May 2026 Newsletter

April was an exciting and impactful month for WIIS Global: 

• Dr. Louise Shelley: WIIS Global welcomes our new Distinguished Global Fellow, Dr. Louise Shelley! Dr. Shelley is a prominent expert in transnational organized crime, corruption, and illicit trade, influencing global policy and research. She founded the Terrorism, Transnational Crime and Corruption Center (TraCCC) and is recognized for her innovative research on illicit economies and networks, which has guided governments and organizations worldwide. As a Distinguished Fellow, Dr. Shelley will bring her expertise in transnational crime and illicit networks to WIIS, advising on key issues, mentoring the next generation of security leaders, and contributing to high-level dialogues shaping the field.
• Class of 2026 Membership Discount: Congratulations to the Class of 2026! To help jumpstart your career in international peace and security, WIIS Global is offering 15% off a Young Professional membership exclusively for new graduates. Join a global network of 15,000 members and gain access to exclusive events, job boards, mentorship opportunities, and a community dedicated to advancing women in the field.

VIRTUAL EVENT

Beyond 1325@25: Strategies to Advance the Women, Peace, and Security Agenda in a Shifting Geopolitical Landscape | WIIS Global

Date: May 12th, 2026 at 12:00 - 1:30 pm ET

Details: In follow-up to the 1325@25 Conference, WIIS and the New Lines Institute is pleased to publish a policy paper that shares and analyzes key insights from the conference. The virtual policy forum will serve as a launch event for this publication, and will also leverage its lessons learned to examine current geopolitical events, delve deeper into critical questions around Women, Peace and Security (WPS) implementation beyond discussions at the conference, and make space for continued conversation and expert reflection around issues of gender, peace, and security.

VIRTUAL EVENT

Autonomy and Alliance: Aligning Transatlantic Defense Industries 

Date: May 12th, 2026 at 12:30 pm ET

Details:  The Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung USA (KAS USA) is hosting a roundtable luncheon at the KAS USA Office in Washington, DC. The discussion will center on the recent publication "Autonomy and Alliance: Aligning Transatlantic Defense Industries for a New Strategic Landscape" by Dr. Karin L. Johnston, Development Director of WIIS. Panelists include Roderich Kiesewetter, Member of the German Bundestag, and Dr. Johnston, moderated by Anna Hardage of Hanwha Global Defense.

EVENT (WIIS GLOBAL MEMBERS ONLY)

WIISUp Wednesday | WIIS Global

Date: May 27th, 2026 at 12:00 PM ET 

Details: Join WIIS Global for our members-only virtual networking hour.

EVENT (WIIS BRUSSELS MEMBERS ONLY)

"Conversations With" Dora Meredith, ODI Europe | WIIS Brussels

Date: May 20th, 2026 at 18:30 - 20:00 CET

Details: WIIS Brussels invites members to an intimate off-the-record exchange with Dora Meredith, Director of ODI Europe in Brussels.

The conversation will explore how ideas translate into policy, how institutions interact in Brussels, and what it takes for women to navigate these spaces and shape meaningful contributions. Drawing on Dora's experience leading a major think tank and working across government and international networks, this is a space for open exchange and shared reflection — not a panel or lecture. Participation is open to WIIS Brussels members. Seats are limited.

OPPORTUNITY

Blog Writing Competition: "When Security Loses Its Human Face" | WIIS Canada

Deadline: June 1st, 2026 

Details: Our affiliate WIIS Canada, in partnership with Population & Security, has launched their 2026 blog writing competition themed "When Security Loses Its Human Face" — inviting submissions that explore how humanitarian principles are being sidelined in global security policy and what this means for civilian protection, international norms, and conflict governance. 

Submissions of up to 1,000 words are welcomed in English or French from students, activists, and policymakers alike. Selected pieces will be featured on the Population & Security blog, with two prizes of $200 CAD awarded — one per language. 

Submit entries to: [email protected] 

EVENT

WCAPS' Collective Power Gala

Date: June 25th, 2026 at 6:00 PM EST

Details: Women of Color Advancing Peace, Security and Conflict Transformation (WCAPS) invites the WIIS community to their inaugural Collective Power Gala at the University of the District of Columbia, Washington, DC.
This evening brings together leaders, thinkers, and changemakers dedicated to investing in the ideas and expertise that define our collective future.

PUBLICATION 

"Beyond 1325@25: Strategies to Advance the WPS Agenda in a Shifting Geopolitical and Security Landscape" by Mahathi Ayyagari and Kallie Mitchell | WIIS Global

Details: "Beyond 1325@25: Strategies to Advance the WPS Agenda in a Shifting Geopolitical and Security Landscape" examines three key strategies to advancing the WPS agenda in a rapidly shifting geopolitical landscape, across regional security architectures, coalition building, and strategic messaging. 

PUBLICATION 

"From Resolution to Practice: 25 Years of the Women, Peace and Security Agenda: The Role of the Mediterranean Women Mediators Network" | WIIS Italy

Details: Twenty-five years after the adoption of UNSCR 1325, the  WPS agenda remains central to global peace efforts, even as key commitments remain unmet. A new volume developed within the Mediterranean Women Mediators Network (MWMN), led by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in collaboration with the Istituto Affari Internazionali and WIIS Italy, reflects on the evolution of the agenda and the tangible impact of women mediators across the region. Drawing on research and firsthand experiences, the publication highlights both progress and persistent gaps, while offering practical recommendations to strengthen women’s meaningful participation in peacebuilding and mediation efforts.

MEDIA

Bylines & Frontlines Podcast | WIIS Canada

Details: In the latest episode of WIIS Canada's Bylines & Frontlines podcast, host Frieda Garcia Castellanos sits down with Katrina Leclerc, a leading expert on WPS and Youth, Peace and Security (YPS), to explore localization as a strategic necessity — not just a principle of good practice. Drawing on experience across the United Nations, national governments, and grassroots peacebuilding, the conversation examines how locally grounded approaches can strengthen trust, improve early warning, and enhance operational effectiveness — while confronting why localization so often becomes tokenistic in practice.

PUBLICATION

Why Gender Equity Matters for International Security | WIIS UK

Details: UK has launched its first essay collection, "Why Gender Equity Matters for International Security," bringing together nine essays from the WIIS UK community. 

Released in April 2026, the collection responds to this year's Commission on the Status of Women theme on access to justice for women and girls. At a moment when the WPS agenda is both more important and more under threat than ever, the essays examine topics ranging from AI-facilitated violence and digital repression to the gendered architecture of autocracy, offering concrete policy recommendations on who gets a seat at the table and what it costs when they don't.
 

Lived Experiences in International Affairs | WIIS Global 

Details: WIIS Global, in partnership with the British Embassy, was pleased to co-host a panel discussion and networking event on “Lived Experiences in International Affairs” on April 2nd. 

Moderated by Kayla McGill, the panel featured WIIS President & CEO Dr. Lauren Van Metre, MITRE’s Director for Industry Engagement Allison Reardon, and Development Counsellor at the British Embassy Washington Kebur Azbaha. 

The discussion brought together a broader network of professionals working across security, technology, foreign affairs, and development. Through their insights and experiences, the conversation highlighted the importance of representation, women's principled leadership, and strong networks in shaping the future of international affairs. 

International AntiCounterfeiting Coalition (ACC) | WIIS Global

Details: WIIS' Director Dr. Layla Hashemi was a panelist at this year's IACC in Orlando where she spoke about Disrupting Counterfeiting and Illicit Trade in Free Trade Zones and her Hubs of Illicit Trade (HIT) Project. The panel brought together experts from across government, industry, and research to examine how illicit networks exploit global trade infrastructure and what coordinated public-private action is needed to combat them.

Strategizing a Seat at the Table | WIIS Italy 

Details: On April 16, WIIS Italy, in partnership with Women for Peace & Participation and supported by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, convened the Strategizing a Seat at the Table Initiative in Brussels. Over three days, Afghan women leaders engaged directly with EU institutions, policymakers, and peacebuilding organizations to advance concrete, experience-driven policy recommendations and identify pathways for meaningful participation in political and peace processes. The initiative underscored that inclusion is not symbolic, but a practice built through sustained engagement, expertise, and action.

Networking Event in Melbourne | WIIS Australia

Details: On April 16, WIIS Australia  (WIIS-A) had the opportunity to partner with Young Australians in International Affairs (YAIA) for a joint networking event in Melbourne. This event provided students, professionals and WIIS-A members an opportunity to network following the first day of YAIA's National Conference. Informal opening remarks were provided by WIIS-A President, Maria Rost Rublee.
 

Unidas Women's Network Meeting | WIIS Chile

Details: At the 2026 Unidas Women's Network Meeting, held at the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), WIIS Chile led the debate on freedom, sovereignty, and the global order. Their president, Karen Meier, analyzed the risks of geopolitical rivalry and the rise of authoritarianism, calling on women across the region to organize around peacebuilding and the active defense of democracy.

WIIS Chile extends its sincere thanks to the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) for their collaboration and commitment to these regional initiatives, as well as to moderator Marcos Pacheco Soto and discussant Markova Concepción Jaramillo.
 

Cybersecurity, AI & Digital Sovereignty | WIIS Brussels

Details:  WIIS Brussels hosted an engaging session with Rosanna Kurrer at The Nine, exploring how cybersecurity has evolved into a strategic priority shaping trust-based societies, digital sovereignty, and global geopolitics. The discussion highlighted that cyber resilience is a continuous process requiring alignment across people, processes, and technology. A key insight from the session: the future of cybersecurity is interdisciplinary — and increasingly dependent on diverse profiles and perspectives, including women in tech.

Conversations with Afghan Women Leaders | WIIS Brussels & WIIS Italy

Details: WIIS Brussels and WIIS Italy, in cooperation with the KAS Multinational Development Policy Dialogue, convened a roundtable discussion with Afghan women leaders in Brussels. Mona Koehler-Schindler, Secretary General of WIIS Brussels, delivered opening remarks and moderated the exchange.

Held under the Chatham House Rule, the session brought together Afghan women leaders and senior experts to discuss the current political, security, and human rights situation in Afghanistan — with particular focus on women and girls' access to education, healthcare, and public life, as well as economic inclusion and humanitarian challenges. The Afghan delegation shared first-hand perspectives and concrete recommendations to inform ongoing European and international policy discussions.