Peace Needs Women

Peace is far more than the absence of war. It is built on respect, cooperation, human rights and dialogue. And lasting peace is not possible without women.

More than 25 years after the adoption of UN Security Council Resolution 1325 (Women to the Peace Negotiation Tables), the importance of women’s participation in peace and security is widely recognised. Yet women remain significantly underrepresented where decisions about conflict and peace are made.

For Soroptimist International of Europe, this raises an important question: Where can we, as a civil society organisation and a strong European network of women, make the greatest difference?

Before deciding where and how to support this demand, we need to understand the field. This is the purpose of the SIE Peace Think Tank.

The Think Tank strengthens our knowledge of Women, Peace and Security by bringing together expertise, international frameworks, research and practical experience. It explores the roles of governments, international institutions and civil society and examines where women are still missing from peace and decision-making processes.

This knowledge will help us determine where SIE can contribute most effectively and where our particular strengths as an NGO can add value.

Our approach is simple: Understand. Decide. Act.

Our Peace Talks Series supports this process by enabling us to learn from outstanding women with direct experience in peacebuilding: SIE Peace Prize laureates Hamida Aman, Silvana Arbia, Edit Schlaffer and Sylvia Borren.

The International Day of Peace on 21 September offers every Soroptimist an opportunity to become part of WOMEN MAKE PEACE POSSIBLE. Clubs across Europe are invited to bring the Soroptimist voice into their communities through discussions, events and cooperation with local partners, and to make our shared commitment visible by wearing or displaying the Peace White Ribbon or Peace Pin. Guidelines are available in the Downloads section of the SIE Extranet.