Women, Peace and Security Network - Canada

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Women, Peace and Security Network - Canada

The WPSN-C is a network of over 60 Canadian organizations & individuals committed to addressing issues of women, peace & security.

The Women, Peace and Security Network – Canada (WPSN-C) is a network of over 60 Canadian organizations and individuals committed to addressing issues of women, peace and security. The network has two main functions:

1) To promote and monitor the efforts of the Government of Canada to implement and support the United Nation Security Council Resolutions on women, peace and security; and,

2) To provide a forum for exchange and action by Canadian civil society on issues related to women, peace and security. To help us function as a network, membership is open to Canadian women and men, as well as organizations. Members state their agreement with the network’s commitments (above) and identify a contribution to the network (time or in kind). Members also sign on to advocacy products, such as letters, new releases and events, as they are able. The WPSN-C’s current organizational members include:

• Canadian Federation of University Women (https://www.facebook.com/groups/2232370205/)
• International Women’s Rights Project (http://iwrp.org/)
• MATCH International Women’s Fund (https://www.facebook.com/matchinternational)
• National Council of Women of Canada (https://www.facebook.com/thencwc?sk=wall)
• Nobel Women’s Initiative (https://www.facebook.com/nobelwomen)
• World Federalist Movement-Canada (https://www.facebook.com/pages/World-Federalist-Movement-Canada/146944501995183)
• Kairos: Canadian Ecumenical Justice Initiatives (https://www.facebook.com/pages/Kairos-Canadian-Ecumenical-Justice-Initiatives/19277141685)

More information is available on the WPSN-C website and on Twitter.

10/08/2026

📢 Join us for a book launch and panel discussion at IUS-Canada 2026!

We are pleased to invite members, partners, and colleagues to a special panel celebrating the publication of Women, Peace and Security in Canada and the United States: A Fragmented Peace (Routledge, 2026), edited by Katrina Leclerc, Nisha Singh, and Shirley Graham.

Bringing together scholars and practitioners from Canada and the United States, the volume examines how the WPS agenda is being contested and reshaped amid growing political polarisation, shifting policy priorities, and evolving security challenges.

🎤 Our panel will feature:
- Dr. Katrina Leclerc, The University of Winnipeg & WPSN-C Chair
- Dr. Sandra Biskupski-Mujanovic, Queen's University & University of Western Ontario
- Shayne Wong, University of Manitoba & WPSN-C Steering Committee member
- Beth Woroniuk, Feminist Foreign Policy Collaborative

Together, they will explore the history and evolution of Canada’s WPS commitments, the role of civil society advocacy, gender equality and culture change in the Canadian Armed Forces, and the intersections between WPS and youth leadership in peacebuilding.

📅 Saturday, October 24, 2026
🕒 9:00–10:30 a.m. Eastern
💻 Register to tune in virtually: bit.ly/IUS-Canada-WPS-book

All are welcome! Participants are also invited to register for the remaining IUS-Canada conference proceedings, taking place in person and online. 🔗 Conference registration: iusafs.org/ius-canada-region/

We hope you’ll join us for this important conversation on the past, present, and future of WPS in Northern America!

10/01/2026

WPSN-C Chair Dr Katrina Leclerc joined the 4th Women Leaders’ Summit for a discussion on “Women as Leaders Across the Peace and Security Continuum.” 🌏

Drawing on WPSN-C’s experience in Canada, Katrina spoke about government–civil society engagement as a critical component of advancing the WPS agenda — and the importance of moving beyond consultation toward sustained engagement, meaningful influence and accountability.

Her intervention also emphasized that strong government–civil society relationships require space for civil society to remain independent, raise gaps and challenges, and hold governments accountable for their WPS commitments.

The session was part of the Summit’s theme “From Participation to Power: Women Leading Peace and Security,” focused on strengthening women’s meaningful leadership and influence in peace and security decision-making.

Thank you to the organizers and fellow speakers for a rich exchange of experiences and perspectives from across ASEAN and beyond.

09/25/2026

🎉 Congratulations to long-time WPSN-C member Major (Retired) Karen Breeck!

Karen recently received the Minister of Veterans Affairs Commendation, recognizing her exemplary volunteer contributions to the health and well-being of Veterans.

The Commendation was presented by Minister of Veterans Affairs , with remarks from Member of Parliament Anita Vandenbeld.

Karen was nominated for this recognition by the Federal Retirees, where she has contributed extensively to advancing Veteran health and well-being. Her commitment extends across numerous organizations and initiatives, including the Federation of Medical Women of Canada, the Women Veterans Research and Engagement Network (WREN), and, of course, the Women, Peace and Security Network - Canada (WPSN-C).

Karen has been a valued member of WPSN-C for many years, bringing her expertise and advocacy on military women’s health, gender equality, and the experiences of women serving in and retiring from the Canadian Armed Forces to our collective work.

We are delighted to see Karen’s longstanding contributions to Canada’s Veteran community recognized in this way. Congratulations, Karen, from all of us in the WPS community! 👏

09/23/2026

📕 BOOK LAUNCH | Washington, DC

We are delighted to invite you to the first of several events celebrating the launch of Women, Peace and Security in Canada and the United States: A Fragmented Peace, recently published by Routledge!

Born out of a cross-border collaboration between the Women, Peace and Security Network-Canada (WPSN-C) and the U.S. Civil Society Working Group on Women, Peace and Security, this edited volume brings together scholars, policymakers, and civil society practitioners to critically examine the evolution, implementation, and future of the WPS agenda in Canada and the United States.

Join co-editors Dr Katrina Leclerc, Nisha Singh, and Dr Shirley Graham for a conversation about the book and the critical questions underpinning the volume.

📅 Friday, October 2, 2026

🕕 6:00 PM

📍 Lindner Commons, Elliott School of International Affairs (6th floor), George Washington University, Washington, DC

🔗 RSVP: https://lnkd.in/e5rXASGQ

Not in DC? Stay tuned! 📣

This is the first of several book launch events. Additional in-person and hybrid events will be announced in the coming weeks, offering more opportunities to connect with the editors and contributors and engage in conversations about the future of the WPS agenda.

We hope to see many of our members and colleagues there!

09/22/2026

🇸🇩 Sudan’s Conflict: Examining Canada’s Responsibility

How are Canadian weapons exports, trade relationships, and corporate accountability impacting the war in Sudan?

Join us on Thursday, October 1, from 12:00-1:30 p.m. Eastern, for a virtual conversation examining Canada’s connections to the conflict in Sudan and questions of responsibility and accountability.

🎙️ Featuring panelists: Duha Elmardi, Kelsey Gallagher, Penelope Simons, and Stuart Trew. The discussion will be moderated by Steven Staples, with introductory remarks from Rita Morbiaa of Inter Pares.

This event is co-hosted by the Women, Peace and Security Network - Canada (WPSN-C), Inter Pares, Sudan Solidarity Collective, Project Ploughshares, and CCPA.

🔗 Register here: https://bit.ly/sudan-webinar-october

09/21/2026

🕊️ Peace is built together.

On this International Day of Peace, hear reflections from three of our members on peace and the importance of collective action.

💚 Rasha Jarhum, Peace Track Initiative, hosted by HRREC

💚 Gillian Flude, Mines Action Canada

💚 Ellen Woodsworth, WILPF Canada

Their messages remind us that peace is not simply the absence of conflict. It requires justice, inclusion, meaningful participation, and sustained collective action.

Today, we celebrate the dedication of our members and the broader peacebuilding community, whose tireless efforts continue to advance the Women, Peace and Security agenda and build a more peaceful, just, and inclusive world.

Thank you to Rasha, Gillian, and Ellen for sharing your voices and for your continued commitment to peace!

09/09/2026

We are so back! 🍁

Yesterday, WPSN-C members came together for our first monthly members’ meeting of the fall — and there is a lot on the horizon.

From upcoming WPS advocacy to new collaborations, events, publications, and opportunities to connect across the Network, we’re heading into a busy few months.

It was wonderful to see so many familiar (and new!) faces around the virtual table and to hear what members have been working on over the summer.

We’re excited for what’s ahead — and especially for the opportunities to keep strengthening collective civil society advocacy on WPS in Canada and beyond. Stay tuned. We have lots in store this fall! 🍂

09/08/2026

📚 Almost two years in the making — and finally available for pre-order!

We are delighted to share the forthcoming publication of Women, Peace and Security in Canada and the United States: A Fragmented Peace, the result of a nearly two-year collaboration between WPSN-C and the U.S. Civil Society Working Group on Women, Peace and Security (U.S. CSWG).

This project has been a truly collaborative effort. Several WPSN-C members contributed chapters to the volume and participated in the conversations and exchanges that shaped the project, bringing perspectives from across civil society, academia, policy, and practice into a shared examination of the WPS agenda in Canada and the United States.

The volume is co-edited by Dr Katrina Leclerc (WPSN-C chair), alongside Nisha Singh and Dr Shirley Graham, and brings together contributors from both sides of the border to critically examine the challenges, contradictions, and possibilities of implementing WPS in the two countries.

At a time of growing political polarization, democratic strain, and backlash against gender equality, A Fragmented Peace asks what these shifts mean for WPS — while exploring what Canada and the United States can learn from one another and from the civil society actors who have long pushed the agenda forward.

Published by Routledge Books, A Fragmented Peace is now available for pre-order 📖🔗 : routledge.com/Women-Peace-and-Security-in-Canada-and-the-United-States-A-Fragmented-Peace/Leclerc-Singh-Graham/p/book/9781041173182

08/12/2026

Young people are not only the future of peacebuilding—they are shaping it today.

This International Youth Day, we’re proud to amplify the voices of young peacebuilders, advocates, and leaders from across our Network who are advancing more inclusive, just, and sustainable approaches to peace and security.

A sincere thank you to Danielle Kamtié (KAIROS CANADA), Imogen Fraser (Canadian Coalition for Youth, Peace & Security (CCYPS)), Ajmal Ramyar (APT Andishawaran), Shayne Wong, and Alexandria Bohémier for sharing their reflections and reminding us why youth leadership matters.

On International Youth Day—and every day—we are reminded of the importance of intersectional commitments to advancing the agenda, recognizing that sustainable peace requires inclusive leadership across generations.

Happy International Youth Day! 🧡

07/09/2026

🌏🌿 Research Report | Finding 2

Climate-related disasters are reshaping economies, livelihoods, and security across the . Women are not only disproportionately affected—they are leading adaptation, disaster preparedness, and recovery efforts.

Our second finding from Adaptive Leadership, Resilient Economies shows that women’s economic participation strengthens resilience only when enabling conditions are in place. Access to finance, land rights, insurance, social protection, and decision-making power determine whether participation reduces vulnerability or deepens it.

Participation alone is not enough. The conditions matter.

🌏🌿 Rapport de recherche | Constat 2

Les catastrophes liées aux changements climatiques transforment les économies, les moyens de subsistance et les dynamiques de sécurité dans l’ . Les femmes ne sont pas seulement touchées de manière disproportionnée : elles jouent un rôle clé dans l’adaptation, la préparation et le relèvement.

Notre deuxième constat démontre que la participation économique des femmes ne renforce la résilience que lorsque les conditions nécessaires sont réunies. L’accès au financement, aux droits fonciers, à l’assurance, à la protection sociale et aux espaces décisionnels est essentiel.

La participation seule ne suffit pas. Les conditions comptent.

📖 Read the report / Lire le rapport: wpsn-canada.org/adaptive-leadership-resilient-economies/

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