A new women-led initiative aimed at reshaping the international security agenda has been launched in New York ahead of the UN General Assembly.
Ploughshares, a nonprofit focused on reducing nuclear weapons threats, has joined forces with Horizon 2045 and The Elders to establish Women Transforming Global Security (WTGS). The network brings together senior stateswomen, policy specialists, nonprofit leaders and sector experts spanning climate, health, human rights, technology and nuclear security.
The announcement was made at the International Peace Institute with several high-profile champions in attendance.
Ploughshares President Dr. Emma Belcher said, “Women Transforming Global Security is not just about adding women’s voices to old conversations – it’s about changing the conversation itself. Together, we are laying the foundations of a security paradigm fit for the 21st century.”
WTGS aims to tackle a wide spectrum of interconnected threats by promoting diverse perspectives and creating pathways for women’s leadership in decision-making forums where they are often underrepresented. The network will work towards a security model prioritising prevention, human and ecological wellbeing, and trust-based cooperation.
Mary Robinson expressed strong support for the initiative, stating, “The Elders are delighted to support the launch of Women Transforming Global Security. As a young woman, I joined tens of thousands of women and men marching against nuclear weapons at the height of the Cold War in the 1970s and ‘80s. We need a similar sense of urgency and activism today as geopolitical tensions reach dangerous levels. Women’s perspectives are too often absent from these debates and need to be heard. This network can play a vital role in convening diverse voices, building trust and catalyzing action.”
Horizon 2045 President Erika Gregory highlighted the human-centred approach at the core of WTGS, saying, “This initiative humanizes security rather than militarizing humanity, acknowledging the ways contemporary threats have converged to make so many of us feel less secure than ever before. Our response must be a more humane framework for global security that recognizes women are uniquely effective at generating the collaborative, practical solutions we need, based on the understanding that care for collective wellbeing is the foundation of authentic security.”
Historically, women have played pivotal roles in advancing international agreements and global peace efforts, yet they continue to face barriers to representation in security decision-making. WTGS seeks to address this gap by investing in women leaders who will help shape solutions across nuclear weapons, climate change, emerging technologies, human rights and public health.
The initiative’s backers argue that today’s interconnected risks demand new approaches rooted in collaboration rather than coercion. With tensions between major powers escalating and the global security landscape shifting, WTGS positions itself as a platform for women leaders to drive lasting change.
