Nobel Women’s Initiative blog

by Amelia Korangy, NWI rapporteur

I come to this conference as a very recent college graduate with all of the grand aspirations one could hope a well-educated and creative student would embody. Luckily, a history in the independent sector working for non-profits has instilled within me a remarkable degree of self-efficacy, and so as I embark on a new phase of my life, I feel confident and supported in my endeavors to engage women in the work towards strong, non-violent, and equitable communities. There are thousands of organizations around the world guided by women who are keenly dedicated to empowering women in order to bring sustainable and authentic social change, and I am excited to share this conference with a select group of them.

Working for peace, justice, and equality is not an easy task – anyone familiar with the history of conflict and post conflict societies knows well that progress is often slow and heartache always quite poignant. Nevertheless, this years’ first international conference carries with it an air of security and hope for the future of these many organizations around the globe that are focused on aiding women and girls, changing inequitable policy, and strengthening the path towards peace.

In a world where media attention increasingly seems to confer legitimacy, where funding surfaces as one of the most critical challenges for those seeking peace, justice, and equality, and where the best resources day in and day out are seeded in our fellow community of activists – it is remarkable that the Nobel Women’s Initiative use this conference to establish the beginnings of a more unified, globally recognized, mutually supportive, and financially stable independent sector led by women committed to nothing short of changing the world.

There are so many aspects of the conference that I am looking forward to. As a student of Perisan culture and the Middle East, I cannot wait to broaden my understanding of engendered and identity politics as they work in the region. I am excited to learn more from the incredible collection of women activists and how they are utilizing the creative and individual capacities of young women to work against the rising tide of violence and conflict. I am curious as to how our worlds most respected activist minds will frame the issue of women’s rights in the context of social and political engagement, and I am honored to be included in talks of peace with some of the most recognized and compelling Nobel Laureates.

The Nobel Women’s Initiative is bold and powerful. These six Laureates and their surrounding community of support have fostered an organization unparalleled by any other body in the world so committed to peace, justice, and equality. Each of us here at the conference know that women are the keystone to progress and capable of incredible leadership. The commencement of this conference is exemplary. The fruits of the work here can propel the independent sector into a future that is ripe with large – scale possibilities. With this conference we will solidify our ability to garnish the attention of the world, and equip one another with the network and support needed to engage individuals from all corners of the globe in the process of ending gender violence and building sustainable peace.

I hope that you will join our efforts, spread the word, and keep updated with this monumental initiative. There is an energy – an aura – that surrounds all people who work for justice and equality, and this week in Galway we are collaborating so that this light and this energy be more unmistakable than ever before.