Common paths to peace: this could be the title of this print newsletter. Because the women from Colombia and Ukraine featured in this issue are on these paths – even though war is still raging in Ukraine and a peace agreement has been in force in Colombia since 2016.
In this newsletter, you can read about the insights of Ukrainian women living in exile and women who have remained in Ukraine and find out why the word "peace" is politically charged. Our programme officer Karin Widmer took part in a Women's Peace Table in Colombia, where the conflict-affected participants deepened their knowledge, shared insights and developed strategies together. At the Peace Table, they all agreed: "The only way is peace."
We also present the articles from the latest issue of the "Feminists Connecting for Peace" magazine.
In 2021, we launched a pilot programme with women in conflict-affected communities in eastern Ukraine, who have been affected by rampant poverty, social insecurity and gender-based violence for years. In our Ukraine programme they worked together on strategies for safety in their daily lives and equal participation in peacebuilding. We continue building peace with them even during the war.
The war in Ukraine has led to the increasing celebration of toxic masculinity in the region. As a result, male identity is experiencing a serious crisis that affects a large number of men and women, writes Belarusian peace activist Olga Karatch in her article in the 2. edition of the "Feminists Connecting for Peace" magazine. She lists five ways to counter these patriarchal narratives.
Since the signing of the peace agreement in Colombia, we have been actively supporting the participation of conflict-affected women and marginalised groups in its implementation.
