Why the Women’s Peace Initiative?

While we know that women are a vital force in peacemaking around the globe, we also know that their efforts are frequently sidelined and faced with obstacles when they work for peace. 

• Today, less than one-third of the individuals recognized as “official” peace workers are women. 

• Women are adversely impacted by war.  63% of casualties are women, and over half of the world’s refugees are women and children.

Yet research demonstrates that women often serve as agents of coalescence within societies, using unique skills to avert disaster for their families and communities and to survive hardships.  Their societal ties make them particularly effective in all aspects of conflict resolution. UN Security Council Resolution 1325 affirms that women must be involved in all aspects of security and peacemaking.

By focusing on the individual women who are risking their lives to bring peace to their communities, WPI will add legitimacy to their efforts, making it harder for their work and that of other women to be sidelined.  Tanenbaum looks forward to providing an innovative addition to the field of women’s peace advocacy, and helping to bring sustainable peace to the Middle East-North Africa region.

Through our Women’s Peace Initiative, we identify, study, and reinforce the work of religiously-motivated women peacemakers in the Middle East-North Africa (MENA). 

WPI Awardees become full members of Tanenbaum’s Peacemakers in Action network for expert skills-based training and collaboration with other religious peacemakers from around the world.  Building on our expertise creating in-depth case studies, we'll produce and widely publish the detailed stories of these relatively unknown women who are driven by their faith to work for peace and justice. 

Learn about this year's winners or nominate someone you know .

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