Updates & Opportunities

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August 2025 Newsletter

Dear WIIS Friends,

In an extraordinary moment for global security and women’s leadership, Women In International Security (WIIS) makes a one-time appeal to its community for support.

As threats to peace and gender equity intensify, WIIS remains a vital global movement—empowering women through professional development, global networking, and impactful research.

Your investment will sustain a unique, international platform that amplifies women’s voices in peace and security policy and empowers the next generation of women leaders.

This one-time appeal is a call to invest [[link removed]] in a future where diverse voices are not only heard but lead.

If WIIS has inspired or supported you, now is the time to give back and help shape a more inclusive future together.

In this time of need for our community, you can also donate a membership [[link removed]], directly investing in the future generation of women leaders.

In solidarity,

Dr. Lauren Van Metre

President & CEO, Women In International Security (WIIS)

Donate Today [[link removed]]

WIIS Global Team Updates

Farewell to WIIS Global Program Assistant, Claire Pamerleau

The WIIS Global team has been fortunate enough to work with Claire Pamerleau, a recent graduate of George Washington University’s Security Policy Studies Master’s Program, since May 2024.

Claire’s contributions to WIIS are immeasurable, and we are extremely grateful for her work and commitment to advancing WIIS’ mission. She will be missed, but remains an active member of the WIIS community. We wish her all the best in her future endeavors!

Farewell to Our Summer Interns, Kaylyn Oh and Jocelynn Stevenson

WIIS Global thanks our wonderful summer interns, Kaylyn & Jocelynn, for all of their hard work this summer. Their contributions were invaluable! We wish them all the best in their future endeavors.

We are grateful to TFAS for this partnership!

Read their testimonials on WIIS Global’s social media pages.

Upcoming Events and Opportunities

Register [[link removed]]

EVENT (IN-PERSON)

Securi-tea Networking Event | WIIS Global

Date: August 14, 2025, from 1-3 PM ET

Location: 1250 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington, DC (WIIS Global Office), 5th Floor

Details: Join WIIS this August for an in-person "Securi-tea" networking event for professionals and students in the security field! Be sure to register at the link (space is limited!).

Register [[link removed]]

EVENT (WIIS GLOBAL MEMBERS-ONLY)

WIISUp Wednesday | WIIS Global

Date: August 27, 2025, from 12-1 PM ET

Details: Join WIIS Global for our monthly members-only virtual networking hour. Stay tuned for speaker announcements!

Learn More & Submit [[link removed]]

OPPORTUNITY (WIIS GLOBAL MEMBERS-ONLY)

#WIISVoices | Call For Member Submissions

Deadline: August 30, 2025

Details: The goal of WIIS’ "1325@25" [[link removed]] Initiative is to advance the future of the Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) agenda on the 25th anniversary of United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1325 in October 2025.

As part of this initiative, we welcome members to submit quotes (max 50 words) or video submissions that share what this milestone means to you.

Contact [[email protected]] with any questions.

OPPORTUNITY (WIIS GLOBAL MEMBERS-ONLY)

Asset Africa Institute (AAI) Workshops | AAI x WIIS Global

Details: WIIS is thrilled to collaborate with the AAI, which specializes in the research, design, and delivery of high-quality and affordable training programs for development workers worldwide. Over the years, AAI has provided consultancy services and training to reputable organizations.

AAI now invites WIIS Global members to join them for expert-led, online and in-person training sessions in Nairobi, Kenya, to gain practical insights and enhance their expertise.

WIIS Global members can learn more and access this discount in their Member Portal [[link removed]] under ‘Member Resources’ → ‘Discounts & Offers.’

OPPORTUNITY (WIIS GLOBAL MEMBERS-ONLY)

Feminist Approaches to Workplace Conflict Training Course | We Are Feminist Leaders x WIIS Global

Details: WIIS is thrilled to collaborate with the feminist training organization, We Are Feminist Leaders [[link removed]], to offer one WIIS member a free spot in a four-week online course on “Feminist Approaches to Workplace Conflict” (valued at $440.00 USD).

This course will provide attendees with the knowledge to build organizational capacity to address workplace conflict through feminist, transformative, and generative approaches.

WIIS Members can enter to win this opportunity in their Member Portal [[link removed]] under ‘Member Resources’ → ‘Discounts & Offers.’

OPPORTUNITY (WIIS GLOBAL MEMBERS-ONLY)

Conflict Transformation, Negotiation, and Mediation Course | Civitatem Resolutions x WIIS Global

Details: Civitatem Resolutions is excited to run its “Conflict Transformation, Negotiation, and Mediation” course and welcomes interested WIIS Global members to join at a discounted rate.

This course provides a comprehensive overview of conflict transformation as an approach, presents the building blocks of negotiation and mediation, and draws on rich examples from the majority world, as well as insights from feminist scholars and practitioners in the field of conflict transformation.

The course will be offered via Zoom over 12 sessions from September to November 2025.

WIIS Global members can learn more and access this discount in their Member Portal [[link removed]] under ‘Member Resources’ → ‘Discounts & Offers.’

OPPORTUNITY

Call for Submissions | WIIS Nigeria

Details: WIIS Nigeria has put out a call for submissions of artistic expression in any form (poetry, painting, music, etc.), conveying one or more of the UNSCR 1325 Women, Peace and Security themes: Participation, Prevention, Protection, and Relief and Recovery.

Submissions should be strictly from women and girls of African descent who are over 18 years of age.

Submit to:

[[email protected]]

Publications Read Here [[link removed]]

PUBLICATION

Latest installation of the "Framers of 1325" Series | WIIS Global

Description: As part of the " 1325@25 [[link removed]]" Initiative, WIIS Global is proud to share the latest installment of the "Framers of 1325" Series. Here, we highlight the essay of Dr. Peter Wallensteen, Senior Professor of Peace and Conflict Research at Uppsala University.

WIIS Global's “Framers of 1325” series compiles essays from the individuals recognized as the “initiators, drafters, and strategists” of UNSCR 1325, highlighting their vision and recommendations for the future of the WPS.

Read Here [[link removed]]

PUBLICATION

“Women, Peace and Security in Brazil: Progress at a Crossroads” | By WIIS Global Fellows, Dr. Joan Johnson-Freese and Duilia M. Turner

Description: In this article, published by Florida International University, WIIS Global Fellows Dr. Joan Johnson-Freese and Duilia M. Turner focus on Brazil and the potential for women there to make a difference in its future security, and the challenges still to be faced.

Read Here [[link removed]]

PUBLICATION

“Beyond the Battlefield: The WPS Agenda as a Transformative Asset in NATO Peace Operations” | By WIIS.de (WIIS Germany) Member, Penelope Wessel

Description: WIIS.de member Penelope Wessel has published a thought-provoking article with EPIS Think Tank on the role of the WPS agenda in NATO peace operations, alongside Paul Behne.

Her article is framed by the central question: “What impact does the WPS Agenda have on NATO’s peace operations and strategies?"

Read Here [[link removed]]

PUBLICATION

“Peacekeeping in the Climate Crisis: A WPS Agenda for Resilience and Relevance” | WIIS Italy

Description: "Climate adaptation can no longer be treated as context — it must be recognised as a core aspect of conflict prevention."

Read Erin Lyons’ piece, published by WIIS Italy, to learn how peacekeeping mandates overlook climate-driven conflict & how a feminist, climate-responsive approach could fill this gap.

Read Here [[link removed]]

PUBLICATION

“Women on the Move: Reclaiming the WPS Agenda at Europe’s Externalized Borders” | By WIIS Italy Member, Clara Zaffino

Description: From detention centers to processing hubs, migrant & asylum-seeking women remain invisible in a WPS agenda framework still tied to static conflict zones.

Read the first blog post of WIIS Italy’s #25YearsofWPS series to see why bridging WPS & refugee protection is not just overdue, but essential.

Read Here [[link removed]]

PUBLICATION

“From Victimhood to Resilience: Centering Gendered Agency in Gaza and Afghanistan” | WIIS Italy

Description: To mark the 25th anniversary of #UNSCR1325, WIIS Italy has launched a new blog series on the evolution of the #WPS agenda.

Read Maryam Rezaeizadeh’s powerful piece, “From Victimhood to Resilience,” highlighting gendered agency in Gaza and Afghanistan.

Recent Events

EVENT

WIISUp Wednesday | WIIS Global

Date: July 30, 2025

Summary: WIIS Global had the pleasure of hosting Safiya Ibn Garba, President of WIIS Nigeria and WIIS Rwanda, during July’s WIISUp Wednesday. Safiya spoke about her professional journey, as well as her training courses on peacebuilding, which WIIS Global members can participate in at a discounted rate.

WIIS Global thanks Safiya for joining us and looks forward to hosting more guest speakers at future WIISUp Wednesdays.

Read More [[link removed]]

EVENT

Convening of Afghan Women | WIIS Italy

Date: July 17, 2025

Summary: WIIS Italy & Women for Peace and Participation promoted a gathering of Afghan women leaders to strategize their meaningful inclusion in the political dialogue and processes shaping Afghanistan's future. These high-level discussions included Italian and Canadian diplomats, as well as representatives from the Italian Senate and Parliament.

EVENT

Workshop on Gender Responsive National Protection Frameworks | WIIS Horn of Africa

Date: July 16, 2025

Summary: WIIS Horn of Africa President Fauziya Ali participated in an ongoing workshop hosted by Egypt, in collaboration with Kenya and supported by the Netherlands, on Gender Responsive National Protection Frameworks. Ali shared insights as an expert panelist on “Operationalizing Gender-Sensitive Identification, Protection & Referral Systems,” with a focus on anti-trafficking efforts.

EVENT

Summer Social | WIIS Canada

Date: July 16, 2025

Summary: WIIS Canada hosted a summer social for their members, reminding us of the importance of community in the face of a rapidly changing security landscape.

EVENT

Consultation on Women, Peace and Security | WIIS Brussels

Date: July 14, 2025

Summary: WIIS Brussels hosted a powerful consultation with women leaders from Benin & Togo on women and security. Their discussion concluded that security is no longer a state-only domain, but a universal discourse shaped by women’s lived realities.

EVENT

Conversation with the President of Kosovo, Vjosa Osmani-Sadriu | Women for Security (WIIS Latvia)

Date: July 2025

Summary: Women for Security hosted a conversation with the President of Kosovo, Vjosa Osmani-Sadriu, on strengthening regional leadership in the WPS agenda.

This timely discussion brought together security professionals, civil servants, NGOs, and activists working on women’s rights, gender-based violence, and women’s empowerment.

EVENT

The Role of Women in (De)Radicalization in Africa and the Middle East | WIIS Italy

Date: July 2025

Summary: WIIS Italy Founder, Irene Fellin, and WIIS Italy President, Loredana Teodorescu, attended a workshop in Naples titled “The Role of Women in (De)Radicalization in Africa and the Middle East.” This workshop was hosted by the NATO Strategic Direction - South Hub [[link removed]] and the Mediterranean Women Mediators Network [[link removed]].

During the workshop, regional experts discussed the role of women in deradicalization in Africa & the Middle East. They explored gender-informed strategies to counter violent extremism, emphasizing community engagement & inclusive approaches.

Read More [[link removed]]

EVENT

Event during the Ukraine Recovery Conference in Rome | WIIS Italy

Date: July 2025

Summary: On the occasion of the Ukraine Recovery Conference, WIIS Italy co-organized an event which promoted exchanges between Ukrainian women and Italian Members of Parliament.

BECOME A WIIS GLOBAL MEMBER

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Unlock a world of opportunities with WIIS membership, from connecting with a global network of 15,000 members to advancing your career through exclusive job boards, events, and mentorship opportunities. Gain access to specialized resources, expert speakers, and a supportive community dedicated to enhancing the role of women in international security.

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SUPPORT OUR WORK IN 2025

Support our mission to empower women in peace and security by donating today—your contribution funds critical programs, career development opportunities, and research that paves the way for policy change and a more inclusive global security landscape.

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