IFOR's Women Peacemakers Program (IFOR/WPP) has been established in 1997 to support and empower women peace activists. We actively advocate for the recognition of women’s experiences of war and conflict and the integration of a gender perspective in peacebuilding processes. Mission Statement and ObjectivesIFOR/WPP’s mission is to support the empowerment of gender-sensitive women and men for the transformation of conflict through active nonviolence.This is done through the following core activities: WPP’s work includes lobby and advocacy for the implementation of important UN Security Council Resolutions in the field of women, peace and security (WPS); UNSCR 1325, 1820, 1888, 1889 and 1960. The WPP believes the women, peace and security agenda needs to be debated and analyzed with a critical lens. This involves looking at gender beyond a narrow focus on women in order to understand and address its relational aspects, which necessitates further exploration of the masculinities perspective. It also requires asking critical questions about the link between gender and militarism, and advocating for a security concept from a feminist perspective. The upcoming years, the WPP focus will also include a focus on the constructive role faith-based peacebuilding can play in countering religious fundamentalism and armed conflict, and the need for a gender perspective in this as well. OutcomeWPP’s work has led to an increase in the number of women, and men, involved in peacebuilding.Participants return to their home countries and form women-led groups for peace; raise awareness of the need for more women to be involved in peacebuilding, and create a climate that opens more space for women, especially young women, to engage in peacebuilding. It has increased the skills and capacity of women peacebuilders. It has raised awareness of and provided training materials on the need for a gender perspective in peacebuilding. It has further increased the pool of empowered women and men peacemakers by providing access to training in conflict resolution skills and other technical support, regional and international networking, and important links to decision-makers, resources and campaigns. The WPP has received recognition from peace researchers and practitioners and has been called a pioneer in the field of gender-sensitive conflict resolution. The WPP's Training of Trainers Program and International Consultations (2001 - 2005) have had a multiplying effect, and the models and materials developed have been requested and adopted by peace organizations/workers in many different regions.
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International Fellowship Of ReconciliationIFOR was founded in October 1919 during a meeting held in Bilthoven, the Netherlands by Christian pacifists.Today IFOR has 82 branches, groups, and affiliates in 48 countries on all continents. Though organized on a national and regional basis, IFOR seeks to overcome the division of nation states which are often the source of conflict and violence. Its membership includes adherents of all the major spiritual traditions as well as those who have other spiritual sources for their commitment to nonviolence. Peace Prize Laureates IFOR has six Nobel Peace Prize Laureates among its former and present members. Jane Addams (1931), Emily Green Balch (1946), Chief Albert Luthuli (1960), Dr. Martin Luther King (1964), Mairead Corrigan-Maguire (1976), Adolfo Perez Esquivel (1980) have all been or are actively contributing to dissemination of the teaching of non-violence.The IFOR international secretariat in Alkmaar, the Netherlands, co-ordinates
communication among IFOR members, links branches to capacity-building
resources (and through the WPP provides training in gender awareness),
and helps co-ordinate international campaigns, delegations and urgent
actions.
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To read more about WPP trainings,