Peace cooperation MOUs signed with civil society organizations from 8 countries at the Women’s Peace Education completion ceremony
30 women from 8 Middle East and North Africa countries grow into “leaders who teach peace”
Middle East and North Africa women unite in peace, declaring: “Peace is a choice and an action”
The International Women’s Peace Group (IWPG), Global Region 2 (Global Director Seo Yeon Lee), recently held the “2025 Middle East and North Africa (MENA) Women’s Peace Education 4th Completion Ceremony.”
This education program targeted women who have chosen peace amid conflict and instability in the Middle East and North Africa region. Approximately 30 women from eight countries, including Yemen, Egypt, and Lebanon, completed the course, bringing the cumulative number of graduates in 2025 to a total of 407.
Throughout 2025, IWPG has continuously operated Women’s Peace Education programs across the Middle East and North Africa, nurturing a total of 407 women peace leaders this year alone. This achievement is recognized as a tangible outcome of building a Middle Eastern women’s peace network that goes beyond one-time training and actively spreads a culture of peace throughout local communities.
The Women’s Peace Education program is based on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) agenda, aiming to prevent conflict and promote a culture of peace. The 4th cohort was conducted from October to December and focused on understanding the values of peace, dialogue-based conflict resolution, and practical strategies for community-level action.
Seo Yeon Lee, Regional Director of IWPG, stated in her welcoming remarks, “You are not merely graduates, but courageous women leaders who chose peace even amid the realities of war and division,” adding, “This completion ceremony is not an ending, but a new starting point that connects more than 400 women peace leaders across the Middle East and North Africa.”
In her congratulatory address, Dr. Ekram Saad Al-Akouri, founder of the Women Journalists for Peace Network, said, “Peace is not a slogan, but a daily practice, and it becomes sustainable when education, media, and the role of women come together.” Lamia Al-Eryani, Director of the Yemen Peace School Organization, also remarked, “This completion is evidence of new hope, as women who have suffered the most from conflict chose peace education.”
During the completion ceremony, the Outstanding Women’s Peace Education Award (Special Award) was presented to participants who demonstrated exceptional engagement and a strong commitment to practice throughout the course. The award recipients were seven participants: Muna Ali Salem, Mona Saleh Mohammed, Tahani Al-Tayeb, Suzan Salah Hassan Ali, Sara Manofali, Naira Mohammed El-Azab, and Sophiya Asaad. They plan to continue expanding women’s peace education and carrying out community-based peace activities in their respective regions.
Speaking on behalf of the graduates, Sara Manofali said, “I learned that peace is not the absence of conflict, but a process created through listening and empathy,” adding, “Through this education, I will live as a practitioner who teaches peace in my local community.”
The event also featured a Peace Cooperation Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signing ceremony to expand the educational outcomes into sustainable international cooperation. IWPG signed MOUs with eight civil society organizations from the Middle East and North Africa region and agreed to actively promote the expansion of women’s peace education and community-based peace activities.
The organizations that entered into the agreements are the Coastal Women Association (Representative: Awsan Aqil Muhammad Baabad), Barka Foundation (Representative: Hanan Ali Bahamid), Yamaniyat Development Association (Representative: Abeer Mohammed), I Am Human Foundation for Development (Representative: Haifaa Abdulwhab Qasem Qaid), Human Development Foundation (HDF) (Representative: Anda Hassan), Irtifa Organization for Environment and Human Development (Representative: Irtifa Amin Ahmed Salam), Bissan Humanitarian Media Foundation (Representative: Ehsan Saeed Ahmed Ghaleb), and Headmen Company (Representative: Hiba Ratel).
In 2026, IWPG plans to continue operating Women’s Peace Education lecturer training programs in the Middle East. Building on its network of more than 400 women peace leaders, IWPG will continue to serve as a platform that connects the voices of women in conflict-affected regions to the international community.
IWPG is a global women’s NGO registered with the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) and the Department of Global Communications (DGC). It has 115 branches and members in 122 countries, along with more than 800 partner organizations in 66 countries. With the vision of “realizing sustainable world peace,” IWPG actively works to expand global solidarity, promote a culture of peace, provide women’s peace education, and support and advocate for the legislation of the Declaration of Peace and Cessation of War (DPCW).
