On 27 October 2026, CMI had the great honour of hosting the Women Making Peace luncheon, where our focus was on something both fundamental to sustainable peace and still far too often overlooked: women’s leadership and agency in building peace.
As the UN Security Council held its annual debate on Women, Peace and Security, our conversation served as a timely reminder that progress cannot be taken for granted. At a moment of increasing pressure on women’s rights and gender equality, supporting women’s agency in peacebuilding is more important than ever.
HRH The Duchess of Edinburgh highlighted the resilience and leadership required for women working towards peace. Photo: Bella Alborova/ British Embassy Tallinn
Moderated by CMI Acting CEO Hanna Klinge, the luncheon brought together distinguished speakers, including HRH The Duchess of Edinburgh and Suzanne Innes-Stubb, who reaffirmed the commitment of the United Kingdom and Finland to the Women, Peace and Security agenda at a time of growing global pushback. Reflecting on her work with women affected by conflict, The Duchess highlighted both their resilience and leadership, as well as the devastating impact of sexual violence and the risks faced by women who speak out for peace.
Mrs. Suzanne Innes-Stubb, Spouse of the President of the Republic of Finland, reaffirmed the commitment of Finland to the WPS agenda at a time of growing global pushback. Photo: Maria Hossain Santto/ CMI
We also heard directly from those working on the frontlines of peacebuilding. Mediator and peacebuilding practitioner Natalia Bezkhlibna shared powerful reflections from Ukraine on women’s leadership during war, the realities of locally led peacebuilding, and the kinds of support that make a genuine difference in practice.
Natalia Bezkhlibna spoke from her experiences in the women’s leadership during the war in Ukraine. Photo: Maria Hossain Santto/ CMI
One message resonated throughout the luncheon: while commitments to the WPS agenda matter, they only have meaning if they respond to the realities faced by women working for peace in conflict-affected societies. And while women are already making peace, it’s our responsibility to ensure they have the resources, protection and political support needed to continue their work.
We thank all our speakers and participants for contributing to such a timely and inspiring discussion. We are also grateful to the British Embassy in Helsinki and the Finnish Women, Peace and Security Network for their partnership, and to Ambassador Laura Davies and Elina Korhonen for their commitment and collaboration in making this event possible.
