April 2025 Newsletter

CSW69 EVENT

Past Reflections and Future Visioning on the 25th Anniversary of the Women, Peace, and Security Agenda | WIIS Global

Date: March 13, 2025 

Details: WIIS co-sponsored a closed-door roundtable with the International Peace Institute (IPI) and the Permanent Missions of Denmark, Luxembourg, Colombia, and Sierra Leone to the United Nations. This high-level interactive workshop convened 45 participants from across the UN, foreign ministries, civil society, and academia to develop bold and creative strategies for the advancement of gender equality through WPS principles.

WIIS CEO and President Ariela Blätter provided opening remarks. She also highlighted how issues of funding, inclusion, and implementation hinder the advancement of the WPS agenda, and provided concrete solutions to these obstacles to ensure the future viability of the WPS agenda. 

CSW69 EVENT

Women, Conflict, and Peace: A Universal Feminist Vision | WIIS Global

Date: March 10, 2025 

Details: WIIS CEO and President Ariela Blätter provided remarks at a side event hosted by the World Jewish Congress at the UN Headquarters in NYC. Through expert dialogue with civil society leaders and high-level UN officials, the event highlighted the urgent need to recognize and address violence against women, while showcasing their critical leadership role in conflict resolution and peacebuilding. In line with WIIS’ mission and the theme of the event, President Blätter, spoke to the persistent under-representation of women in formal peace processes despite their ongoing significant contributions to peace and security.

CSW69 EVENT

Women for Peace and Security: A Focus on Women’s Resilience and Advocacy in Ukraine | WIIS Italy at CSW69

Date:  March 17, 2025

Summary: WIIS Italy, with the support of the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, hosted a virtual event during CSW69 to highlight women's resilience and advocacy in Ukraine’s conflict-affected areas. The event identified strategies to ensure gender perspectives are embedded in political and negotiating processes as well as reconstruction and recovery efforts. 

CSW69 EVENT

Upholding the Rights of Afghan Women and Girls: Women, Peace and Security | WIIS Italy at CSW69

Date:  March 14, 2025

Summary: WIIS Italy collaborated on a high-level CSW69 side event on Afghan women’s rights, education, and the WPS Agenda. The meeting served as a platform to mobilize international support and reaffirm the urgent need for collective action on behalf of Afghan women’s rights.

OPPORTUNITY (WIIS GLOBAL MEMBERS-ONLY)

Fabulous Feminists Course Discounts | WIIS Global 

WIIS Global is pleased to partner with Fabulous Feminists to offer our members a 15% discount on two courses offered by Fabulous Feminists, “Gender and Human Security in Peacebuilding and Humanitarian Assistance” and “How to be a Gender Trainer.”

WIIS Global members can access the discount code in their Member Portal under “Member Resources” —> “Discounts and Offers.”

For any questions, please contact the WIIS Global team at [email protected]. 

OPPORTUNITY (WIIS GLOBAL MEMBERS-ONLY)

The Peacebuilding Practice Project: 3Ps Academy Discount | WIIS Global 

WIIS Global is pleased to partner with The Peacebuilding Practice Project to offer a special discount on the 2025 3Ps Academy course! This training course occurs in synchronous, guided sessions every two weeks from April to July 2025. The training covers eight topics in conflict and peace studies and includes one capstone project.

WIIS Global members can access the discount in their Member Portal under “Member Resources” —> “Discounts and Offers.”

For any questions, please contact the WIIS Global team at [email protected]. 

EVENT ANNOUNCEMENT (WIIS GLOBAL)

Advancing Women in Security: Protect, Assess, Prevent | WIIS Global

Date:  April 23, 2025

Details: WIIS Global’s Director of Programs and Partnerships, Dr. Layla Hashemi, will speak on a panel organized by ASIS International, sponsored by Allegion, titled “Advancing Women in Security: Protect, Assess, Prevent.” Dr. Hashemi will bring her expertise to this conversation, highlighting the achievements of women in international security. 

EVENT (WIIS GLOBAL MEMBERS-ONLY)

Interview Workshop: Adapting to the Changing Job Market | WIIS Global

Date: April 29, 2025 @ 12 PM ET

Details: Join WIIS Global for an interview workshop with Meg Wurm, Assistant Director of Career and Graduate Academics Advising at George Washington University’s  Elliott School. Meg will share expert tips and strategies to help you excel and stand out in interviews. 

These insights will be followed by a workshop session where you can practice adapting your interview responses to impress a variety of potential employers.

EVENT (WIIS GLOBAL MEMBERS-ONLY)

WIISUp Wednesday | WIIS Global 

Date: April 30, 2025 @ 12 PM ET

Details: Join WIIS Global for a members-only virtual networking hour. The WIIS Global team will lead an introductory discussion,  highlight exclusive member offers, and provide the opportunity for participants to meet fellow members.

EVENT

First Hemispheric Convention on Security and Defense | ADESyD (WIIS Spain)

Date: September 18-19, 2025

Location: National Defense Advanced Studies Centre (CESEDEN), Madrid, Spain

Details: The Inter-American Defense College Foundation (IADCF), in collaboration with ASOCID-Ecuador and ADESyD, is organizing the First Hemispheric Convention on Security and Defense. The convention will allow for the exchange of defense and security perspectives, provide a platform for discussions on global challenges and inclusivity, encourage cultural engagement and institutional collaboration, and foster ongoing hemispheric cooperation.

For more information, contact  [email protected].

ANNOUNCEMENT

New Board Members | WIIS Canada

WIIS Canada has elected new Board Members. 

Congratulations to Ellen Humenny, Rhonda Gossen, Frieda García Castellanos, Christina Lynch, Melanie Lake, Brook Morrison, Isabela Rittinger, and Germaine Basita! 

ANNOUNCEMENT

New Board Members | Asociación de Diplomad@s Españoles en Seguridad y Defensa (ADESyD - WIIS Spain)

ADESyD has elected new Board Members. 

Congratulations to the new Board of Directors! 

ANNOUNCEMENT

WIIS Italy Celebrates 9 Years! 

On March 10th, WIIS Italy celebrated its 9th birthday and published a report highlighting their annual achievements, thanking everyone who helped make them possible. 

Congratulations, WIIS Italy!

AWARD

Innovator of Science and New Technologies | WIIS Poland

Aleksandra Gasztold, Secretary General of WIIS Poland, has been awarded an “Innovator of Science and New Technologies” Award by the Women’s Congress Association and the British Embassy in Warsaw. 

Congratulations, Aleksandra! 

PUBLICATION

Blog Competition Winners | WIIS Canada

WIIS Canada, in collaboration with Population and Security, has announced two blog competition winners for Women’s History Month. Katrina Leclerc is the winner of WIIS Canada’s French blog, and Mia Valliere is the winner of the English blog.  

Congratulations, Katrina and Mia! 

Read Katrina’s blog, “Héritières de paix et disruptrices de sécurité : Les jeunes femmes réinventent l’avenir."

Read Mia’s blog, “The Silenced Spoils of Conflict: Women and Girls with HIV/AIDS Transmitted from Sexual Violence During Armed Conflict."
 

EVENT

Feminist Approaches to Foreign Policy in Central Europe: Challenges, Insights, and the Road Ahead | WIIS Poland

Date: March 25, 2025

Summary: WIIS Poland Secretary General Aleksandra Gasztold spoke on a panel during a conference titled “Feminist Approaches to Foreign Policy in Central Europe” hosted by the Association for International Affairs (AMO) and  Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung Prague and supported by the International Visegrad Fund (IVF). The panel was titled “Navigating the Road to Feminist Foreign Policy in the V4.”

EVENT

Book Club | WIIS Brussels

Date:  March 19, 2025

Summary: WIIS Brussels hosted a book talk that explored Anne Applebaum’s Autocracy, Inc., which dissects how authoritarian regimes use corporate-like tactics to undermine democracy.

EVENT

The Transformative Approach to Mediation: Compassion in Action | WISCOMP (WIIS India)

Date:  March 17, 2025

Summary: WISCOMP organized a discussion with the India International Centre on “The Transformative Approach to Mediation: Compassion in Action.” The panel included Prabha Sankaranarayan, President and CEO, Mediators Beyond Borders International (MBBI); Harsh Mander, Peacebuilder and Writer; Dr. Meenakshi Gopinath, Director, WISCOMP; and Dr. Sumona DasGupta, Member, Women Mediators across the Commonwealth.

EVENT

The Sky is the Limit: A Life in Science | WISCOMP (WIIS India)

Date:  March 13, 2025

Summary: WISCOMP hosted internationally acclaimed astrophysicist Priyamvada Natarajan in conversation with Pratibha Jolly, an Indian physicist and Principal Investigator at GATI (Gender Advancement for Transforming Institutions). Through this discussion, they explored their personal career trajectories and the opportunities and challenges faced by young women scientists.

EVENT

International Women’s Day: The Global Backlash Against Women and Gender Equality | WIIS Global

Date:  March 6, 2025

Summary: To commemorate International Women’s Day, WIIS partnered with the Gender Equality Initiative in International Affairs (GEIA) at GW's Elliott School to discuss the path forward in the face of growing backlash to women's rights and gender equality. WIIS Research Director Dr. Karin Johnston provided opening remarks alongside GEIA Director Dr. Shirley Graham. Nearly 100 leaders from academia, civil society, and former government officials gathered for this powerful conversation. 

EVENT

Voices of the Future: Young Women Shaping the AUKUS Discourse | WIIS-A (WIIS Australia)

Date:  March 4, 2025

Summary: WIIS-A co-hosted a panel event "Voices of the Future: Young Women Shaping the AUKUS Discourse" at the Australian National University, alongside Girls Run the World (GRTW) and the ANU Coral Bell School of Asia Pacific Affairs. The event featured opening remarks from WIIS-A and GRTW, followed by a panel discussion with representatives from GRTW, The Asia Group, the British High Commission in Canberra, and the US Embassy. The panelists shared insights on AUKUS Pillars 1 and 2 and the critical role of women in shaping its future.