The war in Ukraine is a daily reminder of the darkest side of humanity. Its’ devastating effects are displayed in the thousands of lives lost, homes destroyed, families torn apart, people trapped in apocalyptic circumstances and the millions fleeing to safety. In times like this, SOLIDAR, its members and the whole Progressive family mobilise support for Ukraine and organize for peace and common security. Peace is not just the absence of armed conflict it must be an active exercise through which we strive to build bridges between people, and engage in negotiations and dialogue among civil society, trade unions, parliamentarians, and local authorities.

In its 2022 edition, and celebrating its 20+1 anniversary, the Silver Rose celebrates those who work actively towards peace, dialogue and common security. An individual or organisation that reminds us that with collective action, courage, perseverance, and commitment – another path is possible towards a Europe of peace.

We are honoured to award Women Political Leaders Initiative 4 Peace the Silver Rose Award for Peace and Common Security.

The Silver Rose Jury’s Motivation reads: 

“Common security requires participation of wider variety of stakeholders and interest groups to be sustainable. It is thus of crucial importance that peace processes are inclusive as per resolution 1325 and that a feminist perspective permeates and guide them. The Silver Rose Jury firmly believes in the importance of initiatives such as WPL, gathering women leaders globally in a joint effort for a different kind of peace, for common security, and by doing so this initiative greatly embodies the values of this year’s award“

In November 2021, WPL became a signatory of the Women, Peace and Security and Humanitarian Compact (WPS-HA) and in doing so committed to policy and programmatic actions focusing on women’s leadership and full, equal, and meaningful participation across peace, security and humanitarian sectors.
In line with this mission, WPL is currently contributing to ongoing advocacy initiatives with other peace and security stakeholders working to further tackle barriers that limit women’s full, equal, and meaningful participation and leadership of women and girls, in all their diversity, in the peace and security sector.
One such advocacy initiative is the #WPL4Peace campaign which highlights the role of women as positive agents in conflict resolution, spreads awareness of the vital role women’s leadership plays in the sustainability of any peace achieved and advocates for a more inclusive new world security agenda. . #WPL4Peace campaigns build around the fact that for peace agreements to hold, peace processes must be inclusive and transparent.
With conflicts and humanitarian crises raging all across the globe, the world cannot afford to forgo the proven contributions of women in transforming conflict and achieving sustainable peace.

The #WPL4Peace campaign emerged in support of the open letter dated February 13th, 2022 addressed to Katrín Jakobsdóttir, Prime Minister of Iceland, Þórdís Kolbrún R. Gylfadóttir, Minister for Foreign Affairs, and Dagur B. Eggertsson, Mayor of Reykjavík. The letter, co-signed by Silvana Koch-Mehrin, President of Women Political Leaders and Helen Clark, Chair of the WPL Board and Prime Minister of New Zealand (1999-2008), appealed to Icelandic authorities to invite the Presidents of Russia and the United States to repeat history and meet in Höfði House in Reykjavík in an effort to stabilise world peace. With the obvious lack of women in the ongoing conversations concerning global peace, Iceland, both led by women and as one of the most peaceful countries on earth, seemed the ideal location to host a peace dialogue and call for the inclusion of women in peace talks.
The invitation was well received by both the City of Reykjavík and the Government, both responding positively to the possibility of hosting such a summit.
The letter was initially signed by 18 current and former women Presidents and Prime Ministers, six women Nobel Peace laureates, and eight WPL country ambassadors. Since the publication of the letter and the amplification of the message via social media channels, the letter has been signed by seven Nobel Peace laureates, 27 Presidents and Prime Ministers, 69 Members of Parliaments and Ministers, and 423 other signatories.

“WPL is honoured to receive the Silver Rose Awards. This is an important recognition that comes at a crucial time when global instability is increasing. The #WPL4Peace initiative reflects true solidarity between women all around the world who continue to champion a peaceful future. ” 

Silvana Koch-Mehrin, President of WPL

Women Political Leaders Initiative 4 Peace will be awarded the Silver Rose Award for Peace and Common Security during the official ceremony on 16th November 2022, in the European Parliament in Brussels.