Amidst the growing number of armed conflicts around the world, women’s peace and human rights organizations have sustained their insistence on negotiated solutions, the protection of civilians, and building inclusive democratic governance. Their work is made more difficult and deadly because of the easy availability of weapons in a militarized world, and because a surge of authoritarian governments mobilize misogyny to undermine their efforts, often deploying disinformation to discredit efforts to build peace. Resisting and reversing these dynamics is what drives NWI’s three areas of key focus: strengthening women’s movements, paving access of women peacebuilders to policy-makers, and shifting media narratives. These priorities are outlined in our new five-year strategic framework, which focus NWI on the platform and access of the laureates to ensure that women are able to engage effectively in conflict prevention and resolution.
Over the past year, the NWI Board prioritized strengthening the organization to put it in a strong position to accomplish its mission. Four new colleagues joined our staff team. Staff built relationships and programming in collaboration with our many allies. The Board saw several changes too. Former members Dildar Kaya and Ertha Doliscar joined the staff team, and, Aruna Rao, former Chair and Interim Chair, who led NWI through its transition period, stepped down. I am immensely grateful to all of them for their dedication to the organization.
NWI was also proud to welcome two additional Peace Prize laureates last year – Maria Ressa from the Philippines (Nobel Peace Prize laureate 2021), and Narges Mohammadi from Iran (Nobel Peace Prize laureate 2023). Maria Ressa, a fearless journalist, has focused attention on the essential role that a free and independent media plays in sustaining democracies, and the risks that women journalists in particular face in doing this important work. Human rights activist Narges Mohammadi is the fifth laureate to be awarded the prize while in prison. Even in captivity she has been a source of inspiration for the major protests against the theocratic regime in Iran in 2022, showing extraordinary courage - a sobering reminder of the perils of activism for basic rights in Iran, especially for women.
We look forward to working with Maria, Narges, and you, our partners, to advance NWI’s work and core message: that women’s participation, and gender equality, are needed for sustainable efforts to demilitarize, to promote non-violent resolution of conflicts, and build peace.
Anne-Marie Goetz
Board Chair