Since the beginning of the Russian war of aggression in Ukraine, there have been calls for rearmament and higher military spending. As a feminist peace organisation, we oppose the claim that more weapons lead to more security. We call for demilitarisation and disarmament, because this is the only way to achieve genuine peace and comprehensive security. Our Board member Margo Okazawa-Rey and our programme and network manager Annemarie Sancar explain why the world is at a crossroads today.

Shortly after the war of aggression in Ukraine began in February, we opened an emergency fund to support people in embattled areas in eastern Ukraine, especially the women who participated in our 2021 Women’s Peace Tables. Thanks to the network of our partner organisation, KFR Public Alternative, a large number of people in need received essential everyday items.

Even before the Russian war of aggression, women in eastern Ukraine were barely heard, their needs and concerns ignored. Our pilot programme, launched in 2021, opened up spaces where women discussed issues and formulated demands to make their everyday lives safer. We are picking up where we left off with the new Women’s Platform for Peace.

Die drängende Frage, wie der grausame Angriffskrieg Russlands gegen die Ukraine gestoppt werden kann, erlaubt keine vereinfachend-binären Antworten. Unsere Programmverantwortliche Annemarie Sancar und Andreas Zumach plädieren als erfahrene Friedensengagierte in Neue Wege für einen breiten Friedensbegriff und einen selbstkritischen historischen Blick.

Die belarussische Friedensaktivistin Olga Karatch, Gründerin der Organisation Unser Haus, engagiert sich für belarussische Dienstverweigerer und macht sich Sorgen, dass ihr Land in den Krieg gegen die Ukraine eintreten könnte. Sie war im September 2023 Gast an drei Veranstaltungen, die wir in Bern durchgeführt haben und ist Teil unseres globalen Netzwerks.