Rise of Feminism & the Renewed Battle for Women’s Rights
“So 101 years on as March 8th 2018 dawns, how far have we come and how far do we still need to go?” Sanam Naraghi Anderlini writes about the battle for women’s rights
UN Relies on DNA for Paternity Claims Against Sexually Abusive Peacekeepers
In this commentary by Thalif Deen about Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (SEA) by UN Peacekeepers, ICAN’s Sanam Naraghi Anderlini offers valuable insight on the issue
The Egyptian Revolution Continues
A Commentary by Rana Allam.
Despite the Egyptian regime’s guns and tanks, and the farcical elections, the revolution of the minds cannot be stopped.
Iran After Protests: Change Does Come
By Sanam Naraghi Anderlini
If past events are any predictor of the present, it would be erroneous to assume that they will result in either the status quo remaining or the hardline reasserting control.
Peacekeeping is a Woman’s Job
Some 17 years after the UN resolution on women, peace and security, women make up just 5 percent of deployed blue helmets. It’s time to find the political will to upend the status quo.
Jerusalem: A High Price For An Unnecessary Move
By handing Israel the city of Jerusalem, which Palestinians view as the heart of the two-state solution, Trump has killed any hope of a viable peace process. Rana Allam writes on the repercussions of Trump’s move to the peace process, peace advocates and the Palestinian people’s plight
Egypt and US Share Counterproductive Anti-Terrorism Strategies
By Rana Allam
Perhaps the meeting between McGurk and Sisi on defeating ISIS involved sharing the counter-productive efforts of both countries.
Features
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.
Sarah McMains
Sarah McMains is a Senior Program Officer at the International Civil Society Action Network (ICAN). She works with the Innovative Peace Fund program team with a focus on the programmatic and grantmaking work and support for Afghan women peacebuilders.
Interviews
Isabela Karibjanian
Isabela Karibjanian is the Publications Coordinator and Editor at the International Civil Society Action Network (ICAN). At ICAN, she serves as the focal point for the production of all published materials, from flagship reports and guidance tools to advocacy documents and articles. She is based in London, UK.
Bringing Water, Power, and Peace: How Women Peacebuilders Can Utilize OffGridBox Solutions
Today, over 1 billion people still lack access to clean water and electricity. Environmental and climate change exacerbates this problem and exposes fragile and conflict-affected communities to further risk and insecurity. While the link between resource scarcity and conflict is well understood, the potential for natural resource governance to facilitate peacebuilding is less well researched.
On Thursday, October 5, 2023, ICAN welcomed Bas Berends, Co-founder and Chief Partnership Officer at OffGridBox, to join our WASL community call.
WASL Statement: An Urgent 7-Point Plan to End the Killings and Violence in Palestine and Israel
Members of the Women’s Alliance for Security Leadership (WASL)—peacebuilders, mediators, human rights activists, and community leaders living and working at the frontlines of many of today’s devastating wars—released a statement calling upon global political leaders to demand an immediate ceasefire in Israel and Palestine. The statement outlines a comprehensive set of actions that enable a pathway to a more just and peaceful future.
Innovative Peace Fund Program Officer – Afghanistan
The Program Officer will provide wide-ranging support, focused on a portfolio of grants, to ensure smooth program delivery, particularly related to women’s rights, peace, and security in Afghanistan. They will report to the Afghanistan Project Director and work closely with the IPF Program Director and fellow Program Officers.
ICAN and UMass Collaborate to Launch the UMass Mellon Liaison Fellowship 2023
We are excited to announce the launch of the University of Massachusetts (UMass) Mellon Liaison Fellowship at ICAN. Organized by the UMass-Amherst World Studies Interdisciplinary Project (WSIP), and funded by the Mellon Foundation and the UMass-Amherst Provost’s Office, ICAN will host two distinguished UMass PhD Mellon Liaison Fellows in 2023. The Fellowship is linked to the WSIP Graduate Certificate in Decolonial Global Studies (DGS), though UMass PhD students from all departments, colleges, and schools were invited to apply.
We are thrilled to introduce the two 2023 UMass Mellon Liaison Fellows: Mariam Parvez Sheikh and Meenakshi Nair.
Charlotte Morgan
Charlotte Morgan is a Program Officer at the International Civil Society Action Network (ICAN). She supports ICAN’s Women’s Alliance for Security Leadership (WASL) program and communications, and is based in London, UK.
ICAN in the News
Program Intern (Summer 2024)
The ICAN team seeks a highly motivated Program Intern to work on a range of research, coordination, and program tasks. This unpaid summer internship can be part- or full-time and will run from June through August 2024 (dates can be negotiated). Program interns benefit from attending educational events and learning from the diverse experiences of the ICAN team and our partners in the Women’s Alliance for Security Leadership (WASL).
Recognizing Women Peacebuilders’ Work Across the Humanitarian, Peace, and Development Nexus: ICAN and International Partners in Oslo
On November 22, 2023, the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (Norad) and the International Civil Society Action Network (ICAN)—in partnership with Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF), Legal Action Worldwide (LAW), and Karama hosted a high-level dialogue to reimagine partnerships and coordination between women peacebuilders, international mediation, humanitarian, and development actors in crises and conflict settings.
No Feminist Foreign Policy Without Feminist Funding
ICAN was invited to attend the Shaping Feminist Foreign Policy Conference at the World Forum in The Hague from November 1-2, 2023. Organized by the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA), the conference welcomed more than 750 participants from over 40 countries.
On the first day of the conference, ICAN hosted a side event titled: No Feminist Foreign Policy Without Feminist Funding, in partnership with GPPAC.
Rawan Kahwaji
Rawan Kahwaji is a Program Officer at the International Civil Society Action Network (ICAN). She supports the Innovative Peace Fund, and is based in Brussels, Belgium. Rawan had seven years of experience working with civil society organizations (CSOs) in Turkey, Syria, and Europe and has experience in project coordination, advocacy, and communications within the humanitarian field.
Photo Gallery
Latest Videos
Gendered Community Policing – English
This animation explores why gender sensitivity and inclusivity matter and how to pay attention to this in community policing initiatives.
Video: Sanam Naraghi Anderlini’s Speech at UNGA during the 6th Review of the UN Counter Terrorism Strategy
Watch ICAN’s ED Sanam Naraghi Anderlini’s speech at the United Nations General Assembly 6th Review of the UN Counter Terrorism Strategy
Mrs. Hajja Hamsatu Allamin, video profile by IsDB
Watch the video profile created by the Islamic Development Bank for WASL partner and founder of Allamin Foundation for Peace and Development in Nigeria, Mrs. Hamsatu Allamin as she wins the IDB’s prize for women’s contribution to development.