Nobel Women's Initiative

08/22/2026

This year’s Sister-to-Sister call received applications from women activists across Africa, Asia, Europe, the Middle East, Latin America and the Caribbean, North America, and Oceania. An incredible response: around 700 applications from more than 80 countries.

We’re so grateful to everyone who applied and shared their work, experiences, and hopes with us. ✨

Behind these numbers is something even more powerful: women activists around the world looking for spaces to connect, learn from one another, work together, and build community across borders and movements.

And now, the 2026 Sister-to-Sister Young Feminist Leadership Program is about to begin! Under this year’s theme, “Peace in the Age of AI: Building Feminist Futures,” we’re getting ready to welcome 25 young feminist activists from around the world!

08/20/2026

A few weeks ago, we gathered at U-Tópicas bookstore in Mexico City for a screening of Samidoun: The Steadfast Women of Palestine.

Following the screening, we held a conversation with Dolores Pérez Lazcarro from Global Movement to Gaza Mexico, moderated by Amy Lira from Nobel Women’s Initiative. Together, we reflected on the stories shared in the documentary, the ongoing reality faced by the Palestinian people, and the importance of solidarity and collective action. Members of the audience also joined the conversation, sharing their reflections.

We were also honored to receive a moving video message from Nadya Rasheed, Ambassador of the State of Palestine to Mexico, who reflected on how the eight women at the heart of Samidoun represent thousands of Palestinian women whose stories and experiences continue to show us the true meaning of resilience and dignity, and remind us that peace cannot be built without justice.

We were grateful to be joined by initiatives working in solidarity with Palestine, including .roula.mx and . We invite you to learn more about their important work!

Thank you to everyone who joined us and helped make this a meaningful space for reflection, dialogue, and solidarity. 🇵🇸 🍉

Samidoun: The Steadfast Women of Palestine continues its journey, bringing the voices and stories of Palestinian women to audiences around the world.

08/20/2026

Honoring the life and legacy of Marieme Hélie-Lucas, and her remarkable contribution to feminist movements and solidarity across borders.

Her commitment to bringing women together, building connections across movements, and turning solidarity into collective action will continue to inspire generations of feminists. 🌿

Commemoration Statement by Women Human Rights Defenders International Coalition: https://whrdic.org/our-work/solidarity-actions/remembrance-marieme-helie-lucas

The Women Human Rights Defenders International Coalition mourns the passing of Marieme Hélie-Lucas, a pioneering feminist, sociologist, activist, and one of the founders of the Women Human Rights Defenders International Coalition.

Marieme believed deeply in the power of women coming together across differences, contexts, and geographies to defend one another and to build collective strength. She documented women’s resistance, forged connections across movements and helped translate solidarity into action.

We remember Marieme not only for all that she accomplished, but for the movements, networks, and generations of feminists she helped make possible.

🕊️ Read the Commemoration Statement by WHRDIC in remembrance of Marieme Hélie-Lucas: https://whrdic.org/our-work/solidarity-actions/remembrance-marieme-helie-lucas

08/19/2026

🎬 Proyección de documental: Tejidos de Luz, Vida y Comunidad en Guatemala 🌿

Te invitamos a la proyección de este galardonado documental, que reúne las voces de mujeres guatemaltecas y sus historias de resistencia en búsqueda de la paz, la justicia, la libertad y de poder vivir una vida sin miedo.

Al finalizar la proyección, tendremos un conversatorio en el que nos acompañaran Virginia Laparra y Lucía Escobar, para compartirnos sobre su experiencia y dialogar en comunidad.

📅 Sábado 22 de agosto
🕛 12:00 h
📍 Librería U-Tópicas U-Tópicas
Felipe Carrillo Puerto 60, Coyoacán, Ciudad de México
🎟️ Entrada libre

08/14/2026

As Yemen faces renewed escalation, Nobel Peace laureate Tawakkol Karman spoke outside the Council chamber of the UN Security Council, where she called for a Yemeni-led peace process that addresses the root causes of the war and restores a united, sovereign and democratic Yemen.

Read her full statement on the Nobel Women’s Initiative website: https://www.nobelwomensinitiative.org/tawakkol-karman-calls-for-a-united-sovereign-and-democratic-yemen

مؤسسة توكل كرمان Tawakkol Karman Foundation توكل كرمان Tawakkol Karman

08/13/2026

As Yemen faces renewed escalation, Nobel Peace laureate Tawakkol Karman spoke outside the Council chamber of the UN Security Council, where she called for a Yemeni-led peace process.

“Yemenis are not asking the international community to build their future for them. They are asking it to stand with them as they reclaim their country and build their own future,” said Karman.

Read her full statement: https://tkif.org/en/chairwoman-activities/3335-statement-by-ms-tawakkol-karman-on-yemen-august-13-2026
and: https://wjwc.org/news-en/statement-by-ms-tawakkol-karman-on-yemen-13-august-2026


توكل كرمان Tawakkol Karman مؤسسة توكل كرمان Tawakkol Karman Foundation

08/10/2026

🎬 Proyección de documental: Tejidos de Luz, Vida y Comunidad en Guatemala 🌿

Te invitamos a la proyección de este galardonado documental, que reúne las voces de mujeres guatemaltecas y sus historias de resistencia en búsqueda de la paz, la justicia, la libertad y de poder vivir una vida sin miedo.

Al finalizar la proyección, tendremos un conversatorio en el que nos acompañaran Virginia Laparra y Lucía Escobar, para compartirnos sobre su experiencia y dialogar en comunidad.

📅 Sábado 22 de agosto
🕛 12:00 h
📍 Librería U-Tópicas
Felipe Carrillo Puerto 60, Coyoacán, Ciudad de México

🎟️ Entrada libre

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🎬 Documentary Screening: Tapestries of Light, Life and Community in Guatemala 🌿

Join us for a screening of this award-winning documentary, featuring the voices of Guatemalan women and their stories of resistance in the pursuit of peace, justice, freedom, and the right to live without fear.

Following the screening, we'll be joined by Virginia Laparra and Lucía Escobar for a community conversation, where they will share their experiences and reflect with us on the themes explored in the film.

📅 Saturday, August 22
🕛 12:00 p.m.
📍 U-Tópicas Bookstore
Felipe Carrillo Puerto 60, Coyoacán, Mexico City

🎟️ Free admission

08/03/2026

Women around the world are already leading climate solutions. 🌿

Three emerging feminist leaders, who were also part of our Rooted & Rising Convening earlier this year, know what real climate action looks like—and it starts with centering the voices of youth, women and Indigenous peoples.

"It is not then that the land belongs to us. It is that we belong to her." Daniela Alba, a Muisca activist in Colombia, who carries what Indigenous communities say into the international rooms they are too often kept out of.

In northern Kenya, Hillary Semeyan Lenantoiye grew up watching the river run dry; her organization now works with more than 2,000 young people restoring the rangelands.

And Karen Bailón writes: "Young people are not mere observers. We are the generation that will live with the consequences of today's decisions." She works with GreenCheck, a youth-led nonprofit that moves resources to community-led climate initiatives.

Their leadership isn't a vision for the future. It's happening now.

Read them in their own words, in this story by Waging Nonviolence:

Three emerging feminist leaders have a vision for real climate action — and it starts with centering the voices of youth, women and Indigenous people.

08/01/2026

Defender el territorio no debería convertirse en un delito.

Sin embargo, eso es lo que hoy enfrentan personas defensoras garífunas integrantes de OFRANEH-Garifuna/Organización Fraternal Negra Hondureña, reconocida por su labor en la defensa de los derechos del pueblo garífuna y en la protección de sus recursos naturales.

Ante las irregularidades en el proceso judicial en su contra, organizaciones nacionales e internacionales dirigimos una carta abierta al magistrado presidente de la Corte Suprema de Justicia de Honduras para exigir el cese inmediato de la persecución judicial ilegal contra las cinco personas defensoras de la OFRANEH.

La carta hace un llamado al Poder Judicial para respetar el debido proceso, proteger los derechos del pueblo garífuna y poner fin a la criminalización de quienes defienden la tierra y el territorio.

La justicia debe proteger a quienes defienden los derechos humanos, no perseguirles.

IM-Defensoras

📄 Lee y comparte la carta abierta: https://im-defensoras.org/2026/07/carta-abierta-al-magistrado-presidente-de-la-corte-suprema-de-justicia-y-del-poder-judicial-de-honduras/

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Defending territory should never be treated as a crime.

Yet this is what Garífuna human rights defenders from the Organización Fraternal Negra Hondureña (OFRANEH) are facing today. OFRANEH is widely recognized for its work defending the rights of the Garífuna people and protecting their natural resources.

In response to the irregularities in the judicial proceedings against them, national and international organizations have addressed an open letter to the President of the Supreme Court of Justice of Honduras, calling for the immediate end to the unlawful judicial persecution of the five OFRANEH defenders.

The letter calls on the Honduran judiciary to uphold due process, protect the rights of the Garífuna people, and put an end to the criminalization of those who defend their land and territory.

Justice should protect those who defend human rights—not persecute them.

📄 Read and share the open letter:

07/22/2026

En México, el número de personas desaparecidas es tan grande que podría llenar el estadio donde se inauguró el Mundial 2026.

Pero la crisis de desapariciones no puede reducirse a cifras. Detrás de cada caso hay un nombre, una historia y una familia que se niega a dejar de buscar. Estas desapariciones están vinculadas a delitos de violencia de género, trata de personas y el reclutamiento forzado.

Ante la falta de respuestas efectivas y la impunidad, son las familias quienes han sostenido la búsqueda y mantenido viva la exigencia de verdad y justicia.

En este artículo por The Urban Activist, la defensora de derechos humanos Alexia Martínez, y exalumna del programa Sister-to-Sister de Nobel Women's Initiative, reflexiona sobre una de las crisis de derechos humanos más graves que enfrenta México. También destaca el trabajo que realiza Centro Prodh, que acompaña a las familias en la búsqueda de sus seres queridos y en su lucha por la verdad y la justicia.

"Ninguna madre debería tener que buscar a su hijo o hija en un servicio forense, un basurero o una fosa clandestina." — Alexia

Lee el artículo completo: https://theurbanactivist.com/espanol/la-tarjeta-roja-que-mexico-no-puede-ignorar/

English version: https://theurbanactivist.com/justice/missing-persons-crisis-mexico/