On the occasion of the International Day of Peace, Egypt’s National Council for Women (NCW) launched its national grassroots campaign, “Women as Peacebuilders”, as part of its Door-to-Door initiative, spanning all 27 Egyptian governorates from September 22 to 24, 2025.
The campaign, led by NCW branches, community outreach leaders, young female volunteers, and religious figures, aims to raise public awareness—particularly among women—on preserving societal peace, promoting tolerance, rejecting misinformation, and reinforcing women’s roles in peacebuilding and sustainable development.
Women at the Heart of Community Peacebuilding
In a televised interview with Extra News, Yasmine Zakaria, Director-General of Campaigns and Awareness at the NCW, said that the campaign emphasizes the crucial role women play in maintaining community peace, promoting dialogue, acceptance of others, and addressing the dangers of rumors and disinformation.
“This is not just a symbolic campaign. It’s a movement to empower women as key stakeholders in peace, coexistence, and sustainable development,” Zakaria stated. “We are engaging with women in every village, town, and neighborhood, using simple, accessible language that connects with their everyday realities.”
Backed by International Cooperation
The campaign is part of the “Support Egypt for Women’s Leadership” project, conducted in cooperation with UN Women and the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID). It aligns with the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1325, which calls for greater involvement of women in peace and security processes.
The initiative reinforces Egypt’s commitment to international gender equity frameworks, while addressing domestic challenges through community-centered dialogue and capacity-building.
Capacity Building and Pre-Campaign Training
Ahead of the campaign’s launch, NCW organized training sessions for women leaders, volunteers, and religious figures, focusing on the campaign’s messages and communication methods. The goal was to equip grassroots actors with tools to conduct effective community engagement and encourage open conversations on peace and tolerance.
“Training is essential,” Zakaria emphasized. “Our volunteers and leaders need to be confident and well-prepared to deliver the campaign’s messages effectively and empathetically.”
Core Messages: Peace, Tolerance, Empowerment, and Misinformation
The campaign’s messaging centers around:
- Women’s role in preserving social peace
- Promoting a culture of tolerance and acceptance
- Empowering women to contribute to peace and development
- Raising awareness about the impact of rumors and misinformation
With ongoing global and regional tensions, NCW views community-level dialogue as a vital tool for early conflict prevention, social cohesion, and national resilience.
From Policy to People: Taking the Message to Every Door
Unlike traditional awareness programs, “Women as Peacebuilders” is hyper-local, conducted through face-to-face interactions with women and families in their homes and communities. The Door-to-Door model ensures that even marginalized and rural women are reached, informed, and engaged.
“This grassroots approach transforms policy into practice,” said Zakaria. “We’re not just talking about women—we’re talking with them.”
