Forward Global Women (FGW) was borne from the desire to promote the peaceful resolution of conflict in the Middle East and to advocate for the full and equal participation of women in the peacemaking process.

Through an annual convening and other events, FGW brings together women leaders – elected officials, academicians and activists – from the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) and the United States to build relationships, grow skills and facilitate new understandings of social and political issues in their respective countries, creating a network of women peacemakers.

The importance of including women in the peace process was recognized by the United Nations (UN) in 2000 with the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1325, which affirmed that peace and security efforts are more sustainable when women are equal partners in the prevention of conflict and in the forging of a lasting peace. A study by UN Women in 2015 (Read Here) found that women’s participation in peace processes not only improves the likelihood that an agreement will be reached but also results in a more durable and stable peace. With the inclusion of women, the probability of a peace agreement lasting at least two years is increased by 20 percent and the probability of lasting 15 years is increased by 35 percent.