WFWPI: Sustaining programs for women empowerment as peacebuilders and leaders Our Quadrennial Report — Women's Federation For World Peace International

By Marivir R. Montebon

New York - From scented soaps to bridges of peace, the Women’s Federation for World Peace International (WFWPI) has continued to implement programs worldwide to empower women as peacebuilders and transformative leaders in their family, communities, and countries.

Through literacy, character, and capacity-building education, advocacy, partnership, reconciliation and humanitarian service, WFWPI is now in its 33rd year of creating an environment of peace that includes people of all races, cultures, and religious creeds.

WFWPI Vice President for Administration and UN Relations Director Merly Barlaan said that WFWPI is focusing to improve the capacity of leaders at organizational management and intentionally aligning programs with the UN SDGs.

In its Quadrennial Report (2021-2024) to the UN Economic and Social Council, WFWPI noted that its programs reached an estimated 552,000 people—77,188 women, 62,576 youth, and 412,106 children—across 128 countries.

The programs supported peacebuilding, poverty eradication, education, health, women empowerment, environmental stewardship, establishing peaceful institutions in partnership with local and national governments.

Advocacy efforts aligned with the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) were done in New York, Geneva, and Vienna.

In New York, WFWPI submitted statements to CSW 65-68, organized advocacy trainings and seven parallel events and side events during CSW66–CSW69, attended High Level Political Forum (HLPF), Civil Society Summit of the Future conference (Nairobi and NY), and observed the UNGA 77-79.

WFWPI contributed to the Zero Draft of the Pact for the Future and organized annual campaigns to end violence against women, and launched the Young Global Women Peace Ambassadors Leadership Program.

In Geneva, WFWPI submitted 36 oral and written statements to the Human Rights Council, hosted 16 side events, organized three “No Peace Without Women” conferences with participation from UN Women, UNESCO, UNIFIL, and diplomatic missions.

WFWPI served as president of the NGO CSW - Geneva and led the NGO coordination for the UNECE Beijing+30 Civil Society Forum, trained 32 youth and women from 19 countries in advocacy, the Right to Development (RtD) and SDG implementation.

In Vienna, WFWPi held annual side events during the Commissions on Narcotic Drugs and Crime Prevention, launched the “Peace Through Education” webinar series, and created the Meet and Greet platform for SDG and youth peacebuilding dialogue.

Chapters worldwide implemented SDG-aligned programs on poverty eradication, literacy, family education, microfinance, climate action and peacebuilding. USA and UK chapters promoted the WPS agenda through the Bridge of Peace Project and Herstory award, peace speech contests on family and anti-violence campaigns.

Japan and USA chapters financed Schools for Africa Projects, Korea and Japan sponsored worldwide humanitarian aid and development, and the Philippines trained youth in regenerative food systems and environmental stewardship.

In Latin America and the Caribbean, rural women received training in health and economic empowerment.

Our collaboration with the UN

The national chapters implemented the UNSCR 1325 through the Bridge of Peace reconciliation projects to promote post-conflict healing, and UNGA Resolution 76/300 promoting regenerative environmental stewardship.

WFWPI hosted side events at the Committee on the Status of Women (CSW65–CSW68) and High Level Political Forums (HLPF) and participated in 12 sessions of the Human Rights Council (HRC 46–57). It also joined the Social Forum which is participated by young leaders annually and the UNECE Beijing+30 Intergovernmental Forum.

WFWPI contributed recommendations to UN Women meetings on CSW Revitalization and the UNODC commissions as well as policy awareness recommendations for gender-responsive environmental governance.

Chapters in Africa, Asia and Latin America attended UN briefings, presented statements and showcased field-level best practices.

For the past four years, WFWPI collaborated with UN Women and co-organize “No Peace Without Women” events. Local consultations were done in Africa, Asia, involving UNECE in Europe, UNECE and UN Women ECA.

WFWPI co-led the Beijing+30 CSO Forum and submitted joint statements covering all 12 Areas of Concern.

The WFWPI was invited by ITU and UN DESA to report on CSW67 follow-up on digital inclusion and family-centered education.

WFWPI Geneva maintained bilateral relations with the UN Women Regional Office in Turkey. In Southeast Asia, chapters collaborated with UNDP on youth empowerment and SDGs.

Initiatives Taken in Support of the SDGs

WFWPI’s initiatives were aligned with the SDGs and key UN frameworks: SDG3: Hygiene campaigns and maternal health projects in Benin, Uganda, and Argentina.

SDG4: Literacy, early childhood development, peace education were implemented in Nepal and 10 African countries. Peace education programs are implemented in128 countries. SDG5: Rwanda and Sri Lanka chapters offered reintegration programs for widows and domestic violence survivors.

SDG13: Permaculture and hydroponics programs in the Philippines and Malaysia. SDG16: Bridge of Peace reconciliation programs across Latin America, USA and Europe, conflict dialogue in the Middle East addressed BPfA - Women in Conflict and UNSCR 1325 on women’s participation in post-conflict settings.

SDG17: WFWPI - UN partnerships in Geneva, Vienna, and New York strengthened partnership and multilateral action.

Globally, WFWPI is institutionalizing community-level engagements in observing International Women’s Day, International Day of Peace Day, International Day of the Families, United Nations Day, amplifying awareness of UN goals at local levels.

WFWPI VP for Administration Merly Barlaan expressed gratitude to all women leaders for putting together the Quadrennial Report and most especially to Carolyn Handschin as the director of WFWPI's UN Relations Offices for her leadership.