PeaceWomen Across the Globe is an internationally active feminist peace organisation based in Bern. We network women from war- and conflict-affected regions and support them in demanding their rights, helping to shape peace processes and thus creating a more peaceful world. We advocate for sustainable and visible women’s peace work.

15 years ago, Ruth-Gaby Vermot-Mangold together with an international team nominated 1000 women for the Nobel Peace Prize. In an unprecedented initiative, they searched the world for women working for peace and justice. On the occasion of its anniversary we interviewed Ruth-Gaby Vermot-Mangold, initiator and co-president of PeaceWomen Across the Globe, about the decisive moments of the project.

Women's access to peace and conflict transformation processes is severely limited, even though UN Resolution 1325 on "Women, Peace and Security" legally stipulates their participation. Peace processes offer critical windows of opportunity for the formal recognition of women's rights and for the elimination of discriminatory social structures and gender norms: important cornerstones for post-conflict transformative change. Women and marginalised groups must therefore play an active role in peace processes.

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. Together with our project partners, we are committed to ensuring that their experiences and concerns are included in the transition to a sustainable, peaceful society.

Women were directly affected by the ten-year conflict in Nepal, many as combatants. Yet, they were effectively excluded from the peace negotiations and their access to transitional justice processes remains severely restricted. With our project, we support conflict-affected women in healing their war traumas, building local networks and gaining access to political decision-makers.