Locally Rooted, Globally Connected
ICAN puts network and movement building at the heart of our work, spearheading the Women’s Alliance for Security Leadership (WASL) and the She Builds Peace campaign.
“Wasl” means to “connect” in Arabic, Urdu, and Persian.
ICAN co-created WASL in 2015 as the first global women’s network to embrace women’s leadership in addressing violent extremism and promoting peace, resilience, equal rights, and pluralism.
WASL is a United Nations of women peacebuilders. Women who resolve crisis and conflict in their local communities but have rarely been heard by international decision makers or in the corridors of power.
WASL comprises 99 independent, locally rooted women-led peacebuilding organizations and women peacebuilders active in 39 countries affected by violence and war.
She Builds Peace Campaign
In 2020, we expanded the movement through the launch of the She Builds Peace campaign. She Builds Peace is a global call to action to stand with women peacebuilders by recognizing their work, ensuring their participation in peace and security processes, and guaranteeing their protection and sustainable funding.
The ICAN Women, Peace, and Security Forum
The ICAN Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) Forum is a signature event, gathering WASL members together with international actors and policymakers to assess rising threats to peace and security, strategize for collection action, engage in peer-to-peer learning and exchange, and deepen solidarity and mutual support.
It is a unique space to highlight the innovations and impact of women-led peace and security work.
“I am a proud member of WASL, WASL has connected me to myself – first of all, to my community, to the world. It’s amplified my voice on the issues that I represent, the country that I represent, and it’s also brought me together with a collective network of powerful, experienced, and knowledgeable women.”
– Muna Luqman, Founder, Food4Humanity, Yemen