News and Updates
Reclaiming Power, Restoring Peace
In May 2022, ICAN hosted its 9th Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) forum in partnership with Addu Women’s Association Maldives, bringing together locally rooted women peacebuilders – members of WASL – from 39 countries, with other key international actors and policymakers.
We are delighted to release our new video “Reclaiming Power, Restoring Peace”, which gives a glimpse into the words, work, and unique nature of WASL.
Five Steps for Sustainable Prevention of Sexual Violence in Conflict
Drawing on two decades of research and practice by women-led organizations specializing in women, peace and security issues and as first responders to sexual violence in fragile contexts, the International Civil Society Action Network (ICAN) presents the following practical guidance to inform governments and policymakers committed to effective prevention of sexual violence in conflict (PSVI).
Program Officer (Farsi Speaking)
The ICAN team seek a Program Officer (Farsi speaking) for maternity leave replacement, part-time (up to 20 hrs. per week).
Working closely with the Program Directors for the Innovative Peace Fund (IPF), the Better Peace Initiative (BPI), and the Women’s Alliance for Security Leadership (WASL), the part-time Program Officer will provide effective and efficient support (programmatic, administrative, and logistical as needed) to ensure smooth program delivery, particularly related to Afghanistan.
Please send your resume and cover letter to jobs@icanpeacework.org by December 5, 2022.
Upcoming Event: International Conference of the 2nd Indonesian Women Ulama Congress (KUPI-2)
The 2nd Indonesian Women’s Ulama Congress or Kongres Ulama Perempuan Indonesia (KUPI) will be held in Semarang and Jepara, Central Java, Indonesia from November 23 – 26, 2022, co-organized by the Asian Muslim Action Network (AMAN Indonesia), a member of the Women’s Alliance for Security Leadership (WASL).
An Association of Liberian Women Peacebuilders Gain Visibility and Legitimacy Resolving Community Disputes
ICAN’s Senior Program Officer, Stacey Schamber, and WASL member and Executive Director of WEDOL, Rosaline Cassell, spoke about the far-reaching impacts of the She Builds Peace campaign in Liberia.
WEDOL launched She Builds Peace with a parade and panel discussion in Margibi County, attracting over 300 participants, including the police and local authorities. The event garnered public recognition for Liberian women peacebuilders and opened dialogue about how they can be supported and protected. On the back of the launch, WEDOL also established a “village savings and loan association” (VSLA) for women peacebuilders. Through the association, the members have taken the lead in resolving community-level conflicts; they are working with local chiefs and gaining visibility and legitimacy for their roles.
Podcasting and Peacebuilding: She Talks Peace with Amina Rasul
ICAN’s Senior Program Officer, Stacey Schamber, and WASL member and President of PCID, Amina Rasul, in conversation about the She Talks Peace podcast, part of the global She Builds Peace campaign.
Iran Protests 2022: Sanam Naraghi Anderlini, MBE speaks to CNN International
ICAN’s Founder and CEO, Sanam Naraghi Anderlini, MBE spoke to Anna Coren on CNN International on October, 27, 2022 about the current protests in Iran that began after the death of Mahsa Amini.
A Mother is a School: The Influence of Women in Preventing Violent Extremism
Ensuring women are properly equipped with knowledge to counter and prevent extremist ideology can contribute to promoting peaceful coexistence within communities now, as well as for future generations. From 11-12 October, UNDP and ICAN held a two-day workshop on gender responsive approaches to transforming extremisms in Erbil, Iraq.
To Address Extremisms In The New Decade, Do What The Women Say
ICAN’s Senior Program Officer, Rosalie Fransen provides a gendered analysis of emerging trends and threats in the CT and P/CVE landscape.
Flexible Funding and the Road to Reconciliation in Sri Lanka
Through ICAN’s Innovative Peace Fund (IPF), we have supported the Association of War Affected Women (AWAW) in Sri Lanka since 2013. Visaka Dharmadasa, Founder and Chair of AWAW, spoke to our IPF Program Director, France Bognon, about how flexible funding in their project yielded unexpected results.
ICAN Partner AWAPSA: A Catalyst for Kenya’s First SGBV Court
Funded by ICAN’s Innovative Peace Fund (IPF), AWAPSA launched a project across Kenya’s coastal counties to increase awareness of SGBV, educate women and girls on how to report instances of SGBV, and facilitate the reporting of cases to the police. One of the most significant and unforeseen outcomes of AWAPSA’s project was the establishment of Kenya’s first special court for handling SGBV cases, which opened in March 2022, at Shanzu Law Courts, Mombasa.
Despite the Challenges, Donors Must Continue to Support Struggling Nonprofits in Afghanistan (The Chronicle of Philanthropy)
Following the Taliban takeover, a large number of civil-society leaders, particularly women, were forced to flee the country, and a severe lack of funding and a repressive operating environment led many organizations to shut their doors.
What Happened in Afghanistan Isn’t Staying in Afghanistan (Common Dreams)
To prevent the forever war turning into war forever, instead of an arms race and trillion-dollar defense spending, now more than ever we need to stand for and practice the principles of universal human rights, justice, and pluralism.
New Case Studies on Gender and Identity in Extremisms: Cameroon, Jordan, Libya, Pakistan
In October 2021, ICAN, with the support of Global Affairs Canada, released a set of four “Case Studies on the Role of Gender and Identity in Shaping Positive Alternatives to Extremisms.” In response to the positive feedback, we have developed a further four case studies covering work in Cameroon, Jordan, Libya and Pakistan.
August 31, 2022: ICAN marks one year since the US and NATO ended their chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan
In the year since the Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan, ICAN have advocated for and assisted in the relocation of approximately 200 families, issued rapid response grants comprising $590,000 to Afghan women-led peacebuilding organizations, and issued 17 individual grants totaling $36,000.