Updates & Opportunities

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November 2025 Newsletter

Dear WIIS Friends & Colleagues,

Following the 25th anniversary of the Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) agenda last month, WIIS Global continues to reflect on its significance, mobilize our community, and provide thought leadership on the future of WPS.

On November 12, WIIS Global will host our conference, "The Future of the Women, Peace, and Security Agenda: Advancing Innovation, Resilience, and Collective Action," bringing together speakers and participants from around the globe to explore the next chapter of WPS. The conference will convene an interdisciplinary body of WPS leaders and experts to reinvigorate the agenda for the next 25 years and beyond, adapt the discourse to today’s evolving security landscape, and catalyze opportunities for its transformative implementation. Further information and registration details can be found below.

As 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence approaches, we encourage the WIIS community to take action, raise awareness, and stand in solidarity with those affected by violence worldwide. Members are invited to wear orange in solidarity and share photos with us so we can showcase our community in action. Your engagement is key to turning commitment into tangible impact—through events, advocacy, and community initiatives. We look forward to following your activities throughout this period!

WIIS is proud to work alongside all of you in empowering women leaders and advancing gender-responsive security solutions, and we look forward to continuing this important work together.

Warm regards,

Dr. Lauren Van Metre

President & CEO, Women In International Security (WIIS)

WIIS Global Team Updates

Farewell to WIIS Programs and Partnerships Coordinator, Nina Plateroti!

The WIIS Global team is honored to have worked with Nina Plateroti since August 2024. We are deeply grateful for her many contributions to WIIS and for her unwavering dedication to advancing WIIS’ mission.

We wish Nina success in all of her future endeavors, and while she will be missed, we know that she will always be a part of the WIIS community!

Thank you, Nina!

Meet Jessie! [[link removed]]

Welcome Jessie Steinhauer!

WIIS is thrilled to welcome Jessie Steinhauer as a new Programs Manager, where she supports institutional partnerships and chapters, and works to enhance member engagement. Previously, Jessie served as a Senior Program Manager with the National Democratic Institute’s (NDI) Peace, Security, and Democratic Resilience team, where she managed programs, research, and partnerships aimed at advancing democratic resilience, inclusive peace, and community-led responses to climate- and conflict-related shocks. Jessie holds an M.A. in Middle East Studies from the American University in Cairo, where her research focused on governance, peace, and security. Her interests include the climate-gender-conflict nexus, locally led resilience, and participatory approaches to peace and governance.

New WIIS Affiliates

WIIS Morocco

WIIS Global is happy to announce the establishment of a new international affiliate, WIIS Morocco!

WIIS Morocco is headed by Khadija Bendam [[link removed]] and was established in October 2025.

To connect with WIIS Morocco, visit our affiliate map [[link removed]].

Upcoming Events & Opportunities

Register Here [[link removed]]

EVENT (WIIS GLOBAL MEMBERS-ONLY)

Resume Workshop| WIIS Global

Date: November 5, 2025 at 12:30 PM ET

Details: Ready to level up your resume? Join the WIIS Global team for an exclusive members-only workshop with Meg Wurm, Assistant Director for Career Development in Graduate Student Services at the Elliott School of International Affairs.

Learn to translate your expertise across sectors, identify new career pathways, and workshop your resume with fellow WIIS members.

Visit our events page to pre-register and learn more through the public announcement: [link removed] [link removed] [[link removed]]

Learn More & Register [[link removed]]

"1325@25" CONFERENCE EVENT

"The Future of the WPS Agenda: Advancing Innovation, Resilience, and Collective Action" | WIIS Global

Date: November 12, 2025, 9AM ET- 5PM ET

Details: WIIS is honored to host a full-day conference event, titled “ The Future of the Women, Peace, and Security Agenda: Advancing Innovation, Resilience, and Collective Action,” [[link removed]] as part of its "1325@25" Initiative. [[link removed]]This event is hosted in partnership with the Athena Initiative at the Elliott School of International Affairs, the New Lines Institute, the Heinrich Böll Foundation, and the Institute of World Affairs.

Marking the 25th anniversary of UNSCR 1325 and the WPS agenda, WIIS’ conference will convene an interdisciplinary body of WPS leaders and experts to better understand how we can implement the WPS agenda and mobilize for change in an increasingly insecure and transitional political environment—marked by new and emerging security threats—as a renewed and diverse cross-sectoral coalition.

The conference is a full-day event and will take place in-person and virtually on Wednesday, November 12th from 9:00am to 5:00pm ET at the Elliott School of International Affairs (Lindner Family Commons, 6th Floor), located at 1957 E St NW, Washington, D.C. 20052.

Register Here [[link removed]]

EVENT (WIIS GLOBAL MEMBERS-ONLY)

WIISUp Wednesday | WIIS Global

Date: November 19, 2025, 12 PM ET

Details: Join WIIS Global for a members-only virtual networking hour. Stay tuned for information on our guest speaker.

Visit our events page to pre-register and learn more through the public announcement: [[link removed]]

Register Here [[link removed]] Register Here [[link removed]]

EVENT

Networking Opportunities | WIIS AUS (WIIS Australia)

Date: November 27, 2025 at 5:00PM AT

Details: WIIS Australia is partnering with the Australian Political Studies Association (APSA) for a casual networking event at the University of Melbourne. This event is open to all professionals and students interested in international security.

Date: November 28, 2025 at 5:00PM AT

Details: WIIS Australia is hosting an informal networking event in Canberra at Badger and Co. This event is open to all professionals and students interested in international security.

Link to Book [[link removed]]

OPPORTUNITY (WIIS GLOBAL MEMBERS-ONLY)

Discount Code for Threat Multiplier: Climate, Military Leadership, and the Fight for Global Security by Sherri Goodman

Description: Sherri Goodman [[link removed]] is a Distinguished Fellow at the Atlantic Council, Secretary General of the International Military Council on Climate & Security, and the author of Threat Multiplier: Climate, Military Leadership, and the Fight for Global Security. [[link removed]]

In Threat Multiplier, Goodman tells the inside story of the military’s fight for global security against one of the greatest threats the world has ever faced: climate change. A tale that is as hopeful as it is harrowing, Goodman’s book reveals how the US military has transformed into a clean energy and climate leader, recognizing that a warming world exacerbates every threat—from hurricanes and forest fires to competition for increasingly scarce food and water to power plays by Russia and China. The Pentagon now considers climate change in war games, disaster relief planning, international diplomacy, and even the design of its bases, thanks to Goodman’s decades long education of the US military and government officials.

WIIS Global members can access an exclusive 30% discount for this timely book through their Member Portal [[link removed]] under the “Member Resources” → “Discounts & Offers” tab.

OPPORTUNITY (WIIS GLOBAL MEMBERS-ONLY)

Invitation to Join the Emerging Voices Network at BASIC | WIIS Global

Details: The British American Security Information Council (BASIC) invites WIIS members to join The Emerging Voices Network (EVN), a 250-member global network of high-potential, early-career researchers on nuclear weapons and nuclear policy issues. Their 2025 recruitment drive is currently underway, and they particularly invite people from parts of the world that are currently underrepresented in the international nuclear policy field to join, as well as women, gender minorities, and young professionals from Latin America and the Caribbean.

WIIS Global members can learn more and join through their Member Portal [[link removed]] under the “Member Resources” → “Discounts & Offers” tab.

OPPORTUNITY (WIIS GLOBAL MEMBERS ONLY)

The Global Language Network | WIIS Global

Details: The Global Language Network (GLN) [[link removed]] is offering WIIS members a $50 credit towards any of GLN’s fall language classes. This is a 25% discount off their already subsidized courses, and is a great way to help advance your language skills in the international peace and security field.

GLN is a nonprofit that offers affordable, high-quality language classes taught by volunteers, both online and in-person in DC. The organization has been rated DC’s #1 Best Language Classes every year since 2016 by Yelp.

WIIS Global members can learn more and access the discount code through their Member Portal [[link removed]] under the “Member Resources” → “Discounts & Offers” tab.

Publications & Media Read Now [[link removed]]

PUBLICATION (POLICY BRIEF)

"If You Want Peace, Prepare for War with the Patriarchy: A 25-Year Reckoning with UNSCR 1325" | WIIS Global

Description: In reflection of the 25th anniversary of UN Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1325 and as part of our “1325@25” initiative, WIIS Global published a new policy brief by European Parliamentarian Dr. Hannah Neumann, titled “If You Want Peace, Prepare for War with the Patriarchy: A 25-Year Reckoning with UNSCR 1325.” In this powerful piece, Neumann offers an incisive analysis of the present and future of WPS implementation, underscored by powerful personal testimony.

Read Here [[link removed]] Read Here [[link removed]] Read Here [[link removed]] Read Here [[link removed]] Read Here [[link removed]] Read Here [[link removed]]

PUBLICATION

#25YearsofWPS Series | WIIS Italy

Details: Check out WIIS Italy’s #25YearsofWPS series, with 6 new blogs:

"From Promise to Practice: 25 Years of Women, Peace, and Security," by Loredana Teodorescu“Why Women’s Inclusion Must be at the Heart of Effective Climate Change Response,” by Dr. Lara Scarpitta“Justice from Below, Peace from Within: How Civil Society Advances the WPS Agenda in Wartime Ukraine,” by Sofia Sutera“Beyond a Seat at the Table? The Limits of the EU’s Approach to the WPS Agenda in Kosovo,” by Amy Kokalari“Advancing Forward: The WPS Agenda at War,” by Alastair Nicol"The Narrative of War for Building Peace," by Azzurra Meringolo

Read Here [[link removed]]

MEDIA

Security Systems News Interview | WIIS Global

WIIS President & CEO Dr. Lauren Van Metre and Programs & Partnership Director Dr. Layla Hashemi joined Cory Harris of Security Systems News to discuss WIIS’ strategic vision: to empower women and defend democracy amid rising authoritarianism and transnational suppression.

Listen Here [[link removed]] Listen Here [[link removed]]

MEDIA

Bylines & Frontlines | WIIS Canada

Description: Check out two new episodes from WIIS Canada’s podcast, Bylines & Frontlines, with hosts Dr. Colleen Bell and Frieda Garcia Castellanos.

Episode 2: Equity, Diversity & Inclusion in Action: Canada's Approach to WPS

In this episode, hosts Dr. Colleen Bell and Frieda Garcia Castellanos unpack how equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) are shaping—and challenging—Canada’s WPS agenda. Tune in for insightful analysis and real-world perspectives on building a more inclusive approach to peace and security policy.

Episode 3: From Tragedy to Accountability: Gender-Based Violence and State Responsibility

In this episode, hosts Dr. Colleen Bell and Frieda Garcia Castellanos explore how gender-based violence unfolds in contexts where states are unresponsive—or even complicit. Tune in for a compelling discussion on accountability, justice, and the challenges of advancing gender equity in fragile political environments.

Recent Events

EVENT

Official Launch | WIIS Senegal

Date: October 30, 2025

Summary: WIIS Senegal, the first Francophone WIIS affiliate, celebrated its official launch with a workshop under the theme “25 Years Later: Where Does the Women, Peace and Security Agenda Stand in Senegal and West Africa?” The event marked the 25th anniversary of UN Security Council Resolution 1325 and the beginning of WIIS Senegal’s activities.

The launch brought together high-level experts from Senegal and the broader Francophone region to reflect on progress and chart future directions for women’s participation in peace processes. Layla Hashemi, WIIS Global’s Director of Programs and Partnerships, delivered opening remarks. The event also featured cross-collaboration among WIIS affiliates, with members from WIIS Rwanda and WIIS Nigeria joining in support and solidarity.

EVENT

WIISUp Wednesday | WIIS Global

Date: October 29, 2025

Summary: WIIS Global members heard from Ella Lamakh, Head of the Board at the Democracy Development Centre in Ukraine and a civil society leader specializing in democracy, the WPS agenda, and environmental issues. Ella shared insights on the intersection of women’s rights, climate change, and environmental degradation in Ukraine, highlighting how the ongoing war disproportionately affects women and stressed the need to integrate environmental considerations into Ukraine’s National Action Plan on WPS to advance gender equality and resilience.

EVENT

UNSCR 1325 Workshop | WIIS Rwanda

Date: October 28, 2025

Summary: WIIS Rwanda hosted a workshop engaging female artists to explore how creative expression can advance the WPS agenda. The session built participants’ understanding of UN Security Council Resolution 1325 and equipped them to use their art to promote gender equality and peace at the grassroots level.

Among the participants was Félicité Rwemarika, the first and only Rwandan member of the International Olympic Committee, Founder and Executive Director of the Organization of Women in Sports (AKWOS), and a proud WIIS Rwanda member. The workshop strengthened collaboration between artists, peacebuilders, and gender advocates, highlighting the power of art in driving awareness and advocacy around UNSCR 1325.

EVENT

National Action Plan Launch | WIIS HoA

Date: October 22, 2025

Summary: WIIS Horn of Africa (HoA) joined partners, government leaders, and peacebuilders in celebrating the launch of Kenya’s 3rd National Action Plan on WPS (2025–2029). The event reaffirmed Kenya’s commitment to gender-responsive peacebuilding, inclusive governance, and sustainable development.

EVENT

Aswan Forum "From Insight to Impact" | WIIS HoA

Date: October 19, 2025

Summary: At the Aswan Forum, WIIS HoA joined experts to mark 25 years of the WPS agenda with the event “From Insight to Impact.” The discussion reflected on progress made and strategies to localize the WPS agenda, turning commitments into concrete power, financing, and leadership for women in peacebuilding and recovery efforts.

“Africa already has women building peace every day. What we need is the accountability to match their courage.” — Fauziya Abdi, WIIS HoA President

EVENT

WIIS-FPGS Institutional Membership Launch | WIIS Global

Date: October 13, 2025

Summary: WIIS Global launched a new institutional membership with American University’s Department of Foreign Policy and Global Security (FPGS). As part of the partnership, 50 grad students will receive complimentary WIIS memberships. The WIIS Global team was thrilled to connect with students, share more about WIIS’s mission, and welcome the next generation of peace and security leaders to our global community.

If you’re interested in bringing this opportunity to your students, please reach out to [email protected] to discuss partnership possibilities.

EVENT

Partner Visit | WIIS Global

Date: October 9, 2025

Summary: WIIS Global was thrilled to welcome Dr. Joyce Kaufman, the Director of the WPS program at the Institute of World Affairs (IWA) to DC for a visit.

Joyce and the whole WIIS team had a fruitful conversation about the future of the WPS agenda.

EVENT

Networking Event | WIIS Brussels

Date: October 6, 2025

Summary: WIIS Brussels kicked off the fall season with a Rentrée Happy Hour, bringing members together to reconnect, celebrate, and toast new beginnings.

BECOME A WIIS GLOBAL MEMBER

Interested in becoming a member and joining a growing community of women professionals in the International Security space?

Unlock a world of opportunities with WIIS membership, from connecting with a global network of 15,000 members to advancing your career through exclusive job boards, events, and mentorship opportunities. Gain access to specialized resources, expert speakers, and a supportive community dedicated to enhancing the role of women in international security.

Join Us [[link removed]]

GIFT A MEMBERSHIP

Whether you’re a professor, mentor, friend, or colleague, you can support the next generation of women in international peace and security by gifting a WIIS membership.

Visit [[link removed]] to gift a membership to someone you know, or donate one for WIIS to match with a future leader.

Gift A Membership [[link removed]]

SUPPORT OUR WORK IN 2025

Support our mission to empower women in peace and security by donating today—your contribution funds critical programs, career development opportunities, and research that paves the way for policy change and a more inclusive global security landscape.

Donate [[link removed]]

Do you have feedback or suggestions for us?

Don’t hesitate to email [[email protected]] to suggest topics and/or events you’re interested in so that we can better meet the needs of our community!

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Women In International Security 1250 Connecticut Ave NW Ste 700 PMB 5282 Washington, DC 20036-2657 USA

Women In International Security is recognized in the United States as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.

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