United for Peace: Women from BiH and the Diaspora Build Bridges for a Better Future

Bosanska Krupa was a hub of connection, solidarity, and empowerment, from 16–18 May 2025, as it hosted the fifth international networking conference titled “United for Peace and Security”. Bringing together over 300 women and girls from across Bosnia and Herzegovina and the diaspora, the event underscored the transformative power of collective action and women’s leadership in peacebuilding and social cohesion.

The conference was organized by the association Ujedinjene žene (United Women), with support from the City of Bosanska Krupa and the “Women Lead the Way toward Peace and Security in BiH” project - supported by the United Nations Secretary-General’s Peacebuilding Fund (PBF) in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and jointly implemented by IOM, UN Women, and UNFPA on behalf of the UN in BiH, in cooperation with the Ministry for Human Rights and Refugees of BiH.

Elevating Women’s Voices in Peacebuilding

At the heart of the conference was a shared commitment to advancing the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security (WPS). Through dynamic panel discussions, interactive workshops, and peer learning, participants jointly identified the challenges women face in local communities and mapped concrete strategies to address them.

A standout moment was the signing of a memorandum of cooperation by 62 women’s associations from BiH and the diaspora. More than a symbolic act, this agreement marks a strategic commitment to future collaboration on advocacy, peacebuilding, and gender equality.

“Everything starts with us,” echoed participants from the opening panel, where women leaders, activists, and changemakers shared their personal stories of courage, persistence, and institutional engagement.

From Dialogue to Action

Workshops throughout the conference encouraged participants to move from theory to practice. Topics ranged from community-level implementation of Resolution 1325 to mental health and emotional resilience, highlighting the intersection of well-being and activism. The final day’s session, From Memorandum to Action, was a working space where participants drafted local action plans to tackle specific problems facing women in their communities.

“For the first time, this conference successfully connected strategic planning and grassroots action,” said organizers, noting the importance of long-term partnerships and capacity-building.

The “United for Peace and Security” conference reaffirmed that women across BiH and its diaspora possess the knowledge, strength, and solidarity to shape a more peaceful, secure, and just society. Their voices are not only being heard—they are making change.

As more than 300 women return to their communities, they carry with them new connections, practical tools, and a powerful message: when united, women are an unstoppable force for peace.