, tout en soutenant la recherche et le renforcement des capacités. Son parcours l’a conduite à collaborer avec des organisations internationales, des gouvernements et des acteur.ice.s de la société civile dans plus de 20 pays. Elle possède une expertise approfondie dans la région MENA, ayant travaillé au Yémen, en Libye, en Palestine, en Jordanie, au Liban, en Syrie mais aussi Ukraine.
« C’est un privilège de pouvoir contribuer au développement de WILPF en cette période cruciale, où le plaidoyer féministe est plus que jamais nécessaire pour remettre en question les causes profondes de la violence et offrir une vision transformatrice de la paix », a déclaré Dr Kapur.
Dernièrement, en tant que responsable de la Section Genre à l’UNRWA et cheffe de l’orientation institutionnelle sur le genre, Dr Kapur a élaboré la Stratégie Genre de l’Agence (2023-2028) et le Plan d’Action Genre, tout en pilotant les priorités de genre au sein de l’Agence, notamment auprès des États donateurs. Elle a également facilité des sessions de dialogue en faveur de la construction de la paix en Track 1.5 et Track 2 au Centre pour le Dialogue Humanitaire et au DCAF – Centre de Genève pour la Gouvernance du Secteur de la Sécurité, enrichissant ainsi son expertise en genre par son travail dans la justice transitionnelle, la justice pénale internationale et l’Agenda Femmes, Paix et Sécurité (WPS).
« Nous sommes ravies d’accueillir Amrita en tant que nouvelle Secrétaire générale de WILPF. Ses compétences et son expertise renforceront indéniablement notre mouvement et notre vision d’une paix durable », a affirmé Sylvie Ndongmo, Présidente internationale de WILPF.
Dr Kapur succède à Madeleine Rees, qui a occupé le poste de Secrétaire générale de WILPF pendant 14 ans.
WILPF se complace en anunciar que la Dra. Amrita Kapur será la nueva Secretaria General, quien asumirá su cargo a mediados de febrero.
La Dra. Kapur, originaria de Australia, es una reconocida líder feminista interseccional. Con más de 18 años de experiencia en justicia, seguridad y consolidación de la paz, es una experta en género especializada en contextos afectados por conflictos. Como abogada nacional e internacional comprometida con el cambio transformador, la Dra. Kapur ha dedicado 15 años a brindar asesoramiento estratégico, operativo y basado en políticas, además de apoyo en investigación y desarrollo de capacidades. Ha trabajado con organizaciones internacionales, gobiernos y entidades de la sociedad civil en más de 20 países. Tiene una profunda experiencia en la región de MENA, abarcando Yemen, Libia, Palestina, Jordania, Líbano y Siria, así como en Ucrania.
“Es un privilegio tener la oportunidad de contribuir a WILPF en este momento desafiante, donde la incidencia desde una mirada feminista es más necesaria que nunca para cuestionar las causas profundas de la violencia con una visión transformadora de la paz“, dijo la Dra. Kapur.
Más recientemente, en su calidad de Jefa de la Sección de Género de la UNRWA y líder institucional en género, la Dra. Kapur desarrolló la Estrategia de Género (2023-28) y el Plan de Acción de Género de la Agencia, y lideró las prioridades de género a nivel institucional, incluso en colaboración con Estados donantes. Anteriormente, facilitó sesiones de diálogo de consolidación de la paz de los niveles Track 1.5 y Track 2 en el Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue y en el DCAF – Geneva Centre for Security Sector Governance, complementando su experiencia en género con conocimientos en justicia transicional, justicia penal internacional y la Agenda de Mujeres, Paz y Seguridad.
“Estamos encantadas de contar con Amrita como la nueva Secretaria General de WILPF. Sus habilidades y experiencia sin duda fortalecerán nuestro movimiento y nuestra visión de una paz sostenible“, expresó Sylvie Ndongmo, Presidenta Internacional de WILPF.
La Dra. Kapur asumirá este cargo en reemplazo de Madeleine Rees, quien fue Secretaria General de WILPF durante 14 años.
يسعد رابطة النساء الدولية للسلام والحرية (WILPF) أن تعلن عن تعيين الدكتورة أمريتا كابور أمينةً عامة جديدة لها. وستتولى منصبها في شهر فبراير.
الدكتورة كابور، من أستراليا، هي قائدة نسوية تقاطعية مرموقة. تتمتع بخبرة تزيد عن 18 عامًا في مجالات العدالة والأمن وبناء السلام، وهي خبيرة في الجندر متخصصة في السياقات المتأثرة بالنزاعات. بوصفها محامية محلية ودولية مؤمنة بالتغيير الجذري، قدمت الدكتورة كابور على مدار 15 عامًا خبرة استراتيجية وعملية وسياساتية، بالإضافة إلى الدعم البحثي وبناء القدرات. وقد عملت مع منظمات دولية وحكومات وكيانات مجتمع مدني في أكثر من 20 دولة. لديها خبرة عميقة في منطقة الشرق الأوسط وشمال إفريقيا، بما في ذلك اليمن وليبيا وفلسطين والأردن ولبنان وسوريا، إلى جانب أوكرانيا.
وقالت الدكتورة كابور:
“يشرفني أن أحظى بفرصة المساهمة في رابطة النساء الدولية للسلام والحرية في هذا الوقت الحرج، حيث أصبح النضال النسوي أكثر أهمية من أي وقت مضى لمواجهة الجذور العميقة للعنف برؤية تحوّلية للسلام.”
في الآونة الأخيرة، تولت الدكتورة أمريتا منصب رئيسة قسم الجندر في وكالة الأمم المتحدة لإغاثة وتشغيل اللاجئين الفلسطينيين (الأونروا)، حيث قامت بتطوير استراتيجية الجندر للأونروا (2023-2028) وخطة العمل الخاصة بالجندر، كما قادت أولويات الوكالة في هذا المجال، بما في ذلك التنسيق مع الدول المانحة.
وقبل ذلك، قامت بتيسير جلسات حوار لبناء السلام ضمن المسارات 1.5 و2 في مركز الحوار الإنساني ومركز جنيف للرقابة الديمقراطية على القوات المسلحة (DCAF)، مما عزز خبرتها في قضايا العدالة الانتقالية والعدالة الجنائية الدولية وأجندة النساء والسلام والأمن (WPS).
وقالت سيلفي ندونغمو، رئيسة رابطة النساء الدولية للسلام والحرية:
“نحن سعيدات للغاية بانضمام أمريتا كأمينة عامة جديدة للرابطة. مهاراتها وخبرتها ستعزز بلا شك حركتنا ورؤيتنا لتحقيق سلام مستدام.”
تتولى الدكتورة كابور هذا الدور خلفًا لمادلين ريس، التي شغلت منصب الأمينة العامة للرابطة لمدة 14 عامًا.
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 (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.
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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.