International Civil Society Action Network (ICAN)

#WASLWeekly: Dive into the impact of women #peacebuilders in the ICAN-spearheaded #WASL network & discover their innovative contributions to advancing the #WPS agenda. ?? 1?? Southwest Region, #Cameroon: Esther Omam, Reach Out Cameroon, was honored by the Mundemba Chiefdom with a special traditional title to recognize her contributions to building lasting & inclusive #peace. 2?? Mombasa, #Kenya: Coast Education Center, with the support of Kenya Commercial Bank (KCB) Kilindini Branch, provided Ramadan food packages to vulnerable families, strengthening their women’s network. 3?? #Syria: Hope Revival Organization (HRO) hosted an educational session on “Psychological Resilience” to explore strategies for adapting to stress & transforming challenges into opportunities for growth. HRO also launched the Mobile Clinics Project in Lattakia, offering free healthcare services to older adults. 4?? Bethlehem, #Palestine: Wi’am welcomed a delegation from Euro COOP’s Palestine office, providing an in-depth look into their outreach initiatives focused on community engagement, #peacebuilding, & #empowerment. 5?? ?Giza Governorate, #Egypt: As part of the "Health & Reproductive Rights Program," the Centre For Egyptian Women Legal Assistance, in cooperation with trained health service providers, organized a series of awareness seminars to raise health & social awareness in the region. 6??? #Syria: Kareemat Organisation, with the support of Al-Kawthar Charitable Foundation, is implementing the Hamza Education Project, offering students a supportive learning environment, guidance, & empowerment to help them achieve their potential. 7?? ?#Turkey: Ayse Betül ?elik was awarded the Kadir Has Outstanding Achievement award for her work on the theme “Global Peace & Justice in the Era of Conflict & Chaos.”?

? "You are extraordinary heroines, working day and night to ensure that your resilience and resistance today brings greater light, laughter, hope, and joy to your beloved nation, today and for future generations." – Sanam Naraghi Anderlini, ICAN ? As we continue reflecting on Watan E Ma – ??? ?? – Our Homeland, we share these powerful words from ICAN’s Sanam Naraghi Anderlini, MBE, who opened the event with a tribute to Afghan women peacebuilders. Their resilience and leadership remain a beacon of hope for #Afghanistan and the world. This is just one of the many voices we’ll be highlighting over the coming weeks as we revisit the moments and messages that made Watan E Ma so impactful. Stay tuned for more. ?? #WataneMaAfghanistan #OurHomelandAfghanistan #AfghanWomen #Peacebuilders Artists at Risk Connection (ARC) New Development and Relief Organization - NDRO Charmaghz FARAGEER Afghans for Progressive Thinking (APT) WCLRF AnomalousCo Mina's List World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT) Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office

It’s #WPSWednesday! ?? Don’t miss our #NewsRoundUp, packed with the latest global news on Women, Peace, and Security! ? ? ?? “Surveillance and Fear in the Face of the Vice and Virtue Laws in Afghanistan” #WASL partner FARAGEER launches a new report on the impact of the Taliban’s 2024 PVPV law on women’s rights in #Afghanistan: https://lnkd.in/d8rB8yuz? ?? “Supporting #Afghan women supports all women” Teresa Casale, Mina's List: https://lnkd.in/gq3fkR57? ??? “Episode 43: Irene Stephanou, a South African born Cypriot performer on her experience of growing up in the diaspora” On a new #KaleidHERscope episode, #WASL partner Magda Zenon speaks to Irene Stephanou: https://lnkd.in/eXuVMgXY ??? “Let Afghan Women Lead” Palwasha Hassan & Shafiqa Khpalwak, Project Syndicate: https://lnkd.in/gwJPZTCA? ?? “For #Latvia, Gender Equality Is the Path to Prosperity” Dulcie Leimbach, PassBlue: https://lnkd.in/dzE9ksgP? ??? “Afghan women's rights activists in #Pakistan fear deportation” Haroon Janjua, Deutsche Welle: https://lnkd.in/du4YKfpC? ??? “#CSW69 special edition: The ‘elephants in the room’ at the UN women’s rights talks” Colum Lynch, Devex: https://lnkd.in/djgDi4s8 ??? “On the brink: Women in the Occupied #Palestinian Territory” United Nations OCHA: https://lnkd.in/dPhVQwMV? ??? “’We Don’t Need Saviors — We Need Solidarity.’ The Fight For Women’s Rights In Post-Assad #Syria” Renee Davis, DAWN: https://lnkd.in/duCD-FZa

????We are honored to have hosted Watan E Ma – ??? ?? – Our Homeland on March 17, 2025, in New York City. This interactive event celebrated the resilience and defiance of Afghan women peacebuilders. The event was a reminder that Afghan culture is rooted in an ancient civilization that established coexistence and pluralism as norms, and that positioned women equally and with dignity in society.? Coinciding with Nowruz—the Persian New Year celebration of renewal and hope, which Afghans are currently banned from celebrating in Afghanistan—we centered Afghan women peacebuilders’ courage and resistance as they continue their unyielding pursuit of a new day of peace, freedom, and equality for all Afghans.? Over the next few weeks, we’ll be sharing highlights from Watan E Ma, showcasing the art, performances, and teach-ins that made this event so powerful. Today, we want to recognize the key interventions from our esteemed speakers: ? France Bognon – ICAN ? Wazhma Frogh – WPSO AFG & Canada? ? Richard Bennett – UN Special Rapporteur on Afghanistan ? ? Sanam Naraghi Anderlini, MBE – ?ICAN Their insights reinforced the urgent need to amplify Afghan women’s voices in shaping their country’s future. We extend our deepest gratitude to all who participated. Stay tuned as we continue sharing moments from Watan E Ma in the coming days! ?? ?? : Kobra Akbari #WataneMaAfghanistan #OurHomelandAfghanistan #AfghanWomen #Peacebuilders #Nowruz2025 Artists at Risk Connection (ARC) New Development and Relief Organization - NDRO Charmaghz FARAGEER Afghans for Progressive Thinking (APT) WCLRF AnomalousCo Mina's List World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT) Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office Een van de jongens

In New York around #CSW69 and in Watan e Ma I had the amazing opportunity to meet so many old and new allies and friends- shared about our work in Afghanistan and finding ways to support younger women in Afghanistan

We stand in solidarity with our colleagues at #USIP during this uncertain time. Their leadership in peace and development has been invaluable, and their mission is more crucial than ever. ? ? Read our full statement below.

Who are the pioneers tackling the world’s toughest problems? What would they do if in charge? ? ? Season 2 of "If You Were in Charge" is here! Join ICAN’s Sanam Naraghi Anderlini, MBE as she sits down with leading global experts and those working on the ground to reimagine a better future.? ? ??? Episode One kicks off with Ece Temelkuran, renowned author of How to Lose a Country: The 7 Steps from Democracy to Dictatorship, diving into the mechanisms of autocracy and the decline of democratic principles.? ? ?? This season we want to hear from you! Stay connected - join the?ICAN newsletter, share your thoughts,?and most importantly: subscribe, rate and review the podcast. ?? Apple: https://lnkd.in/ea-3bh3T ?? Spotify:?https://lnkd.in/emzvgFXX ? #IfYouWereInCharge #Podcast #Democracy #Leadership Africa Digital Audio (ADA) Productions

?? In this week’s #WASLWeekly, discover how inspiring women #peacebuilders from the ICAN-led #WASL network made their mark at #CSW69, championing gender equality & sustainable peace. 1. Nargis Nehan & FARAGEER organized the event “From #Afghanistan to New York: Afghan Women Calling for Action,” emphasizing that #Afghan women keep rising & raising their voices for the rights of women & their communities, despite facing extreme oppression. 2. Wai Wai Nu, Women's Peace Network, joined the panel “Gender Justice & the Crimes Against Humanity Treaty Initiative,” highlighting the crisis in #Myanmar & the need for a victim & survivor-centered approach. 3. Women's Centre for Legal Aid and Counselling - WCLAC participated in a parallel event entitled “Women from Arab States Amplifying their Voices,” organized by the Arab Network for Women & Children’s Rights, & joined a UN Session to share their work & the experiences of women in #Palestine & #Gaza. 4. Zarqa Yaftali, WCLRF, spoke at events on the situation of #Afghan women, spotlighting the serious, inhumane treatment of women under the Taliban, the plight of Afghan refugees, & the need for global action to #EndGenderApartheid. 5. WHRDMENA Coalition gathered at #CSW69 to celebrate 10 years of WHRD MENA & 20 years of WHRD-IC – two coalitions that persist despite constant & extreme repression, to stand with women human rights defenders & women #peacebuilders. 6. Reach Out Cameroon was represented by Deputy Director, Lundi-Anne Omam, PhD, MScGH, who shared their work & mission to uplift marginalized women & communities in #Cameroon.?

#WPSWednesday: In our weekly #NewsRoundUp, we share peace and security related news and updates from around the world. Let us know what you've been reading in the comments! ??? "Principles for #Syria's Transition" Read the statement from #WASL partner Center for Civil Society and Democracy CCSD: https://lnkd.in/dKU_6DAr ?? "UN report on #Israel's gender-based violence and genocidal acts against women's health facilities must spur action to protect #Palestinians" Amnesty International: https://lnkd.in/eYsEVims ??? "US Plays Spoiler at Annual Gathering on Women's Rights" Damilola BANJO, PassBlue: https://lnkd.in/ebFcPUdy ?? "UN tells #Afghan rulers: no peace and prosperity until they reverse bans on women and girls" The Associated Press: https://lnkd.in/eGguTZvq ??? "There's not enough money - so why spend it on gender equality and justice?" Caroline Harper, Ayesha Khan, Evie Browne, and Ján Michalko, PhD, ODI Global: https://lnkd.in/erXBykq9 ?? "#Afghan women who fled Taliban to study abroad face imminent return after #USAID cuts" Yogita Limaye, BBC News: https://lnkd.in/e5g4uWjf

Deep gratitude to International Civil Society Action Network (ICAN) and its partners for bringing together Afghan women peacebuilders, artists, and allies for the #WatanEMa – #OurHomeland event took place on Mar 17,2025. AWNI had the privilege of participating in this event in #NYC, we jointly honor #AfghanWomen leadership, resistance, and unwavering vision for a future of peace and equality. @whatthewomensay dedication to amplifying Afghan women's voices is truly inspiring. #AfghanWomen #Peacebuilders #WatanEMa #OurHomeland #WomenLeadPeace #AWNI