Ever since a team around our founder and president gathered the names of 1000 women peacebuilders from across the globe and nominated them collectively for the 2005 Nobel Peace Prize, we have understood how fundamental networks are to peacebuilding and specifically to women’s peace work. We also know: networks need to be cultivated and cared for. With this in mind, we invited 12 women peacebuilders to come together in Bern in February 2024.

Our advocacy aims to create political impact and achieve a feminist vision of peace. The focus is on the implementation of key human rights instruments that form the basis for a peaceful and gender-just world.

This year’s International Day of Peace is a call to action. “Peace,” says United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, “is not automatic. Peace is a result of action.” On this International Day, the UN recognises that it is “our individual and collective responsibility to foster peace.” We agree. For us, this call to action is about recognising the transformative power of networks and about fostering and making effective use of the particular collective power of women’s networks to achieve a peaceful and just world.

Political work is a core concern of our organisation and of Feminists Connecting for Peace, our global network. The network and its activities provide a space for activists and women's organisations to share ideas and practices, work together on strategies and carry out political work together. Through the network we contribute to our goal of creating political impact.