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

October 29, 2025
Our Strategies, Our Peace: ICAN’s Writers’ Workshop  

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.

Read Post Our Strategies, Our Peace: ICAN’s Writers’ Workshop  
October 6, 2025
Open Statement to the United Nations Security Council on behalf of Women Peacebuilders Marking 25 Years of the Women, Peace, and Security Agenda

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.

Read Post Open Statement to the United Nations Security Council on behalf of Women Peacebuilders Marking 25 Years of the Women, Peace, and Security Agenda
August 14, 2025
When Women Lead, Peace Follows: The Transformative Power of Supporting Women’s Political Participation in South Sudan

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. 

Read Post When Women Lead, Peace Follows: The Transformative Power of Supporting Women’s Political Participation in South Sudan
July 18, 2025
Nomination of Francesca Albanese for the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize

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 Post Nomination of Francesca Albanese for the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize
June 16, 2025
جنگ با خویشتن: پاسخ زنان صلح‌ساز افغان به بحران صحت روانی در افغانستان

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.

Read Post جنگ با خویشتن: پاسخ زنان صلح‌ساز افغان به بحران صحت روانی در افغانستان
June 12, 2025
جګړه له خپل ځان سره: په افغانستان کې د رواني/اروایي روغتیایي بحران پر وړاندې د ښځینه سوله پالو غبرګون

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.

Read Post جګړه له خپل ځان سره: په افغانستان کې د رواني/اروایي روغتیایي بحران پر وړاندې د ښځینه سوله پالو غبرګون
May 12, 2025
The Odd Couple: Women Peacebuilders and Security Actors Bridging Positions, Building Trust

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.

Read Post The Odd Couple: Women Peacebuilders and Security Actors Bridging Positions, Building Trust

ICAN News

October 6, 2025
Open Statement to the United Nations Security Council on behalf of Women Peacebuilders Marking 25 Years of the Women, Peace, and Security Agenda

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.

Read Post Open Statement to the United Nations Security Council on behalf of Women Peacebuilders Marking 25 Years of the Women, Peace, and Security Agenda
July 18, 2025
Nomination of Francesca Albanese for the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize

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 Post Nomination of Francesca Albanese for the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize
June 16, 2025
جنگ با خویشتن: پاسخ زنان صلح‌ساز افغان به بحران صحت روانی در افغانستان

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.

Read Post جنگ با خویشتن: پاسخ زنان صلح‌ساز افغان به بحران صحت روانی در افغانستان
June 12, 2025
جګړه له خپل ځان سره: په افغانستان کې د رواني/اروایي روغتیایي بحران پر وړاندې د ښځینه سوله پالو غبرګون

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.

Read Post جګړه له خپل ځان سره: په افغانستان کې د رواني/اروایي روغتیایي بحران پر وړاندې د ښځینه سوله پالو غبرګون
May 29, 2025
Breaking from the Status Quo: Afghan Women’s Creative Resistance Through Art, Culture, and Heritage

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.  

Read Post Breaking from the Status Quo: Afghan Women’s Creative Resistance Through Art, Culture, and Heritage

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.

— Sanam Naraghi Anderlini, MBE Founder and CEO, ICAN

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.

Our
Grantmaking

Since 2013
We have disbursed $11,132,037
Through 235 grants
To 65 women-led peacebuilding organizations
In 26 countries

Our Resources

ICAN’s library and archives include seminal research publications that shaped the WPS agenda, training tools, policy and practical guidance notes, case studies from women’s peacebuilding globally, and a host of other useful resources.