ICAN promotes inclusive and sustainable peace globally.
Recognizing the gendered impact of conflict and the critical role of women peacebuilders, we:
Shape and guide peace and security policies through thought leadership, strategic advice, and gender-responsive analysis;
Foster a global movement of locally rooted women peacebuilders to have voice and influence in matters of peace, conflict, rights, and human security; and
Bring the word and spirit of the Women, Peace, and Security agenda to life.
Featured Updates
ICAN convened 20 members of WASL in Lisbon for the “Our Strategies, Our Peace” Writers’ Workshop. This unique gathering provided a secure and creative space for women peacebuilders to share their strategies, experience, expertise, and stories from conflict and crisis contexts.
On October 6, 2025, the U.N. Security Council holds its annual open debate on Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace, and Security. Today, we are not issuing a new statement. Instead, we are honoring our community of women peacebuilders—who appeared before the Security Council throughout these 25 years, speaking for the millions they represent—by echoing their messages.
In South Sudan, a nation where peace has long remained fragile and democratic progress uncertain, women are stepping forward to shape the future of their country. Long excluded from the corridors of power, they are forging their own movement for lasting change.
On behalf of the International Civil Society Action Network (ICAN) and members of the global Women’s Alliance for Security Leadership (WASL), we are honored to nominate Francesca Albanese, United Nations Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories occupied since 1967, for the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize.
در عرصه صحت روانی، افغانستان با بحران پیچیدهای مواجه است که این بحران به طور جدایی ناپذیر با ناامنی شدید فیزیکی، سیاسی و اقتصادی در کشور گره خورده و این نا امنی ها بحران را تشدید میکند. برای رسیدگی به آسیب های روانی، صحت و بهداشت جامعه به شیوه های پاسخگو به جنسیت و با مد نظر گرفتن حساسیت های فرهنگی، سازمانهای فعال در عرصه صلح سازی به رهبری زنان افغان در موقعیتی منحصربه فرد قرار دارند. این سازمان ها خدمات ابتدایی ارائه میدهند، مهارتها را توسعه میبخشند و در شکلدهی هنجارهای فرهنگی و جنسیتی نقش مؤثر ایفا میکنند.
افغانستان له یوه ډېر پېچلي اروایي/رواني روغتیايي حالت سره مخ دی چې دا حالت د هېواد له ناامنۍ، سیاسي ګډوډۍ او اقتصادي ستونزو سره تړلی او لا یې دا ستونزې زیاتې کړي دي. د افغان ښځو په مشرۍ سولهپالې ادارې کولی شي د خلکو روغتیا او هوساینې ته پاملرنه وکړي، ځکه د دوی کار د ښځو اړتیاوو ته په پاملرنه ترسره کیږي، له کلتوري حساسیتونو سره سمون لري او د ټروما په معلوماتو باندې متکي (trauma-informed) تګلارې دي. دا ادارې اساسي خدمتونه وړاندې کوي، خلکو ته مهارتونه ورزده کوي او کلتوري دودونه او جنسیتي اړخونه تر پوښښ لاندې نیسي.
On May 5, 2025, ICAN’s Sanam Naraghi Anderlini delivered the keynote speech at the two-day international conference “25th Anniversary Conference of UNSCR 1325 Women, Peace and Security.”
As Senator Mobina Jaffer concludes 23 years of distinguished public service in the Canadian Senate, we extend our deepest thanks for her steadfast leadership as Chair of ICAN’s Board of Directors from 2014 to 2024.
Trust between communities and the security sector is critical for effective governance and peace. So is a vibrant civil society. When women peacebuilders are recognized and engaged as independent, strategic partners and security actors—in their own right—the results are transformative. Twenty-five years on from the launch of the WPS agenda, women peacebuilders’ creativity and contributions to societal peace and security are not only timely, they are even more essential.
ICAN News
On October 6, 2025, the U.N. Security Council holds its annual open debate on Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace, and Security. Today, we are not issuing a new statement. Instead, we are honoring our community of women peacebuilders—who appeared before the Security Council throughout these 25 years, speaking for the millions they represent—by echoing their messages.
On behalf of the International Civil Society Action Network (ICAN) and members of the global Women’s Alliance for Security Leadership (WASL), we are honored to nominate Francesca Albanese, United Nations Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories occupied since 1967, for the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize.
Read ICAN’s 2024 Annual Report
در عرصه صحت روانی، افغانستان با بحران پیچیدهای مواجه است که این بحران به طور جدایی ناپذیر با ناامنی شدید فیزیکی، سیاسی و اقتصادی در کشور گره خورده و این نا امنی ها بحران را تشدید میکند. برای رسیدگی به آسیب های روانی، صحت و بهداشت جامعه به شیوه های پاسخگو به جنسیت و با مد نظر گرفتن حساسیت های فرهنگی، سازمانهای فعال در عرصه صلح سازی به رهبری زنان افغان در موقعیتی منحصربه فرد قرار دارند. این سازمان ها خدمات ابتدایی ارائه میدهند، مهارتها را توسعه میبخشند و در شکلدهی هنجارهای فرهنگی و جنسیتی نقش مؤثر ایفا میکنند.
افغانستان له یوه ډېر پېچلي اروایي/رواني روغتیايي حالت سره مخ دی چې دا حالت د هېواد له ناامنۍ، سیاسي ګډوډۍ او اقتصادي ستونزو سره تړلی او لا یې دا ستونزې زیاتې کړي دي. د افغان ښځو په مشرۍ سولهپالې ادارې کولی شي د خلکو روغتیا او هوساینې ته پاملرنه وکړي، ځکه د دوی کار د ښځو اړتیاوو ته په پاملرنه ترسره کیږي، له کلتوري حساسیتونو سره سمون لري او د ټروما په معلوماتو باندې متکي (trauma-informed) تګلارې دي. دا ادارې اساسي خدمتونه وړاندې کوي، خلکو ته مهارتونه ورزده کوي او کلتوري دودونه او جنسیتي اړخونه تر پوښښ لاندې نیسي.
In a powerful departure from traditional advocacy, ICAN—guided by our Afghan partners and women peacebuilders—hosted the event “Watan e Ma – وطن ما – Our Homeland: Women of Afghanistan Keeping the Flame of Freedom Alive” on March 17, 2025 at Blue Gallery in New York City. Held during the 69th Commission on the Status of Women (CSW69), the event celebrated Afghan cultural heritage and the resilience of Afghan women peacebuilders, who persist in their leadership for peace, justice, and equality under the Taliban’s regime of gender apartheid.
On May 5, 2025, ICAN’s Sanam Naraghi Anderlini delivered the keynote speech at the two-day international conference “25th Anniversary Conference of UNSCR 1325 Women, Peace and Security.”
As Senator Mobina Jaffer concludes 23 years of distinguished public service in the Canadian Senate, we extend our deepest thanks for her steadfast leadership as Chair of ICAN’s Board of Directors from 2014 to 2024.
Together with André Mundal, our new Interim Chair of the ICAN Board of Directors, we are delighted to welcome two new members to our Board of Directors.

Those of us who live in peace take it for granted—it’s the invisible canvas upon which we paint and live our lives. But without peace, nothing else is possible.
How We Work
We employ a holistic and flexible approach to fulfill our mission, collaborating with peacebuilders, policymakers, and other stakeholders through network and movement building, advocacy, grantmaking, research and publications, as well as the development of skills and expertise.
Our Global Reach
The Women’s Alliance for Security Leadership (WASL) comprises 99 independent, locally rooted women-led organizations and women peacebuilders active in 39 countries affected by violence and war.










