Webinar: Women in Conflict Zones

Wednesday, March 19, 2025 at 12:00pm ET

On March 19 at 12pm ET, an important event will take place to amplify the voices of women who have been affected by conflict in various parts of the world. The Women in Conflict Zones webinar, sponsored by World BEYOND War, Southern Anti-Racism Network, International Peace Bureau, Convention for Pan-Africanism and Progress (CPP), and CODEPINK, aims to shed light on the profound impacts of war on women and children and to discuss measures being taken to mitigate these effects.

Sponsors

Event Overview

The webinar will feature speakers from a diverse array of countries, including Belarus, Cameroon, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Gaza, Lebanon, Mozambique, Nigeria, South Korea, Sudan, and Syria. Each speaker will have five minutes to share their experiences and insights regarding the unique challenges faced by women and children in their respective regions due to ongoing conflict. This platform not only serves as a means to share stories but also as a call to action for global solidarity and support in ending violence and fostering peace.

Speakers and Their Contributions
Women from various conflict zones will provide firsthand accounts of the struggles and resilience of those living amidst war. Their testimonies will highlight the physical, emotional, and social tolls that armed conflicts impose on women and children, who are often among the most vulnerable populations during such crises. The speakers will also discuss initiatives and efforts being undertaken within their communities to promote safety, healing, and long-term peace.

Recognizing African Descent: UN Decade
This webinar takes place during the second UN Decade for People of African Descent (2025-2034), which focuses on “Recognition, Justice, Development.” The over-representation of African countries in the list of conflict zones underscores the critical need for targeted efforts and interventions to address the systemic issues that perpetuate violence and instability in these regions. The webinar aims to bring attention to these issues and to mobilize support for African women and children who bear the brunt of wars and conflicts.

Speakers

Olga Karatch has a Master of Arts in Political Sciences from European Humanitarian University, Vilnius, Lithuania. She was contracted to work for the school but in 2002-2004 the contract was cancelled by the school for political activities. In 2017 she was one of the founders of the Global Peacebuilders Summit in Berlin. She is a member of the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF) and an active participant in the “Women’s Peace Dialogue” international. Currently she is Director at the Centre for Civil Initiatives, “Our House,” a Belarusian human rights organization.

Cyrille Rolande Bechon is a H. Humphrey Fellow (2023-2024) based at American University, Washington College of Law. In her fellowship, she is focusing on Human Rights in Countering Terrorism, International Humanitarian Law, Civic and Democratic space.

She is a Human Rights advocate from Cameroon for more than 15 years. She is the Senior Human Rights Associate and the Executive Director of the NGO “Nouveaux Droits de l’Homme Cameroon”. She is also engaged in many local organizations such as “All Women Together”, the Coalition for Human Rights and Peace in Anglophone regions of Cameroon, Solutions Cameroon, African Research and Training Center for Democracy, Development and Peace.
She works on monitoring, documenting and reporting human rights violations and sexual violence against women and girls. She also supports victims with legal aid and access to criminal justice with strategic litigation. She is a strong advocate for the Rule of Law, democratic and civic space, public freedoms, and women and youth participation.

She also works as consultant in human rights defender protection and security, conflict transformation and human rights protection. Internationally, she is a Council Member of International Peace Bureau (IPB) and member of the Africa Coalition “State of the Union”. Since 2012, she runs the GDAMS/GCOMS (Campaign against Military Spending) Campaign in Cameroon.

She has a Master’s degree in Human Rights and Rule of Law and she is currently a PhD candidate. She holds many certificates with one on Conflict Transformation and Transitional Justice.

Julie Kabukanyi is an international social and political activist, who is passionate about advancing world peace, social justice, health equity, and empowering women through policy development and program coordination. She has a Bachelor’s degree in Nursing, a Master’s in International Relations, and is currently pursuing a PhD in Public Policy. She is the President of Congolese American Women Empowerment and Leadership (CAWEL) and the President of Leadership et Autonomisation de la Femme Congolaise (LAFCO). She is a member of WILPF Boston and the U.S. representative on the WILPF International Advisory Board.

Hanan Awwad has been the President of WILPF Palestine since she started the Section in 1988. An academic, writer, editor and cultural advisor by profession, her main expertise lies in various areas including (resistance) literature, human rights and women’s rights. Hanan received a PhD from Oxford University, has published twelve books and received multiple awards for her work in defending human rights and dignity. Hanan is also a member of the Palestinian National Council and has represented Palestine in more than 700 conferences.

Hala Kilani Hala is a political and environmental activist. Hala started her career as a journalist in 1998 with the English-language Lebanese newspaper The Daily Star, covering political, environmental and social topics with specific focus on south Lebanon during the Israeli occupation, human rights, environmental degradation, refugees and later the Arab Spring. She then moved to working on sustainable development with various organizations including the United Nations Development Programme, Mercy Corps and the International Union for Conservation of Nature. In 2009 she completed an MA in Anthropology at the University College London and worked with the UK Department for International Development on projects aimed to advance the rights of the Indigenous Baka Forest people in the Congo Basin. In 2012 she served as the Outreach and Public Engagement Director with the Qatari Presidency of the 18th Session of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change ensuring that there is adequate global civil society participation in policy making. Since then she joined the climate movement and has been working with global climate and renewable energy organizations like the Climate Action Network and REN21.

Having lived a childhood of protracted conflict, Shirine Jurdi grew up with a belief that constant and continuing work towards peace, social cohesion and equality should be maintained. She fostered that with her studies at the Lebanese American University (LAU), the Tokyo University of Foreign Studies (TUFS) and her research fellowship at SOAS. This pushed forward and shaped her work on a nexus between theory and practice, between academic and grassroots activism in a holistic approach. For that reason, she believes in networking between different partners that work towards the same goals and accordingly has underwent extensive voluntary work with many NGOs and INGOs which tackles the root causes of conflict towards achieving peace, inclusion of gender equity and equality. She started her career working on consultancy projects with the Ministry of the Return of the Displaced, UNODC and as a researcher of Lebanese Heritage at LAU. In 2003, Shirine joined WILPF-Lebanon and is now an executive member of the Lebanon Section as well as the MENA Regional Representative.

Namatama Sakabilo is a dedicated and passionate Gender Specialist. Namatama is committed to advancing gender equality and promoting women’s empowerment through comprehensive gender mainstreaming strategies. She has extensive experience in gender policy development and gender analysis, and a proven track record of integrating gender perspectives into various programs and policies to foster social inclusion and human rights.

Zullaihat Muhammad Ohiare is a dynamic lawyer, conflict resolution expert, and spoken word artist with a deep passion for advocacy and social justice. With professional experience in corporate governance, stakeholder engagement, and legislative compliance, providing expert counsel to clients and organizations while navigating complex legal landscapes.

She earned her LLB from the University of Abuja and was called to the Nigerian Bar as a Barrister and Solicitor of the Supreme Court. She holds an MA in Conflict Resolution and Peace Building from the Nigerian Defence Academy Postgraduate School and is an Associate of both the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (UK) and the Institute of Chartered Mediators and Conciliators. Her academic and professional achievements reflect her dedication to excellence in legal practice and alternative dispute resolution.

Zullaihat began her career as a duty solicitor with the Rule of Law and Empowerment Initiative (Partners West Africa-Nigeria). She also served as a Technical Assistant for Partnerships and Stakeholder Engagement at the Rural Electrification Agency, Nigeria, before joining Aliyu Saiki (SAN) & Co, where she represents clients in high-stakes legal matters and offers strategic guidance on Nigeria’s legal system.

A champion for marginalized communities, Zullaihat has actively worked on reducing pre-trial detention in Nigeria, promoting gender equality, and advancing children’s education. As Chairperson of the Young Lawyers Forum, Nigerian Bar Association, Garki Branch, she leads initiatives that empower young legal professionals and promote Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 5, 10, 16, and 17.

Beyond her legal career, Zullaihat is a passionate spoken word artist who uses her craft to advocate for justice and amplify marginalized voices. She is the founder of the Citizens Initiatives for Rights and Empowerment (CITIZINRE), a youth-led nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering communities with innovative and sustainable solutions to conflict and injustice.

In her free time, Zullaihat enjoys networking, exploring diverse cultures and cuisines, and engaging in creative pursuits like poetry and storytelling. She thrives on building meaningful connections and believes in the power of collaboration to inspire progress and innovation.


Cho Young-mi is an Executive Director of the newly formed Korean Women’s Movement for Peace, and the National Organizer of the ‘Korea Peace Now!’ global campaign. She is a lecturer in the department of social welfare and a researcher at the Industrial-Academic Cooperation Group at Chung-Ang University in Seoul, South Korea. Young-mi is an expert in building relationships and partnerships with government, civil society, and other organizations. She was an advisory committee member of the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family in the Republic of Korea.

Reem Abbas is a feminist activist, researcher and writer. Her book “(Un)doing resistance: authoritarianism and attacks on the arts in Sudan’s 30 years of Islamist rule” was published last year and her latest essay titled “Smuggling Books into Sudan: a Brief History from 2012 to 2016” was published in the Art and Solidarity Reader: Radical Actions, Politics and Friendships. She has conducted research on the women’s movement in Sudan and issues related to peace and security with Safer World, US Institute of Peace, the African Women’s Development Fund, Defend Defenders, Interpares and other entities. She is a former Nonresident Fellow at Tahrir Institute on Middle East Policy focusing on land, conflict, and resources in Sudan, and a former member in the coordination committee of Sudanese Women in Civic and Political Groups (MANSAM). She is now a communications coordinator at WILPF where she co-hosts the Mobilising Men for Feminist Peace (MMFP) podcast and works on many cross-cutting programme components. 

Oula Ahmad, a Syrian national born in Syria, is an accomplished professional in the field of humanitarian action and international development. She holds a Master’s of Advanced Studies in Humanitarian Action from Geneva University, Switzerland, and a Master’s in Business Administration from Tishreen University, Syria. Oula also completed a prestigious Leadership Fellowship at the American University of Beirut.

With extensive experience in program management, protection, and community-based initiatives, Oula currently serves as a Senior Protection Assistant at UNHCR, where she leads youth-focused initiatives and provides critical support to refugee populations. Her career spans roles with UNICEF, Save the Children, and SOS Children’s Villages, emphasizing her expertise in social policy, child protection, and livelihood programs.

Oula has actively participated in numerous international forums and conferences, including the Global Youth Diplomacy Conference and the World Youth Forum. She possesses advanced organizational, communication, and analytical skills, complemented by a strong commitment to empowering vulnerable communities. Proficient in English and Arabic, she brings a multicultural perspective to her work.

Endorsing Organizations

The organizers of the Women in Conflict Zones webinar invite organizations to endorse and promote this crucial event. Endorsing organizations are encouraged to submit questions for the speakers by March 15, offering an opportunity to engage directly with the women who will be sharing their stories. This collaborative effort seeks to foster a deeper understanding of the global impact of conflict on women and children and to identify actionable steps that can be taken to support communities in conflict zones. Organizations: Endorse here.

The Women in Conflict Zones webinar represents a critical opportunity to hear directly from those affected by war and to amplify their voices on an international stage. By endorsing and participating in this event, organizations and individuals alike can contribute to a broader movement aimed at ending violence, promoting peace, and ensuring that the rights and well-being of women and children in conflict zones are upheld.

Let us come together on March 19 to listen, learn, and take action in support of women in conflict zones around the world.