🌍 Save the Date! Report Back from the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women

Join us for an engaging and insightful evening as the Canadian Voice of Women for Peace and International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War Canada's joint delegation shares their experiences from the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) held in New York this past March!

Our delegates will offer their reflections, key learnings, and highlights from their time at CSW, shedding light on critical global conversations around gender, peace, justice, and more.

✨ Mark your calendars and stay tuned for more details! We can’t wait to share this experience with you.

Canadian Voice of Women for Peace (VOW) invites you to be part of a dynamic monthly learning group where we will explore the virtual United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs' Disarmament Education courses, including"Introduction of Disarmament" (April Group), "Gender Perspectives on Disarmament" (May Group) and "Disarmament and non-proliferation regimes" (June Group). This is a unique opportunity to come together once a month for three months (April-June) to engage in asynchronous disarmament education. Each month will involve a commitment of approximately 45 minutes for the course and 1 1/2 hours for the group meeting, where we will discuss your questions, dive deeper into key topics, and connect with others who share a passion for disarmament and peace. View all session dates in the registration form.

Our group is intergenerational, bringing together diverse perspectives and experiences. We are welcoming 5 youth participants (ages 15-34) and 5 seasoned participants (ages 35+) on a first-come, first-served basis.

If you're eager to engage in thought-provoking discussions and contribute to a collective learning effort for peace, we would love for you to join us.

Don't miss out – register today to secure your spot!

The elimination of the Minister for Women and Gender Equality is a major step backward for gender equity in Canada. This position has been essential in ensuring women’s rights are represented at the highest levels of decision-making for over 50 years. With an election approaching, now is the time to act—decision-makers are listening, and we must make it clear that this is unacceptable.

Here are three things you can do right now:

1. Show up to your constituency office in person – Go to your constituency office with as many people as possible, they don’t all have to be from your constituency as long as one or two are. This is an election period, and representatives are paying attention. Demand answers and insist on the reinstatement of this critical role. Talking points are provided below to help guide your conversation.
2.  Send an email – Use the template below to contact your constituency office. Simply copy, paste, and personalize it (fill in the yellow sections), feel free to personalize it. Find your representatives in both the House of Commons and the Senate [insert link], and encourage your friends and colleagues to do the same. The more voices they hear, the stronger our message
3. Spread the word – Share the collective letter from over 350180 organizations online and with your network. Write to local media, organize locally, and demand better from our government. We must safeguard the basic infrastructure that has protected gender equity in Canada for over half a century.

Click the button below for email templates and talking points to take action!

Global Voices for Peace is a remarkable collection of reflections on themes related to the practice of peacebuilding across the world. It instills hope for increasing the conscious discourse on peace, and encourages individual active participation in the peace process. Canadian Voice of Women for Peace is a proud contributor to this incredible collection!

Each contributor has offered their thoughts, reflections and actions in response to questions such as "What needs to happen for humanity to find a way to peace for our world? and  What actions can we take now to move peace forward? " This anthology also introduces readers to the intersections between peace and conflict, and the climate and environmental crises, food insecurity, inequality, gender, migration, sport, colonialism, health, and mental health.  

Anticipated release date is April 2025.  Stay tuned for more information and updates about the project.  Check back regularly!

Join several organizations on Land Day 2025 to discuss land back efforts from the Levant to Turtle Island. From an internationalist and anti-capitalist perspective, we will discuss forms of resisting occupation, honoring the land, and indigeneity.

Information on speakers and how to join the in-person meeting will follow soon.  Click the link above to register for the livestream or to get a video of the meeting.

Douglas Roche is an author, parliamentarian, and diplomat who have devoted his 50-year public career to peace and human-security issues. His latest book is Keep Hope Alive (2nd ed.) The Hon. Roche will address themes from his most recent book. He asks:  What is the basis for hope concerning a more peaceful and sustainable world in this tumultuous time?

The programme kicks off with an engaging and interactive online component. Through self-paced eLearning modules and online discussions, participants will acquire a solid knowledge base on key disarmament and non-proliferation issues. In addition, they will have the opportunity to enhance their skills through skill-building workshops and practical assignments, as well as live webinars, where they can interact in real-time with disarmament experts and fellow participants. The weekly time commitment for this component is approximately 4-6 hours. 

Upon successful completion of the online component, 50 selected participants will embark on a six-day study tour to Japan. This experience will bring them to Nagasaki and Hiroshima, where they will engage with hibakusha, the survivors of the atomic bombings, as well as local youth. Additionally, they will jointly organize a youth-led event, fostering meaningful discussions and exchange of ideas. Please see this link for the inaugural event organized by the first cohort. To watch the travel vlog from the study tour, click here.

In April 2025, World BEYOND War will be holding a weekly discussion each of four weeks of Peace Advocacy in the Shadow of War with the author Francis Shor.

When you register for the club, we'll send you a PDF of the book (not to be shared with anyone).

We'll let you know which parts of the book will be discussed each week along with the Zoom details to access the discussions.

This is a small group series with limited space of up to 18 people. Sign up to reserve your spot. We look forward to reading and discussing this important book with you!

Host Contact Info: david@worldbeyondwar.org

In May, 2025, World BEYOND War will be holding a weekly discussion each of four weeks of the book 52 Weeks to a Sweeter Life with the author Farzana Doctor.

When you register for the club, we'll send you an e-book.

We'll let you know which parts of the book will be discussed each week along with the Zoom details to access the discussions.

This is a small group series with limited space of up to 18 people. Sign up to reserve your spot. We look forward to reading and discussing this important book with you!

About the Book: A Workbook of Emotional Hacks, Self-Care Experiments and Other Good Ideas

A practical guide to self-care, written for helpers—the caregivers, activists, community leaders, mental health and medical professionals who are the first to help others, but the last to seek help themselves.

Host Contact Info: david@worldbeyondwar.org

Legacy Donations

Your legacy gift helps ensure that VOW’s critical work continues for years to come. Whether it’s advancing our disarmament education program, advocating for peace, or working to end nuclear threats, your gift will directly support the next generation of peacebuilders!