International Women’s Peace Conference returns to The Hague after 110 years

The Hague, The Netherlands, 25 November 2025 – On 9 and 10 December 2025, International Human Rights Day, The Hague will host the International Women’s Peace Conference, more than one hundred years after the historic 1915 meeting in the city.  

The conference underlines the importance of women in conflict resolution, decision-making, and the implementation of UN Resolution 1325, which affirms women’s critical role in peace processes. With advocates such as Yael Admi & Reem Al-Hajajreh – Israeli and Palestinian peace leaders, Isabelle Rome, Catherine Samba Panza, Chekeba Hachemi  – iconic feminist and pacifist scholar Nouzha Chekrouni, Guila Clara Kessous – UNESCO artist for Peace – the Women and Peace Conference aims to build a more peaceful, inclusive, and gender-just world.  

Bertha von Suttner Peace Prize 

During the conference the Bertha von Suttner Peace Prize will be awarded, moving from its usual founding location in Georgia. The award is composed of a financial dotation and a smaller version of the statue of Bertha von Suttner visible at the Peace Palace, created by Hague-based artist Ingrid Rollema.  

The event is organised under the leadership of Mrs. Hélène Pichon, Director of Alliance Française The Hague and Coordinator of the Alliance Française of the Netherlands, and supported by a broad coalition of partners mobilised to support the conference entitled Women and Peace, in the footsteps of Bertha von Suttner, including the Municipality of The Hague (Mayor Jan van Zanen and Deputy Mayor for Poverty, Inclusion, Public Health and International Affairs, Mariëlle Vavier), the United Nations, UN Women (Carlotta Gradin, President UN Women France), the Alliance Française of the Netherlands, the French Embassy in the Netherlands, Professors and student from universities worldwide, and many more. 

Jan van Zanen: “Peace is stronger when women are at the table. This Women’s Peace Conference in The Hague underlines their vital role in shaping dialogue, justice and lasting security worldwide.”  

The main programme takes place at the Peace Palace on 10 December 2025, with additional events taking place on 9 December 2025 in the Atrium of the International Institute of Social Studies (IISS), and other venues across the city. Women activists, leaders and experts from around the world share peace strategies and engage in high-level discussions on building lasting peace. Programme: https://femmesetpaix.org/en 

Hélène PICHON, Director of Alliance Française The Hague: “The support for this conference has been remarkable. From Institutional to private sponsors - to International Scholars, Professors and Students -contributions have come from many sides. This collective effort underlines the global commitment to peace and to women’s leadership.” 

Scientific academic book

During the conference a steering committee composed by the Alliance Française of The Hague, Sciences Po Lyon, Leiden University, and the Institute for Peace will highlight their scientific academic book with the results from different war and peace studies. This initiative aims to create reference work that will be widely distributed to reach a diverse audience and raise awareness of the importance of inclusive diplomacy and equitable governance. This book will serve as an academic foundation for the development and enrichment of courses on feminist diplomacy and gender studies. In addition to theoretical insights, it will feature visual storytelling through contributions from Cartooning for Peace and Le Monde diplomatique, ensuring broad accessibility and impact beyond academia. By strengthening ties between academic and cultural institutions, it will contribute to a better integration of contemporary feminist diplomacy and gender equality issues into education and research. 

About the Bertha von Suttner Peace Prize 

The Bertha von Suttner Peace Prize is a prize established in Georgia in 2019 by Salome Adamia to honor individuals and organisations working for peace, conflict resolution, and disarmament, inspired by the legacy of Bertha von Suttner who lived in Georgia for a few years and who was the first woman ever to win the Nobel Peace Prize.