Global Petition


On International Women’s Day 2001, a 100,000 strong petition was delivered to Angela King, Special Adviser to the United Nations on Gender Issues and the Advancement of Women, by Helen Hakena from the Leitana Nehan Women’s Development Agency. The event took place in front of an influential and applauding audience of hundreds at the 45^th Commission on the Status of Women at the United Nations in New York.

Why a signature campaign?

The power of a collective voice, expressing a common concern and informed from experience on the ground, is a powerful and empowering tool for effecting change. To maximise this potential it is vital that links are made between organisations and individuals working for peace, that common issues are explored and lessons shared, to amplify and strengthen these diverse voices.

To help women access political structures as peacebuilders, the campaign aims to highlight the concerns of women to the international community. To generate a groundswell of popular concern around issues of women and peacebuilding a global petition stating the 5 key demands of the campaign was initiated addressed to United Nations Secretary- General, Kofi Annan. 

The Collection of Signatures

The response and numbers of signatures received was overwhelming - more than 100,000 signatures from over 140 countries - the majority from women’s organisations in areas of conflict. The range and diversity of languages, backgrounds and cultures is vast, demonstrating the relevance of the petition's concerns. The extent of the support shows not only the growing public awareness and solidarity of the importance placed on these issues, but the pressures on the international community to address the concerns raised

What Next?

The petition was a great achievement, but it needs to be used as an effective campaigning tool to influence the international community. It has been publicised and disseminated to a wide audience through media work, letters and follow-up meetings. The petition compliments, strengthens and enriches the other aspects of the campaign by demonstrating the awareness and concern of these issues. It justifies and legitimates the claim that the inclusion of women in peacebuilding is of fundamental importance to women world-wide and that acting on and publicising these issues is both democratic and timely. It has enhanced and strengthened the efforts of those within the UN Security Council who have pushed for Resolutions for the inclusion of women in peace processes and provides a solid basis from which further lobbying and advocacy work can take place. 

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