FROM THE BOARD OF THE NOBEL WOMEN’S INITIATIVE:
Some of you may have learned about the recent staff resignations at Nobel Women’s Initiative. We are profoundly shaken and saddened by this enormous loss to the organization and to all of us who have worked side by side with them.
As an organization committed to peace, justice and equality, this is a moment for deep soul searching and change. For us, a healthy, healing and forward-looking outcome is fundamental for those involved in or touched by these recent events.
While we were aware of organizational challenges, we deeply regret not recognizing the depth of their broader impact on staff. We are committed to taking all necessary steps to strengthen the organization, improve its workplace and support a healing process.
The process of overall organizational change will begin with a deep examination of the structures and practices that impact wellbeing of all staff both in and outside the workplace. We undertake this journey at a time when so many leaders and institutions are also carrying out such introspection guided in part by the antiracism movements in the U.S. and around the world and in the painful, disorienting context of the Covid-19 pandemic and the uncertainties it poses in all aspects of all lives everywhere.
We are firmly committed to holding a mirror up to ourselves to develop a new vision of our work culture for during the pandemic and beyond. We are firmly committed to changes in leadership, governance and human resource practices to ensure that what we do and how we do it is structured to accomplish our work in line with our feminist vision of peace and nonviolence, socio-economic justice and equality, and a vibrant, sustainable environment for all creatures who share our planet and that are an inextricable part of our mission.
Toward all of those ends, the Nobel Women’s Initiative has begun the work of putting in place an independent external review to examine the issues and concerns raised by staff as well as carry out the broader audit described above. The review will build upon issues and concerns raised in a process that was initiated in January of this year with staff and the co-executive directors.
As the Board of the Nobel Women’s Initiative—which we believe in and hold dear to our hearts—we value your support, understanding and confidence in us as the independent external review takes place and beyond. We are committed to ensuring that the Nobel Women’s Initiative endures to continue to do its part to make this world a better place for everyone.
THANK YOU.
Shirin Ebadi (Iran), Rigoberta Menchú Tum (Guatemala), Leymah Gbowee (Liberia), Tawakkol Karman (Yemen), and Jody Williams (USA)
Nobel Women’s Initiative uses the prestige of the Nobel Peace Prize and courageous women peace laureates to increase the power and visibility of women’s movements working globally for peace, justice and equality. We work to strengthen and expand feminist efforts to promote nonviolent solutions to war, violence and militarism.
The Initiative is led by Nobel Peace Laureates Shirin Ebadi (Iran), Rigoberta Menchú Tum (Guatemala), Leymah Gbowee (Liberia), Tawakkol Karman (Yemen), and Jody Williams (USA).
