When I was working on this article, I was supposed to interview a woman in Gaza named Wesham. But just as we were preparing to connect, fighting resumed and hundreds of people were killed. Wesham stopped responding to my emails, and to this day, I do not know if she is safe.
It is heartbreaking to witness what is happening in the world at the moment—in Ukraine, Sudan, Gaza, and so many other places where wars are often waged by men. I know this may not sound politically correct, but I also know it reflects what many women feel right now because it is in particular women and children who suffer the consequences most.
This year marks the 25th anniversary of the UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace, and Security—a milestone declaration that recognises the vital role women play in conflict resolution and sustainable peacebuilding. Without any doubt, it remains essential to include women at the negotiating table. They are deeply connected to the realities on the ground, and their non-violent communication styles often show greater sensitivity to intercultural differences and nuances.
While the adoption of Resolution 1325 in the year 2000 was a historic milestone, its implementation has remained inconsistent and insufficient until today—as evidenced by many of today’s most intractable conflicts.
And yet, in one of the most polarised and painful regions of the world, two women’s movements have emerged as a powerful example of what Resolution 1325 truly stands for. Women Wage Peace (Israel) and Women of the Sun (Palestine) are grassroots movements that dare to imagine a future beyond hatred, division, and fear. Their members—mothers, daughters, survivors and their supporters —have come together to launch a joint initiative in the midst of the war in Gaza: The Mother’s Call, a simple yet powerful plea to end the bloodshed and return to the negotiating table, with women’s voices at the centre. As mothers, they are united by one powerful desire: to give their children a future free from fear and violence.
These two organisations have been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize for the second year in a row. And in March 2024, their founders were also named among TIME Magazine’s Women of the Year—a testament to their courage, vision, and uncompromising commitment to peace. I had the honour to speak with two of their representatives by zoom recently.
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