​Opening and Context

 

Opening Remarks: Ms. Mitty Tohma, President of WFWP Europe and the Middle East (UK), set the tone by underscoring the global challenges women face in conflict contexts and the urgency of ensuring women’s voices as central in prevention, resolution, and post-conflict recovery.

 

 

Session 1: Women, Peace, and Security – Promoting Women’s Equal Rights in Conflict Prevention and Resolution

 

Moderator: Ms. Elisabetta Nistri, WFWP President, Italy, graciously introduced the event emphasizing “the crucial role that women must and can play in peace and security processes”. She also highlighted WFWP’s work in promoting women as leaders and peacemakers”.

 

Speakers:

 

- MEP Cecilia Strada, Member of S&D Group, Democratic Party Italy, refusing to confine women to the role of victims, she described them as active agents of change and source of strength. “When women are protected and empowered, their communities are more resilient”, she said.

 

Dr. Aicha Bacha, President of the European Center for Development and Geostrategic Studies and Analysis (Belgium) focused in the implementation of the resolution 1325 in sub-Saharan Africa “where progress is fragile” and highlighted South Africa’s success with women occupying almost half of the parliamentary seats.

 

Ms. Maritza Cecile Chantal Formisano Prada, Deputy Director, UN Women Belgium, highlighted the commitment of UN Women, the UN leading entity for the WPS agenda “to supporting its global implementation, through leadership, training and data collection, while acknowledging that women’s participation is still very low.”

 

 

Ms. Frohar Poya, Project Officer, European Network of Migrant Women, Belgium, described her personal experience as an Afghan woman growing up in a country in conflict. “Education was continually interrupted and insecurity pushed girls to marry early to avoid violence. Afghan women are not only victims of war but also of a deep patriarchal society”, she concluded.

 

This session emphasized localized, context-specific solutions. A recurring theme was the need for grassroots engagement to ensure problem statements and policy responses align with the lived realities of communities affected by conflict.

It also centered on recognizing the disproportionate impact of conflict on women and children and the necessity of localizing response mechanisms.

The discussions highlighted:

The importance of engaging local communities at the grassroots level to co-create problem statements and solutions tailored to specific contexts.

The need for durable, inclusive governance structures that elevate women’s leadership in prevention, protection, and peacebuilding.

 

Q&A Session: An engaged Q&A followed the panel, allowing participants to probe policy gaps and advocate for actionable commitments.

 

Session 2: Women’s Role in Building Secure and Supportive Educational Environments

 

Moderator: Ms. Colette Delrue, WFWP President, Belgium introduced the topic recognizing the incredible contribution of women in education: “They are shaping safe, inclusive and resilient spaces that empower learners and communities alike, strengthening the foundations of peace and security in society”.

 

Speakers:

 

MEP Iratxe García Pérez, President, Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats (S&D), Spain, thanked all women in the Forum for their presence,  defining it as a clear commitment.  She also expressed that “Peace means to voice and manage disagreements without resorting to violence; it means justice, equity and inclusion”. She went on to say that “the struggle for gender equality is closely linked to peace and security.”

 

Ms. Anastasiia Petrenko, Founder, United Women (Ukraine) stressed that “women are the ‘nexus’ of integration of a community, providing psycho-social support and education to refugees, especially to mothers who want to ensure that their children will be part of the EU system, and at the same time will be able to preserve their cultural identity”.

 

Ms. Bénédicte Suzuki, President, and cofounder of Femmes au Secours de la Paix, France, explained that it aims to promote peace through women’s empowerment, intercultural dialogue and peace education.  She explained that “it develops projects internationally, emphasizing the importance of personal effort and willingness to overcome conflicts, encouraging altruistic action and commitment to inner well-being”.

 

Ms. Lubica Magnusson, Biology & European Studies Teacher at International School, Bratislava; WFWP President, Slovakia emphasized the role of parents and family as the first educators, together with the school. She also referred to the education of a person as a whole insisting on character education teaching human rights and commonly shared values.”

Ms. Victoria Casnochová and Ms. Eliska Henselová, students of the 5th grade of Bilingual Slovak English Gymnasium, Bratislava, brought attention to modern issues women face such as AI generated pornography, deepfake, and the creation of pornography without consent. “It’s very important to make laws that protect women and regulate the use of technology”, they shared.

 

This session highlighted education as a critical frontier for resilience and empowerment. Conflict-induced disruption to education disproportionately affects girls, limiting their future opportunities and perpetuating cycles of inequality. The discussion showcased inspirational examples of educators and advocates who are safeguarding learning spaces, supporting girls’ continued education, and fostering youth leadership.

 

 

Closing Remarks:

The session closed with reflections on the pivotal role of teachers, the resilience of students, and the transfer of leadership across generations within the Women’s Federation network. The emphasis was on mentoring the next generation “passing the baton” from veterans to younger leaders to amplify ripple effects across communities.

 

 

Why This Matters

 

The Women, Peace, and Security agenda remains central to sustainable peace. By centering women in prevention and resolution, and by protecting and expanding access to education, communities can build more resilient, just, and peaceful futures.

Localized, inclusive approaches are not optional but necessary. Real change arises when those most affected participate in designing and implementing solutions.

 

How to Engage

 

WFWP Europe and the Middle East continues to mobilize networks, mentorship programs, and partnerships to advance women’s leadership and peacebuilding.

 

A vote of thanks goes to the organizing team: Marcia de Abreu, Colette Delrue, Elisabetta Nistri, Flora Grassivaro, Vigdis  Parkins, Brigitte Wada and Mitty Tohma.