Updates & Opportunities
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December 2025 Newsletter
Dear WIIS Friends & Colleagues,
On November 12, WIIS Global convened The Future of the Women, Peace, and Security Agenda: Advancing Innovation, Resilience, and Collective Action, marking the culmination of our 1325@25 Initiative. Nearly 200 participants from embassies, government agencies, civil society, academia, the military, and the private sector joined this cross-sectoral gathering to assess the current state of the Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) agenda and envision bold pathways for transformation and collective action.
In this moment of rising authoritarianism, militarization, and hybrid warfare, the conference underscored a clear message: WPS is not simply a complement to global security strategy—it is both a strategic security doctrine and a political pro-democracy movement. WPS principles strengthen civic fabric, reinforce democratic resilience, and provide deterrence rooted in societal cohesion. Its pillars—prevention, participation, protection, and recovery—offer a roadmap for addressing today’s constellation of threats: from the manipulation of gender to attacks on women’s political participation to the need for robust digital and physical protection networks.
Discussions throughout the day reinforced that WPS, born of cross-sector solidarity 25 years ago, must evolve to meet the moment. The agenda must become bolder and more adaptive, confronting hybrid threats, strengthening democratic resilience, and building powerful networks of protection and solidarity. WIIS board member Chantal De Jonge Oudraat and WIIS member Michael E. Brown presented their new policy brief, The WPS Agenda Beyond 2025: Time for a WPS Treaty, which proposes an innovative path forward: the WPS movement should push for a UN General Assembly-adopted WPS treaty, shifting leadership from the Security Council to a broader coalition of member states and advocates to revive, legitimate, and strengthen WPS implementation in this crucial moment. Conference speakers emphasized harnessing the energy of social movements, cultivating cross-sector partnerships, and developing strategic messaging to advance and advocate for WPS principles in today’s complex political and security landscape. The conference also highlighted regional perspectives, featuring WIIS affiliate leaders Fauziya Ali, President of WIIS Horn of Africa, and Aleksandra Gasztold, Secretary-General of WIIS Poland, in a panel on regional participation and implementation of WPS.
This convening provided a vital space for reflection, dialogue, and creative thinking about how WPS must transform. We hope participants left inspired, informed, and connected–ready to unleash the full power of the WPS network to advance a more peaceful, democratic, and resilient world.
Recordings of the event are available below. To sustain this momentum, WIIS Global will publish a policy brief highlighting key takeaways and recommendations for the future of the WPS agenda in the new year.
As we close out the year and enter the holiday season, we extend our heartfelt appreciation for your continued engagement with WIIS and for being an important part of this collective effort to advance inclusive peace and security worldwide. Our End-of-Year Giving Campaign will be launching in December, and we encourage and greatly appreciate your support to continue this important work.
Warm regards,
Dr. Lauren Van Metre
President & CEO, Women In International Security (WIIS)
WIIS Global Team Updates
EVENT
1325@25 Conference | WIIS Global
Date: November 12, 2025
WIIS Global hosted The Future of the Women, Peace, and Security Agenda: Advancing Innovation, Resilience, and Collective Action, marking the culmination of the 1325@25 Initiative. The full-day conference brought together nearly 200 participants in person and online to explore the next chapter of WPS.
Speakers and breakout sessions highlighted the urgent need to adapt the WPS agenda to a rapidly changing political and security environment. Key takeaways include:
Key Takeaways:
WPS as Strategic Security Doctrine: WPS strengthens societal resilience, defends democratic institutions, and offers a roadmap for addressing today's complex threats through its four pillars: prevention, participation, protection, and recovery.
Building Broader Coalitions: With the UN Security Council increasingly constrained, WPS progress will rely on the UN General Assembly, civil society, grassroots organizers, and cross-sector partnerships that harness the power of allied movements.
Shaping the Narrative: WPS must operate as both a security framework and a pro-democracy movement, building coalitions across sectors and advancing messaging rooted in hope and inclusion.
Thank you to all who attended and participated in this important convening!
Upcoming Events & Opportunities
EVENT (WIIS GLOBAL MEMBERS-ONLY)
WIISUp Wednesday| WIIS Global
Date: January 21, 2025 at 12:00 PM ET
Details: Join WIIS Global for a members-only virtual networking hour. Stay tuned for information on our featured guest speaker.
EVENT
Professional Development | WIIS Canada
Date: December 3, 2025 at 12:00 PM ET
Details: Applying for federal jobs can be tough, but it doesn’t have to be! Join WIIS Canada to learn how to navigate GC jobs and make your application stand out.
EVENT
Networking Hour | WIIS Brussels
Date: December 4, 2025 at 6:30 PM CET
Details: Join WIIS Brussels for a festive winter happy hour! Attendees are encouraged to bring a male colleague or friend to foster inclusive engagement.
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 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.
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 under the “Member Resources” → “Discounts & Offers” tab.
Publications & Media
PUBLICATION (POLICY BRIEF)
The WPS Agenda Beyond 2025: Time for a WPS Treaty | By WIIS Global Members Chantal de Jonge Oudraat & Michael E. Brown
Description: As part of WIIS Global's "1325 at 25" Initiative, WIIS members Chantal de Jonge Oudraat and Michael E. Brown published a new policy brief. At a time of critical reflection—and upheaval—for the WPS community, "The WPS Agenda Beyond 2025: Time for a WPS Treaty" posits an innovative path forward: the WPS movement should push for a UN General Assembly-adopted WPS treaty. Shifting leadership from the Security Council to a broader coalition of member-states (and broader advocates) will revive, legitimate, and strengthen the agenda’s implementation at a crucial moment.
PUBLICATION
Intersectionality in Gender-Responsive Formerly Armed Actor Reintegration | by WIIS Global’s Mahathi Ayyagari and Jonathan Röders
Details: Howard S. Brembeck WPS Fellow Mahathi Ayyagari published a research brief on gender-responsive reintegration with co-author Jonathan Röders, Director of Projects & Programs at the Corioli Institute.
Published by the Corioli Institute, this research brief reveals how reintegration programs often treat female formerly armed actors (FAAs) as a uniform group, ignoring how intersecting identities—like age, caregiving roles, and ethnicity—shape their distinct needs and challenges. It shows that recognizing these differences through an intersectional approach can improve program equity and outcomes. Key recommendations include differentiated intake, transparent referrals, flexible education and livelihood support, stigma reduction, and survivor-centered care. The brief highlights global examples of effective policies but notes that these are rarely integrated systematically. It calls for embedding intersectionality across all reintegration programming phases to foster inclusive and durable FAA reintegration.
PUBLICATION
#25YearsofWPS Series | WIIS Italy
Description: WIIS Italy continues its blog series reflecting on 25 years of the WPS agenda. In a recent post, Martina Garbuglia explores how strengthening women’s informal networks can drive long-term individual and collective transformation.
MEDIA
Gendering Geopolitics: The Gendered Security Impacts of Advanced Technology in Conflict | Podcast Interview with Dr. Lauren Van Metre | WIIS Global
Description: WIIS President & CEO Lauren Van Metre joined New Lines Fellow Riley Sullivan to discuss the gendered security threats posed by advancing technology, particularly in the Ukraine context.
Together, they explore how AI, cyber, social media, and advanced military technology have impacted recent conflicts, what the gendered implications are, and the path forward for ethical use of these technologies.
MEDIA
Bylines & Frontlines | WIIS Canada
Description: Check out a new episode from WIIS Canada’s podcast, Bylines & Frontlines, with hosts Dr. Colleen Bell and Frieda Garcia Castellanos.
Episode 4: 25 Years of UNSCR 1325: Feminist Resilience and the Future of WPS
Marking 25 years since the adoption of UNSCR 1325, this special anniversary episode features discussions and reflections on what this milestone means and what it takes to keep advancing the WPS agenda.
Recent Events
EVENT
WPS Virtual Consultation | WIIS Brussels
Date: November 27, 2025
Summary: WIIS Brussels hosted a virtual exchange with Women Wage Peace and Women of the Sun, two organizations bringing together Israeli and Palestinian women in the pursuit of peace. United under the Mothers’ Call initiative, they highlighted women’s essential role in conflict prevention, negotiation, and peacebuilding. The event provided WIIS Brussels members with an intimate space for personal reflections and shared experiences.
EVENT
Professional Development | WIIS Italy
Date: November 25, 2025
Summary: WIIS Italy members participated in a workshop led by mentoring expert Allessandra Casano on transforming personal interests and talents into strategic professional assets.
EVENT
Panel on Digital Disinformation | WIIS Poland
Date: November 24, 2025
Summary: WIIS Poland president Aleksandra Gasztold joined a panel on youth vulnerability and digital transformation at the "Between Fact and Feed" conference.
EVENT
Panel on Digital Intelligence | WIIS Poland
Date: November 18, 2025
Summary: WIIS Poland president Aleksandra Gasztold participated in a panel on the emerging era of digital intelligence.
EVENT
Women, Peace, and Security Conference | WIIS Spain
Date: November 11, 2025
Summary: WIIS Spain hosted the WPS Agenda: A Shared Commitment, celebrating UNSCR 1325. The conference featured national and international experts, including voices from the Malala Fund and Kenia, who shared their perspectives and experiences on advancing the Women, Peace, and Security agenda. The event concluded with closing remarks from Senegal’s Minister of the Armed Forces, General Birame Diop.
EVENT
Official Launch | WIIS Chile
Date: November 5, 2025
Summary: WIIS Chile celebrated its launch with an event bringing together Chilean authorities, civil society leaders, academics, and international security experts. Hosted in partnership with the University of Chile, the event featured reflections on UNSCR 1325, including participation from the UN Resident Coordinator in Chile, a welcoming message from WIIS Global, and concluded with a networking reception to connect current and future members.
OPPORTUNITY
Mentorship Programme | WIIS Brussels
Summary: WIIS Brussels Mentoring Programme kicked off a new cycle of its mentorship programme with an event hosted by KAS Brussels. The initiative aims to foster intergenerational dialogue and leadership development.
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.
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 wiisglobal.org/donate to gift a membership to someone you know, or donate one for WIIS to match with a future leader.
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.
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!
