News and Updates
ICAN Launches 5th Thematic Animation on Gender Responsiveness and Inclusivity in Ceasefires
ICAN’s fifth thematic animation from its Better Peace Initiative series explores why gender responsiveness and inclusivity matter in ceasefire agreements and processes, and how to go about ensuring this in practice.
ICAN and WASL to Discuss Strategies for Protection of Women Peacebuilders in Berlin
ICAN and WASL partner with German Foreign Office and the Center for Feminist Foreign Policy to discuss protection needs and strategies for women peacebuilders.
Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism: ICAN Delivers Training in Cameroon
ICAN facilitated a training on gender and preventing and countering violent extremism organized by the Commonwealth Secretariat’s CVE Unit, from 11-14 June in Douala, Cameroon. The participants were comprised mainly of women civil society actors who have been working in various ways to address violence and build peace in their communities, among them were journalists, lawyers, psychotherapists, educators, youth workers and others.
Gendered Community Policing Animation Now in Spanish
ICAN is happy to announce the launch of the “Gendered Community Policing: Why it matters, how to do it” animation in Spanish!
ICAN-UNDP Report to be launched in Cameroon
The joint report by the International Civil Society Action Network (ICAN) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) will be launched in Cameroon on June 12th with an evening lecture: “The Invisible Women of Violent Extremism” hosted by the Commonwealth Secretariat in Douala, Cameroon. The report, Invisible Women: Gendered Dimensions of Return, Rehabilitation, and Reintegration from Violent Extremism, draws on the expertise of members of the Women’s Alliance for Security Leadership (WASL)
Peace Heroes: Najlaa El Sheikh Helps Syrian Women Refugees Become Business Owners
“I often dream the jasmine returns to Syria to decorate and perfume our streets.”
As the Syrian regime rained barrel bombs on her hometown in Syria, Najlaa and her family were forced to flee to Turkey where she established the first organization led by a Syrian woman to help other women refugees with literacy, economic empowerment, and psychosocial support.
Peace Hero Najlaa El Sheikh speaks to ICAN about her journey, her work, and her dreams.
ICAN’s Better Peace Symposium Focused on Recognition and Protection of Women Peacebuilders
“At ICAN and through the Better Peace Initiative, we’ve looked at gender responsiveness in peace treaties. There is already a lot of information on the why, so we are focusing on the how,” ICAN’s Better Peace Initiative’s Program Director, Helena Gronberg said.
A 2-day expert level group meeting was held in New York, and discussed issues ranging from protecting and recognizing women peacebuilders as a sector, to funding and strategy for inclusive implementation of peace agreements.
ICAN and the Permanent Missions of Canada, the UK, Norway and South Africa to the UN at the Better Peace Symposium
ICAN in partnership with the Missions of Canada, the United Kingdom, Norway and South Africa to the United Nations will host a 2-day expert-level working group meeting (EGM) in New York, featuring several WASL partners.
ICAN and WASL Participated in the Tunis Forum on Gender Equality
The forum focused on Women, Peace and Security as one of its four themes, culminating with a set of ten recommendations on WPS.
Freeing the Kidnapped in Yemen’s War
How Yemeni Mothers Succeeded Where Everyone Else Failed.
Thousands of young men are being forcibly disappeared in Yemen, and mediation efforts by the United Nations envoys, the Red Cross, and many other international organizations have not been successful. The only successful group so far is a coalition of Yemeni mothers, the Abductees’ Mothers’ Association.
Libyan Women at the Frontline of War, but with No Seat at the Peacetable
“Families would call us [CSOs] and we inform paramedics”
From the frontlines of a conflict that has long been forgotten by global powers, Libyan women continue to provide support and promote peace, and remain excluded from peace talks.
Statement of Asian Muslim Action Network (AMAN) on Sri Lanka Attacks
The Asian Muslim Action Network (AMAN) issued a statement about the attacks in Sri Lanka.
ICAN and WASL Partners at the Tunis Forum for Gender Equality
Next week, ICAN and WASL partners from around the world will feature prominently at the Tunis Forum on Gender Equality hosted by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), UN Women, and the Tunisian Ministry of Women, Family, Childhood and the Elderly.
Visaka Dharmadasa Responds to ICPPG’s Letter
On March 8, Visaka Dharmadasa, Founder and Chair of the Association of War Affected Women (AWAW) was invited to speak at Buckingham Palace on the topic of WPS. Two weeks later, the International Center for Prevention and Prosecution Genocide (ICPPG) published an open letter attacking Ms. Dharmadasa. Read her response to the false allegations of ICPPG.
Muna Luqman Briefs UNSC on Yemen
WASL Member, Food4Humanity founder, co-founding member of the Women Solidarity Network, and partner of the Peace Track Initiative, Muna Luqman, has briefed the UN Security Council today on Yemen.