Outcome 2: Women Influencing Change
Women Leading Peace and Democracy in Guatemala
In June 2024, Nobel Women’s Initiative, in partnership with Just Associates (JASS) and the Rigoberta Menchú Tum Foundation, organized a delegation to Guatemala. Led by Nobel Peace Prize laureates Jody Williams and Rigoberta Menchu Tum and local women leaders, the delegation spotlighted the resilience and strength of women fighting for justice in a country grappling with corruption, violence, and human rights violations.
The delegation took place at a pivotal political moment for Guatemala. The country had recently elected President Bernardo Arévalo in January 2024, signaling a shift towards democratic reform and anti-corruption efforts. Arévalo’s victory, achieved despite attempts to invalidate his election, was driven in large part by the persistent resistance and activism of women’s and indigenous movements. The delegation seized this window of opportunity to engage directly with the new leadership, pushing for action on critical issues such as environmental justice, land rights, tackling gender-based violence and ending criminalization of activists.
The delegation met with indigenous women, LGBTQI+ communities, weavers, and other marginalized groups, witnessing first hand the fierce resistance of communities defending their land, rights, and dignity. Through high-level meetings with President Arévalo and Vice President Karin Herrera, along with strategic media outreach, the delegation brought pressing human rights concerns to the forefront. Our efforts amplified the calls of local activists, ensuring that their concerns and solutions were brought directly to top decision-makers. This engagement helped build momentum for future policy changes, reinforcing the unyielding strength of women leaders fighting for justice and equality in Guatemala.
Some photos from our delegation in Guatemala.
Ahead of the delegation, NWI commissioned award-wining filmmaker Paula Recinos to make a documentary documenting the stories of the women activists we met. Watch it here: Tapestries of Light, Life and Community in Guatemala | Tejidos de luz, vida y comunidad en Guatemala.
To find out more about the delegation, see here.
Fighting for Freedom for our Sister Laureate
Through sustained international advocacy and collective pressure, Nobel Peace Prize laureate Narges Mohammadi was granted temporary medical release in December 2024. While the release was partial, it highlighted the power of coordinated human rights activism in challenging Iran’s unjust imprisonment of political prisoners. By collaborating with Nobel laureates, human rights defenders, and global movements, the Free Narges campaign amplified calls for accountability, including through Dr. Shirin Ebadi’s speech on International Women’s Day and joint statements condemning Iran’s actions.
While Narges’ temporary release is a testament to the power and potential of a global movement, her freedom remains precarious, emphasizing the need for continued advocacy. NWI remains committed to ensuring that the collective power of sisterhood and global solidarity continues to hold Iran accountable. This case highlights how sustained advocacy, fueled by resistance and united action, is essential to protecting political prisoners and creating lasting change. NWI will continue its efforts to secure justice for Narges and other political prisoners, ensuring that their voices are never silenced.
Breaking Barriers at the Munich Security Conference
In 2024 NWI took part in the Munich Security Conference (MSC), a global platform for international security attended by world leaders and policy makers, for the second time. Nobel Peace Prize laureates Maria Ressa, Tawakkol Karman and Jody Williams were invited guests and speakers of the conference and side events organized by BMW Foundation.
The MSC is a male-dominated, militarized space where elevating women’s voices, feminist analysis and recommendations challenge the traditional security narrative. We emphasized that lasting peace is achieved through respect for human rights, dignity, and the environment, not just military strategies. Our participation allowed us to showcase the crucial role women play in global peace and security, particularly in spaces where their leadership is often excluded.
“Real peace doesn’t come from crushing your enemy. If we keep looking for enemies, we will always have war,” said Jody Williams at MSC 2024
As part of our efforts, NWI nominated Libyan activist Hajer Sharief for the BMW Foundation Responsible Leaders Cohort, which provided her with valuable exposure and opportunities to collaborate with high-profile leaders. We also facilitated the participation of Sharief and Tunisian activist Aya Chebbi, alongside Nobel Peace Prize laureate Jody Williams, in the panel "Women as Drivers of Transformation in (Post-) Conflict Situations."
Their powerful advocacy efforts, including calls for an arms embargo against Israel, reinforced the necessity of incorporating women's perspectives in conflict resolution. NWI’s access to the MSC not only increased visibility for women’s organizations and local peacemakers but also created important connections with key stakeholders across sectors. Through our participation, we helped to challenge global militarization and highlighted the transformative role of women in shaping more peaceful, just societies.
More information about NWI's aims and activities at MSC are available here.
On the left, NWI team at the 2024 MSC and on the right, Jody Williams during a session at the 2024 MSC.
Advocating for Feminist Peace Amidst Rising Adversity
The laureates continuously use their voices to highlight that peace is never just the absence of war. Peace is also justice, equality, respect for human dignity and diversity. Sustainable peace embodies conditions which enable all people to reach their full potential. Such a vision of peace is impossible without meaningful inclusion of women. We know from countless examples in history, that when women lead or are included in peace building processes, peace lasts longer.
Throughout the year, NWI used the Nobel Peace Prize laureates’ voice and platform to respond to and advocate for feminist peace. Advocacy efforts included:
- Through sustained international advocacy and collective pressure, NWI and its partners played a crucial role in securing the temporary medical release of Nobel Peace Prize laureate Narges Mohammadi in December 2024. While this release was partial, it highlights the effectiveness of coordinated human rights activism in challenging Iran’s unjust imprisonment of political prisoners.
- NWI, alongside the NGO Working Group and 628 civil society signatories, joined an open letter on Women, Peace, and Security urging global leaders to prioritize women’s leadership in addressing urgent crises. Read our statement here supporting calls for negotiations to begin on a proposed crimes against humanity treaty.
- NWI joined global calls for international bodies to recognize gender apartheid as a crime against humanity. Specific activities included issuing key statements such as “Closing the Justice Gap: UN Member States Must Take Decisive Action on Crimes Against Humanity”, and “Exclusion of Afghan Women from Negotiations Puts Women at Further Risk”. Led by Nobel Peace Prize laureate Shirin Ebadi, NWI also worked to raise awareness about the rising gender apartheid in Iran, highlighting extreme methods of intimidation, the silencing of activists, and even the murder of opposition figures. These efforts contributed to the term “gender apartheid” gaining wider recognition, including within UN entities.
- NWI started sounding the alarm about escalating violence and a humanitarian crisis in the DRC. Specific activities included the following statements “Humanitarian Crisis Unfolding in the DRC”, and “The International Community Must Respond to Growing Crisis in DRC”. Additionally, a webinar was held, convening strategic international policymakers, diplomats and philanthropists striving to galvanize action, with the panel of speakers featuring established and emerging women activists from the DRC, Julienne Lusenge and Nicole Musimbi respectively, and Bineta Diop, Special Envoy of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission on Women, Peace and Security. The webinar was facilitated by Democracy Now co-host Nermeen Shaikh and featured opening remarks by Nobel Peace Prize laureates. The event was attended by almost 100 people. Throughout the year, NWI connected activists with decision makers including Thérèse Nzale-Kove from the DRC, who called on the UN Security Council to urge all parties to the conflict to restore peace in the region and respect international humanitarian and human rights law.