Our new director, Deborah Schibler, brings a lot of experience in peacebuilding and peace processes from her various assignments around the world - and a lot of passion for the participation of women.

For Deborah Schibler the opportunity to advance feminist peace policy and the "Women, Peace and Security" agenda worldwide is "a dream come true." She takes up her new post on 1 May 2023. As a true citizen of the world, for the first few months she will be leading the Bern team from her current city of residence Bogotá.

Many aspects attracted her to the new position: the opportunity to combine her passion and expertise in her new function, the challenge of reconciling thematic work with the operational management of an NGO, and the chance to work with strong women who carry out peace work worldwide with clear principles and ideas.

"Not only does PeaceWomen Across the Globe match the goal of my professional life in terms of content and subject matter, but also in terms of the international, feminist and networked way of working, which allows me to be part of a strong team of women and to work within that collective," she says.

From Iraq to Colombia

Born in Switzerland, she describes herself as a "citizen of the world," a description that her biography confirms several times over. After studying law in Fribourg and Dublin and being admitted to the bar in Lucerne, she joined the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). She visited prisoners and detainees, worked to protect civilians, re-established contact between family members, and accompanied families of missing persons in their search for loved ones and relatives and in coming to terms with what they had experienced. Her work has taken her to Jordan, Iraq, Madagascar, Colombia, Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Panama and Costa Rica.

Focus on women's participation

Her commitment focuses in particular on women’s peace work. Four years ago, the Swiss Federal Office of Foreign Affairs delegated her to the Organization of American States as a member of the Swiss Expert Pool for Civilian Peacebuilding. There she accompanied the peace process after the official end of the armed conflict between the FARC and the Colombian government. She coordinated projects to promote civil participation and dialogue in regions affected by conflict and violence and, particularly with women and young people. One goal of these projects was to promote and strengthen women's participation in peace processes and local peace work.

On 1 May, Deborah took over the management of the office from Flurina Derungs, who left PeaceWomen Across the Globe at the end of March after six years to take on a new professional challenge. We extend a warm welcome to Deborah and wish Flurina all the best for the future!