Updates & Opportunities

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January 2026 Newsletter

Dear WIIS Friends and Colleagues,

Happy New Year! We hope you all had a lovely and restful holiday season. Here at WIIS, we return to work with a deep sense of renewal and commitment to the people and values that define our community.

To start off 2026, we are pleased to share our 2025 Annual Report [[link removed]]. This report is more than just numbers: it's our story, defined by resilience, solidarity, and collaboration as we witnessed profound transformation in our field.

Thanks to your support and engagement last year, WIIS Global was able to:

Foster a global network of networks through the addition of nine new international affiliates across Africa, Europe, and South America. Advance forward-looking global security policy through our flagship “1325@25” Initiative [[link removed]], which mobilized global stakeholders to reflect on the 25th anniversary of the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) agenda through expert publications, high-level convenings, and strategic communication.Elevate and prepare the next generation of security experts through an inaugural institutional partnership with the Department of Foreign Policy & Global Security (FPGS) at American University.

The report especially highlights the work of our global affiliates and partners, a testament to the vibrant convenings, cross-border collaboration, and cutting-edge research they produced in response to a wide spectrum of global security challenges.

As you review the Annual Report, I encourage you in particular to read our 2026 strategic plan. A clear-eyed and forward-leaning roadmap, our strategic plan positions WIIS for long-term impact, deeper global connection, and investment into the next generation amidst a challenging and turbulent security landscape.

While we are proud of what we have achieved together last year, we are even more excited for what’s to come. We wish you a happy and successful New Year ahead, and look forward to engaging with you throughout the year.

Warm regards,

Dr. Lauren Van Metre

President & CEO

Women In International Security (WIIS)

Read the 2025 Annual Report [[link removed]]

Upcoming Events & Opportunities

Learn More & Register [[link removed]]

EVENT (WIIS GLOBAL MEMBERS ONLY)

WIISUp Wednesday| WIIS Global

Date: January 21st, 2026 at 12:00 PM ET

Details: Join WIIS Global for our members-only virtual networking hour.

Learn More & Register [[link removed]]

EVENT (OPEN TO ALL WIIS CHAPTER & AFFILIATE MEMBERS)

Conversations With: Dr. Lauren Van Metre | WIIS Brussels

Date: January 29th, 2026 at 12:00 PM ET

Details: WIIS Brussels will be hosting a virtual "Conversations With" event with WIIS Global President & CEO, Dr. Lauren Van Metre. This informal, community-focused discussion will explore the theme of "Adopting WPS to the Threat of Rising Authoritarianism." Through candid dialogue, attendees will examine how the WPS agenda must adapt to hybrid warfare across its four pillars, and position itself as a core security and democratic resilience strategy.

Members across the entire WIIS network are invited to join, including members of WIIS Global, WIIS Brussels, and WIIS chapters and affiliates worldwide. Spots are limited, so be sure to register by January 26th. Attendance will be confirmed via email by the event organizers.

Link to Book [[link removed]]

OPPORTUNITY (WIIS GLOBAL MEMBERS-ONLY)

Book Discount for Gender, Race, and Power: Examining IR through an Intersectional Lens

Details: WIIS members can utilize an exclusive 30% discount on Gender, Race, and Power: Examining IR through an Intersectional Lens, an essential primer for students and practitioners of gender and international relations.

WIIS Global members can access the discount for this timely book through their Member Portal [[link removed]]under the “Member Resources” → “Discounts & Offers” tab. The discount code expires January 31st, 2026, so secure your copy soon!

Watch the WIIS Book Talk with the Authors [[link removed]] Learn More & Register [[link removed]]

OPPORTUNITY

Two-Day Online Course: “The Future of Outer Space Security 2026”

Date: January 28th & 29th, 2026

Details: The Geneva Centre for Security Policy (GCSP) invites the WIIS community to access their upcoming two-day online course, “The Future of Outer Space Security 2026.”

This course will delve into the emerging field of space security, offering a comprehensive exploration of the strategies and policies shaping the future of this critical domain. Participants will gain a deep understanding of the challenges and opportunities posed by the growing competition and technological advancements in outer space, with a particular focus on maintaining peace and cooperation. Participants who complete the course will receive an official certificate issued by the GCSP.

The deadline to register is January 26th, 2026.

Publications & Media Read Here [[link removed]]

PUBLICATION

“Pentagon will begin review of 'effectiveness' of women in ground combat positions” by Tom Bowman (NPR) | WIIS Global

Details: WIIS Senior Fellow Ellen Haring was featured in a recent NPR article by Tom Bowman examining the Pentagon’s six-month review of the “operational effectiveness” of women serving in ground combat jobs. According to Haring, the review is “an effort to prove women don’t belong” in the military.

Read Here [[link removed]]

PUBLICATION

“WPS 1325 and Afghanistan: A Call for Justice, Responsibility, and Afghan Voices” by Farima Nawabi | WIIS Italy

Details: In this latest #25YearsofWPS blog post, former diplomat and human rights advocate Farima Nawabi reflects on how the dramatic rollback of Afghan women’s rights under Taliban rule underscores why the WPS agenda remains vital not as rhetoric, but as a demand for action, protection, and meaningful participation.

Listen Here [[link removed]]

MEDIA

Bylines & Frontlines Podcast | WIIS Canada

Details: This most recent episode of Bylines & Frontlines, presented by WIIS Canada, confronts one of the most pervasive, yet under-addressed crimes of modern conflict: conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV).

Guest speakers, including Emily Prey (New Lines Institute), Lt. Col Melanie Lake (Canadian Armed Forces), and Commander Tyson Nicholas (UN Women), analyze how sexual violence is planned, enabled, and weaponized—used deliberately to terrorize populations, fracture communities, clear territory, discipline armed groups, and, in some cases, advance genocidal intent.

Recent Events & End-of-Year Highlights

16 Days of Activism Campaign | WIIS Horn of Africa (HoA)

Details: To launch 2025’s 16 Days of Activism Campaign, WIIS Horn of Africa (HoA) joined the United Nations Office at Nairobi (UNON), UN Women, and UNEP to call out harassment and gendered disinformation, and demand safe and inclusive digital spaces for all women and girls. WIIS HoA President Fauziya Abdi Ali spoke on this launch panel.

To close off the campaign in mid-December, WIIS HoA additionally hosted a dialogue engaging men, partners, and government representatives to confront digital violence and gender-based violence (GBV) against women. The dialogue focused on men’s engagement, prevention of online harm, and community-led responses to GBV, delivered in partnership with local partners BaridiKwaBaridi, and county government in Busia.

Additional WIIS international affiliates across the world stood in solidarity with this global movement, including WIIS Global, WIIS Italy, WIIS Nigeria, WIIS Rwanda, and WIIS Senegal.

Read More [[link removed]]

Inspiring Women of the Year Awards | WIIS Canada

Details: In early December 2025, WIIS Canada, in partnership with the selection committee, attended the Inspiring Women of the Year Awards ceremony in Paris, represented by WIIS Canada chair Erin Koenig and board member Teanna Lackner.

WIIS Canada was proud to celebrate Kaella E. (Waaseyaa), an Anishinaabe engineer and leader, as the 2025 Inspiring Woman of the Year for her work advancing Indigenous rights across Canada’s energy, mining, and governance systems

2025 End-of-Year Highlights | WIIS Albania

Details: In 2025, WIIS Albania participated in several key international events, including the Raisina Dialogue—India’s leading forum on geopolitics and diplomacy—and the NATO Public Forum in The Hague. These platforms offered valuable opportunities to engage with global leaders, policy experts, and notably, to connect with inspiring women from the wider WIIS community.

2025 End-of-Year Highlights | WIIS.de (WIIS Germany)

Details: Last November was an exciting month for WIIS.de, with activities taking place from Vienna to Berlin. During WIIS Germany’s study tour to Vienna, members visited key institutions including the Ministry of Defence, the OSCE, and the United Nations offices. The trip offered thought-provoking insights into European security cooperation, multilateral crisis management, and the evolving challenges faced by international institutions.

Later that month, WIIS.de participated in the Berlin Security Conference as both an exhibitor and a program contributor. Their panel, “Resilience as a Strategic Capability: Rethinking Germany’s and Europe’s Security Architecture,” prompted lively discussion on strengthening Europe’s future security framework.

BECOME A WIIS GLOBAL MEMBER

Interested in becoming a member and joining a growing community of women professionals in the international security field?

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.

Join Us [[link removed]]

GIFT A MEMBERSHIP

Whether you’re a professor, mentor, friend, or colleague, you can support the next generation of women in international peace and security by gifting a WIIS membership.

Visit [[link removed]] to gift a membership to someone you know, or donate one for WIIS to match with a future leader.

Gift A Membership [[link removed]]

SUPPORT OUR WORK IN 2026

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.

Donate [[link removed]]

Do you have feedback or suggestions for us?

Don’t hesitate to email [[email protected]] to suggest topics and/or events you’re interested in so that we can better meet the needs of our community!

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Women In International Security 1250 Connecticut Ave NW Ste 700 PMB 5282 Washington, DC 20036-2657 USA

Women In International Security is recognized in the United States as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.

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