Learned lessons from feminist led peace processes

With the war in Ukraine the question of how to build peace has become an actual and practical question in many European countries. The Women, Peace and Security agenda is built on the understanding that women and other marginalised groups in decision making need a seat at the table of negotiations and have an important role to play in promoting a culture of peace.

In this web-seminar we ask the question: ‘what can we learn from examples of feminist peace initiatives?’. It will reflect on how women’s rights defenders have mobilized and with what learned lessons and strategies of interventions. Countries/regions we will definitely address: the former Yugoslavia and Colombia.

More information on speakers:

• Sonja Lokar is a feminist in Slovenia and internationally, with a long list of organisations and institutions she has worked for or been elected into leadership roles. As a sociologist and a specialist in political party development she has published more than 300 articles in different languages. Among others she has been a mediator in the OSCE Serbia and Kosovo Missions.
• Iliana María Colonia Llanos is a feminist, pacifist and antimilitarist. She has been active with la Ruta Pacífica de las Mujeres en el Valle del Cauca y la Unión de Ciudadanas de Colombia for the Cali section. She has been among others promoting initiatives for the participation and leadership of women and young people in the processes of peacebuilding.
• Inga Luther is Managing Director of OWEN - Mobile Academy for Gender Democracy and Promotion of Peace e.V.. OWEN is coordinating, together with partners from Ukraine and Russia, the six-year-long programme ‘Women's Initiatives for Peace’. Through this programme, women from Ukraine, Russia, and other countries come together regularly for exchange, dialogue, and for cooperation in different local and regional activities.
• Cristina Reyna is a feminist activist and media specialist. Her expertise is on Gender and Development, SRHR, UNSCR 1325 and women and peace, women’s rights, GBV and migration. She is a WIDE+ Caucus member and member of the Gender and Migration Working Group. She has had multiple experiences in international organizations focusing on gender and development and project coordination.