Women's Initiative

To create a world where all people and the planet are safe and free from nuclear threats, it’s imperative we harness the insight and experience the entire security ﬁeld has to offer by working toward greater inclusivity and representation.

Historically, the security sector has devalued the perspectives of women and other marginalized communities' populations. We need more women in the ﬁeld. And when women do make it into the room, we must keep their contributions and insights—which may challenge the status quo of a system that overvalues force and threats over diplomacy and cooperation—from being discounted or ignored all together. By inviting and positioning women ﬁrmly at the peace and security table, Ploughshares Fund aims to invest in, amplify, and expand the range of perspectives addressing our world’s greatest nuclear challenges—and, as a result, expand the variety of solutions and ideas available to us.

GIVE TO THE WOMEN'S INITIATIVE

Latest News and Analysis on the Ploughshares Fund Women's Initiative

The Diplomat's Big Win

It started with an invitation to lunch. Ambassador Hamamoto had only just arrived in Switzerland as the United States’ representative to the United Nations in Geneva. She was still feeling out her new role when Kofi Annan, former UN secretary-general, asked to chat over a meal. “And I’ll never...

March 9, 2020 - By Zack Brown
The Ploughshares Fund Women’s Initiative

The Ploughshares Fund Women’s Initiative works to increase the voices and roles of women in national security and to ensure their ability to craft and influence US nuclear policy. Today, 13,500 nuclear weapons rest in the hands of a few powerful men who have unchecked...

March 3, 2020 - By Ploughshares Fund
Ending the Military Spending Spree

Last month, the Trump administration unveiled its 2021 budget request, revealing deep reductions in federal spending for items like commerce, environmental protection, and diplomacy in favor of immigration, the military, and space exploration. It should be said upfront that this is not the final...

February 28, 2020 - By Zack Brown
Crafting a Feminist Foreign Policy

Being the president of a national security foundation has its perks. One of them, according to Joe Cirincione, is convincing the interesting people you meet in the conference room to join you in the podcast studio. This is precisely what happened with Lyric Thompson, the director of policy and...

February 10, 2020 - By Ploughshares Fund
The Gender Champions

“Nuclear policy affects us all,” Ambassador Laura Holgate told Ploughshares Fund’s Michelle Dover. “All of these things are global in their effect. And so to suggest that half the population is not present for the conversation makes that conversation illegitimate just from the start.” Holgate...

November 18, 2019 - By Zack Brown
Grantee Spotlight: Women Cross DMZ

I'm incredibly inspired by the increasing calls for peace around the world by lawmakers, activists, and everyday people whose lives have been impacted by this long, unresolved Korean War. In July, there was a historic vote in US Congress as part of the National Defense Authorization Act,...

October 1, 2019 - By Ploughshares Fund
New grants to support inclusive nuclear and national security policy

We are proud to announce the award of six grants following our recent Women’s Initiative request for proposals, held this spring. These grants were made possible by gifts dedicated to the Ploughshares Fund Women’s Initiative. Through the Women’s Initiative, we aim to invest in, amplify...

July 11, 2019 - By Ploughshares Fund
Seven Questions for Beatrice Fihn

Beatrice Fihn is the Executive Director of the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN), the 2017 Nobel Peace Prize-winning campaign coalition that works to prohibit and eliminate nuclear weapons. She accepted the Nobel Peace Prize and delivered the Nobel Lecture in Oslo on...

May 7, 2019 - By Ploughshares Fund
Seven Questions for Marissa Conway

Marissa Conway is the Co-Founder and UK Director of Centre for Feminist Foreign Policy. She previously worked with Freedom House, a safe house for survivors of human trafficking and Living Water, a clean water charity. She is also a freelance writer and publishes pieces on feminist foreign...

May 3, 2019 - By Ploughshares Fund
Seven Questions for Christine Ahn

Christine Ahn is founder and International Coordinator of Ploughshares Fund grantee and partner, Women Cross DMZ, a global movement of women mobilizing to end the Korean War, reunite families, and ensure women’s leadership in peace building. She is the co-founder of the Korea Policy Institute...

April 22, 2019 - By Ploughshares Fund