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#WILPF2024

Wrapping Up 2024: A Year of Feminist Action and Impact 

As we close the chapter on 2024, WILPF reflects on a year of bold action and significant impact. From igniting critical conversation in global forums to confronting urgent issues like the ongoing genocide in Palestine, our collective efforts have driven powerful change. In this blog, we’ll highlight the key moments that defined our year.  

A diverse group of women and men pose together, smiling. Behind them is a banner that reads, THE FUTURE IS ALREADY FEMINIST. One person holds a sign urging for climate and gender justice. They are all making peace signs.
Image credit: WILPF
  • 4 min
WILPF International Secretariat
18 December 2024

As we close the chapter on 2024, WILPF has continued its work to promote feminist peace and justice across the globe. From calling for accountability from the states responsible for the ongoing genocide in Palestine to driving transformative conversations in global forums, this year has showcased unwavering resilience, bold advocacy, and the enduring power of collective action. Here’s a look back at the milestones that shaped our journey: 

January – Laying the Foundations for Change 

We began the year by aligning our priorities with feminist peacebuilding goals, hosting strategy sessions, and gearing up for the critical events ahead. From creating advocacy plans for the 55th session of the Human Rights Council (HRC55) to coordinating with partners for the Beyond Survival campaign, January set a strong foundation for the impactful year that followed. 

February – Beyond Survival 

Marking the anniversary of the earthquakes in Syria and Turkey, WILPF launched the Beyond Survival campaign, amplifying stories of hope and recovery. At HRC55, we continued to spotlight human rights violations, pushing for accountability and lasting solutions. 

March – Feminist Voices at Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) and Beyond 

March saw our voices echo at the UN’s 68th session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW68) and commemorating International Women’s Day in solidarity with Palestinian women. Meanwhile, our advocacy at the 55th session of the Human Rights Council (HRC55) remained steadfast, challenging militarism and systemic violence. 

April – Anniversaries of Transformation 

We celebrated 109 years of WILPF’s legacy and a ten years of impactful work by our WILPF Section in Cameroon. Both milestones underscored the power of women’s leadership in fostering peace amidst challenges. 

May – Beyond Borders 

In May, WILPF brought together a powerful showcase of resilience and creativity with the Beyond Borders initiative. Through dance, music, storytelling, and poetry, artists and activists from Afghanistan, Palestine, Iran, and Ukraine shared moving narratives of feminist resistance and collective liberation. 

June – Art for Peace in Geneva, Feminist Climate Action in Bonn  

The Mobilising Men for Feminist Peace Exhibition in Geneva showcased the intersection of art and activism, followed by WILPF’s engagement at the Bonn Climate Change Conference, championing feminist solutions to the climate crisis. 

July – Unmasking Militainment and Honouring Madeleine Rees 

In July, we delved into the dangerous allure of militainment, the intersection of military culture and entertainment media, with a thought-provoking workshop and bid farewell to our Secretary-General Madeleine Rees, whose contributions continue to inspire us. 

August – Empowering Changemakers 

On Youth Day, we celebrated the power of young feminists, while the MATI (MenEngage Africa Training Institute) training gathered activists to enhance skills in gender equality, peacebuilding, and human rights. The training strengthened a network of advocates committed to driving transformative change. 

September – Bold Steps for Peace and Feminist Leadership

From the Summit of the Future to the Peace Day celebrations, we drove dialogues on disarmament and feminist leadership. September also brought the release of the Petrobromance publication and a pivotal policy brief on National Action Plans (NAPs), alongside heartfelt goodbyes to our Deputy Secretary-General Laila Adolaat who helped WILPF to grow and remain strong. 

October – Calling for Justice and Peace 

The #BeyondOctober7 campaign stood as a powerful response to the ongoing genocide in Gaza and Palestine, amplifying the resilience of women in conflict and calling for urgent global action to end the violence. The First Committee and Geneva Peace Week reinforced our commitment to demilitarisation, while the Women Peace and Security (WPS) Week brought collective focus to the vital role of women’s leadership in peace processes.  

November – Climate Justice for All 

At COP29, WILPF continued to hold governments accountable for their climate commitments while reinforcing our advocacy for disarmament through the First Committee. We highlighted the urgent need to address the detrimental impact of militarism on the climate crisis, emphasising the importance of redirecting military spending to achieve climate goals. 

December – Resilience and Reflection 

The AWID Forum brought together feminists from across the globe to strategise for justice, fostering powerful connections and collective action. Meanwhile, the launch of Season 2 of our Think & Resist podcast sparked critical conversations on the pursuit of equality, social justice, and transformative change. 

Through it all, 2024 has been a year of persistence and purpose, reminding us that feminist peace is not just a vision—it’s a movement. Here’s to 2025 and the possibilities it holds. Together, let’s keep building a world of equality, justice, and peace.  

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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.

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.

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