Toolkit
A Digital Toolkit on Women's Activism in Northern Ireland
Pillars for Peace-Building is a digital toolkit and platform for transformation. It provides historical context on the often-overlooked role of women during the conflict and in peace efforts, alongside practical tools for gender-sensitive advocacy, storytelling, and community action. It features stories and insights from women who have shaped—and continue to shape—peace on the ground.
It is with great pride and deep conviction that we introduce Pillars for Peace-Building: A Digital Toolkit for Women’s Activism in Northern Ireland.
This resource is born from a shared belief that women’s voices, leadership, and lived experiences are not just relevant to peace—they are essential. Twenty-seven years after the Good Friday Agreement, the promise of inclusive peace remains incomplete for many women across our communities. While the peace process has made great strides, persistent inequalities, unresolved legacy issues, and ongoing divisions continue to shape the lives of women in Northern Ireland.
The Women, Peace and Security (WPS) agenda, grounded in United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325, calls for the full, equal, and meaningful participation of women in all aspects of peacebuilding.
Yet, Northern Ireland’s complex post-conflict context has shown us that this global vision must be interpreted and implemented through local voices and local realities.
That’s where this toolkit comes in.
Pillars for Peace-Building is not just a collection of resources—it is a platform for transformation. It provides historical context on the often-overlooked role of women during the conflict and in peace efforts, alongside practical tools for gender-sensitive advocacy, storytelling, and community action. It features stories and insights from women who have shaped—and continue to shape—peace on the ground.
We designed the toolkit to be interactive, mobile-friendly, and accessible to those who need it most, including women in rural and underserved areas. It’s structured around four core areas: a timeline of women’s contributions to peace; tools for influencing change; blog posts from researchers and grassroots activists; and video interviews highlighting lived experiences.
But more than anything, this toolkit reflects a collective journey.
It has been shaped in dialogue with women across Northern Ireland—from young leaders to legacy survivors, from peace practitioners to community workers. Their voices reminded us why this work matters. As one participant said:
“Hearing women’s stories reminds me of the importance of using my own voice.”
That truth guided this entire project.
We are proud to launch this resource with contributions from 25 women, with many more to come as we expand the archive — a tribute to 25 years of UNSCR 1325, told through 25 voices. As we co-create this evolving space, we invite collaboration from all sectors—civil society, government, academia, and beyond.
Because peace isn’t just a moment. It’s a movement.
And with the right tools, networks, and stories, women in Northern Ireland can continue to shape that movement as architects of a more just, inclusive, and lasting peace.
Charmain Jones & Sarah Stack
Co-developers, Pillars for Peace-Building Toolkit
