Celebrating Feminists’ Voices, Inspiring Global Peace

WILPF Zimbabwe Group First Induction Workshop

4 April 2017
Photo Zimbabwe Workshop Participants
Participants of the first induction workshop organised by WILPF Zimbabwe Group

On 28 January 2017, WILPF Zimbabwe Group held its first induction workshop. The workshop was held so as to introduce the new members from other cities on the values and principles of WILPF, the origins of the organisation and how it started in Zimbabwe.

It was Ayo Amaale, the president of WILPF Ghana, who introduced Edwick Madzimure, WILPF Zimbabwe Group’s lead, to WILPF when they met at the 2nd African Peace Conference, which was held in Ghana in October 2015. When Ms Madzimure went back to Zimbabwe, she approached nine women from different socio economic and political backgrounds; together they started the application process. WILPF Executive Committee approved the application and WILPF Zimbabwe was officially recognised as a WILPF Group in October 2016. The following stage was the registration of the group according to the laws of Zimbabwe hence the group contributed money for the trust registration and as of today the trust deed is being processed.

In 2017, the members of the group decided it was time to invite representatives from various cities and introduce them to WILPF such that they could go back to their cities and recruit more members. The workshop was a success and the new members were encouraged to do their activities in accordance with the Constitution and the laws of Zimbabwe to avoid being at loggerheads with the authorities.

The day was a success thanks to members’ unwavering support even when the country is facing an economic crisis. The women in Zimbabwe are equally affected by gender-based violence, economic, political and social inequalities hence WILPF Zimbabwe is committed to work towards the betterment of women’s lives through various activities and ensuring the participation of women in peace and reconciliation programs.

Driven with their passion and commitment to see the organisation move to greater heights the members donated money for the venue and the food. The group agreed that on 28 April 2017, WILPF’s 102nd anniversary, they will make donations to make the day worth to remember. If the trust deed is approved by then, they intend to visit the underprivileged and make a donation and spend the day with them.

If you are interested in knowing more about the activities of WILPF Zimbabwe or you would wish to get in touch with them directly, please find out more here.

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Melissa Torres

VICE-PRESIDENT

Prior to being elected Vice-President, Melissa Torres was the WILPF US International Board Member from 2015 to 2018. Melissa joined WILPF in 2011 when she was selected as a Delegate to the Commission on the Status of Women as part of the WILPF US’ Practicum in Advocacy Programme at the United Nations, which she later led. She holds a PhD in Social Work and is a professor and Global Health Scholar at Baylor College of Medicine and research lead at BCM Anti-Human Trafficking Program. Of Mexican descent and a native of the US/Mexico border, Melissa is mostly concerned with the protection of displaced Latinxs in the Americas. Her work includes training, research, and service provision with the American Red Cross, the National Human Trafficking Training and Technical Assistance Centre, and refugee resettlement programs in the U.S. Some of her goals as Vice-President are to highlight intersectionality and increase diversity by fostering inclusive spaces for mentorship and leadership. She also contributes to WILPF’s emerging work on the topic of displacement and migration.

Jamila Afghani

VICE-PRESIDENT

Jamila Afghani is the President of WILPF Afghanistan which she started in 2015. She is also an active member and founder of several organisations including the Noor Educational and Capacity Development Organisation (NECDO). Elected in 2018 as South Asia Regional Representative to WILPF’s International Board, WILPF benefits from Jamila’s work experience in education, migration, gender, including gender-based violence and democratic governance in post-conflict and transitional countries.

Sylvie Jacqueline Ndongmo

PRESIDENT

Sylvie Jacqueline NDONGMO is a human rights and peace leader with over 27 years experience including ten within WILPF. She has a multi-disciplinary background with a track record of multiple socio-economic development projects implemented to improve policies, practices and peace-oriented actions. Sylvie is the founder of WILPF Cameroon and was the Section’s president until 2022. She co-coordinated the African Working Group before her election as Africa Representative to WILPF’s International Board in 2018. A teacher by profession and an African Union Trainer in peace support operations, Sylvie has extensive experience advocating for the political and social rights of women in Africa and worldwide.

WILPF Afghanistan

In response to the takeover of Afghanistan by the Taliban and its targeted attacks on civil society members, WILPF Afghanistan issued several statements calling on the international community to stand in solidarity with Afghan people and ensure that their rights be upheld, including access to aid. The Section also published 100 Untold Stories of War and Peace, a compilation of true stories that highlight the effects of war and militarisation on the region. 

IPB Congress Barcelona

WILPF Germany (+Young WILPF network), WILPF Spain and MENA Regional Representative

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Demilitarisation

WILPF uses feminist analysis to argue that militarisation is a counter-productive and ill-conceived response to establishing security in the world. The more society becomes militarised, the more violence and injustice are likely to grow locally and worldwide.

Sixteen states are believed to have supplied weapons to Afghanistan from 2001 to 2020 with the US supplying 74 % of weapons, followed by Russia. Much of this equipment was left behind by the US military and is being used to inflate Taliban’s arsenal. WILPF is calling for better oversight on arms movement, for compensating affected Afghan people and for an end to all militarised systems.

Militarised masculinity

Mobilising men and boys around feminist peace has been one way of deconstructing and redefining masculinities. WILPF shares a feminist analysis on the links between militarism, masculinities, peace and security. We explore opportunities for strengthening activists’ action to build equal partnerships among women and men for gender equality.

WILPF has been working on challenging the prevailing notion of masculinity based on men’s physical and social superiority to, and dominance of, women in Afghanistan. It recognizes that these notions are not representative of all Afghan men, contrary to the publicly prevailing notion.

Feminist peace​

In WILPF’s view, any process towards establishing peace that has not been partly designed by women remains deficient. Beyond bringing perspectives that encapsulate the views of half of the society and unlike the men only designed processes, women’s true and meaningful participation allows the situation to improve.

In Afghanistan, WILPF has been demanding that women occupy the front seats at the negotiating tables. The experience of the past 20 has shown that women’s presence produces more sustainable solutions when they are empowered and enabled to play a role.

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