25 Years of Impact - Women, Peace and Security (WPS)

Honoring 25 Years of the Women, Peace & Security Agenda — And Igniting the Next 25

In 2000, the world witnessed a historic shift. With the adoption of UN Security Council Resolution 1325, women were finally recognized as indispensable leaders in peacebuilding, conflict prevention, and post‑conflict recovery. This milestone launched the Women, Peace & Security (WPS) agenda, forever changing the global approach to peace and equality.

Twenty‑five years later, Women for Women International (WfWI) invites you to commemorate this legacy and mobilize for the future.

For more than three decades, WfWI has stood alongside women survivors of war—championing their leadership, amplifying their voices in decision‑making spaces, and driving policies that put women at the heart of peace and security. Our work across conflict‑affected communities has shown one unwavering truth:

Sustainable peace is only possible when women help shape it.

As the world gathers at CSW 2026, we convene global leaders, partners, and changemakers for a powerful evening of reflection, recognition, and renewed commitment.

About the Event:

Alongside the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) 2026, this event showcased transformative stories of resilience and leadership, as well as honored those who have stood in solidarity with WfWI, playing a key role in advancing its mission. Serving as a call to action, the event aims to inspire renewed commitments and mobilize collective energy to advance women’s leadership in peace and security for the next 25 years.

Host and Speakers:

Delaney Steele - Host

Executive Vice President for Ross Stores, WfWI U.S. Board of Advisors Chair and International Board Secretary

Ms. Steele is Executive Vice President of Strategy, Marketing and Product Sourcing and Services for Ross Stores, a large discount retailer with headquarters in San Francisco and New York. She is responsible for leading efforts on core strategic issues, marketing strategies across all channels, and Ross’s direct sourcing capabilities.

Prior to joining Ross in 2012, Ms. Steele was a Partner in the Consumer / Retail practice at The Boston Consulting Group (BCG). She spent 13 years with BCG in the Atlanta, New York, and most recently the San Francisco office. Ms. Steele developed deep experience in a range of topics including organizational design, marketing, brand development, and consumer insight-led growth.

Leymah Roberta Gbowee - Keynote Speaker

Founder / President of  Gbowee Peace Foundation Africa (GPFA)

2011 Nobel Peace Laureate Leymah Roberta Gbowee is a Liberian Peace Activist, Trained Social Worker and Women’s Rights Advocate. She is the Founder/  President of  Gbowee Peace Foundation Africa (GPFA). She's  the Executive Director of Gender, Law and Transformative Peace Initiative  of City of New York (CUNY) School of Law, U.S.A. She  was the former Executive Director of the Women, Peace and Security Program at Columbia University’s Earth Institute in New York, USA, Co-Founder and former Executive Director of the Women Peace and Security Network Africa (WIPSEN-A) and a Founding Member and former Liberia Coordinator of Women in Peacebuilding Network (WIPNET).

She  is a Member of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Advocate, alumina for the United Nations (UN) and UN High Level Advisory Board on Mediation.She is a Member of  World Refugee Council (WRC), African Women Leaders Network for Reproductive Health and Family Planning, International Honorary Committee of the Global Biosphere Institute, Aurora Prize Selection Committee, the Hilton Humanitarian Prize Jury and High Commission for Human Fraternity.

Zinhle Essamuah - Moderator

NBC News Correspondent

Zinhle Essamuah is an Emmy-nominated journalist and filmmaker, and the co-anchor of NBC News Daily, the #1 afternoon news program on all U.S, connecting with more than 1.2 million viewers daily.  Essamuah is also a correspondent for NBC News reporting across NBC News NOW, Nightly News and TODAY. Previously, she was an anchor and correspondent at NowThis News of Vox Media Group, opening the company’s D.C. bureau.

Essamuah's reporting centers health, culture, and poverty — most often examining inequity at the intersection of policy and lived experience. 

In 2025, Essamuah exclusively interviewed Venus Williams, where the tennis champion revealing her battle with uterine fibroids for the first time. Essamuah’s health care reporting includes investigations into the cosmetic and beauty industry (e.g. hair relaxers and synthetic braids), the expansive impact of Medicaid and women’s health research cuts, and the nation’s Black maternal health crisis. 

In 2024, Essamuah exclusively reported on the rise of maternal mortality in Texas following the state's abortion restrictions and near-total ban and has continued to amplify the stories of lost mothers and those survived by them. Beyond reporting on policy, her reporting has led to legislative change: Louisiana’s governor citing Essamuah’s 2022 report in a policy now limiting solitary confinement in juvenile facilities. 

As a first-generation American with roots in the African diaspora, Essamuah loves good connection and conversation. She’s a frequent moderator and guest speaker at high-profile forums, including the Aspen Institute and the United Nations, over the years securing exclusive interviews with Vice President Kamala Harris, Trevor Noah, Sec. Hillary Clinton and more.  

Truly, her love of story began behind the camera. Essamuah is an award-winning cinematographer and filmmaker and a recipient of a Gracie Award for her original debut short documentary film documenting the Black Lives Matter movement in Ferguson, Missouri. She holds a dual master’s in Media, Strategic Communication, and Documentary Filmmaking from The George Washington University.  

Dr. Anino Emuwa

Managing Director of Avandis Consulting in France and the Founder of 100 Women @ Davos

Dr. Anino Emuwa is a global expert on women’s leadership who works at the intersection of emerging technologies, entrepreneurship and inclusion. A former corporate banker, she is the Managing Director of Avandis Consulting in France and the Founder of 100 Women @ Davos, a community of impact-driven women leaders. She has served as a judge, coach, and regional lead for Cartier Women’s Initiative.

Anino sits on the boards of several organizations, including Watch and Jewellery Initiative 2030 - a sustainability and inclusion industry initiative founded by Cartier and Kering, and helps companies create inclusive and diverse teams.

She is a member of the Institute of Directors’ Expert Advisory Group on Diversity and Inclusion, where she advises on policy issues, and is a member of the UN Women Leaders Network - chaired by Dr. Sima Bahous, Executive Director of UN Women - to advance women’s leadership and representation in decision-making roles.

Maria Kisumbi

Senior Director of Strategic Partnerships at Humanity United

Maria Kisumbi is Senior Director of Strategic Partnerships at Humanity United, leading engagement with philanthropic peers. Previously, she directed Policy and Government Relations, advancing peace and freedom through influence with governments and international institutions. With a background in human rights and women’s rights advocacy, Maria has published in Just Security and Africa Journals Online. She previously advised Uganda’s National Planning Authority with GIZ and led advocacy at LAW-Uganda.

Tricia Roarty

Philanthropist and longtime champion of WfWI

Tricia Roarty has been engaged with Women for Women International since 2002, supporting women survivors of war through long-term partnership and advocacy. Over more than two decades, she has corresponded with over 30 women through the Stand With Her program, building enduring relationships rooted in solidarity and mutual learning. In 2019, she and her daughters witnessed the impact of WfWI’s work firsthand in Kigali and rural Rwanda where they engaged directly with women leaders and their communities.

A dedicated advocate for gender equity and community well-being, Tricia brings both academic scholarship and lived commitment to advancing women’s leadership. She holds a BA in Sociology and Anthropology from Fairfield University, a Graduate Certificate in Gender and Women’s Studies from Villanova University, and a Master’s Degree in Interdisciplinary Studies from New York University. She serves on the Board of Trustees of God’s Love We Deliver in New York City.

Rima Salah 

WfWI International Board Member

She is the former Deputy Executive Director of UNICEF, as well as the former Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General, United Nations Mission in the Central African Republic and Chad (MINURCAT). She was Officer in Charge for the Deputy Executive Director for External Relations in UNICEF from August 2011 to January 2012. In this function, she was responsible for the following areas globally: Communications, Emergency Programmes, Governance, U.N. and Multilateral Affairs, Public Alliances and Resource Mobilization, and Private Fundraising and Partnerships.

Thelma Ekiyor

International CEO of Women for Women International

Thelma Ekiyor is an award-winning global leader in women’s economic empowerment, philanthropy, impact investing, and international development, with over 25 years of experience across Africa, Europe, and the UK. Starting her early career in women, peace and security, Thelma went on to pioneer and lead multiple organisations, including as founding CEO SME.NG, Afrigrants, TY Danjuma Foundation and the West African Civil Society Institute (WACSI).

Thelma is also a doctoral researcher on women’s entrepreneurship at Cranfield University UK. She holds an MBA from Imperial College London and an LLB from the University of Buckingham, UK. She has served on numerous boards and investment committees in Africa and Europe, with additional expertise spanning gender lens investing, catalytic finance, philanthropy advisory, and entrepreneurship development.

For more information, please contact us at [email protected]