November 20, 2025
Our Voices for Change series closes this year with a timely and thought-provoking discussion on Negotiations for an Inclusive Political Transition, bringing together leading voices in peacebuilding and women’s leadership.
This session will explore how inclusive peace processes can pave the way for sustainable democracy and justice in Syria and beyond. Our distinguished speakers، Sawsan Zakzak from Syria, and Mariam Coronel- Ferrer from the Philippines, will share their experiences leading and mediating negotiations in complex political contexts, offering lessons on how women’s participation and inclusive dialogue can transform transitions toward peace.
Speakers:
Sawsan Zakzak: Women’s Rights Advocate and Leader
Sawsan holds a Bachelor’s degree in Arabic Literature and has been a member of the Syrian Women’s League since 1990. She worked as part of the League’s research team on various issues related to Syria, including unpaid work of women, gender-based violence in armed conflict, and discrimination in personal status laws through a comparative study. She also served as Gender Sector Coordinator in the National Agenda for the Future of Syria. She has been a member of the Women’s Advisory Council since 2016.
Mariam Coronel- Ferrer: Peace Negotiator and Scholar
Miriam Coronel-Ferrer is a founding member of the Southeast Asian Women Peace Mediators and former UN Standby Team Mediator, supporting peace efforts in Afghanistan, Iraq, and other countries. She chaired the Philippine government panel that signed the 2014 Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro, becoming the first woman to lead and sign a major peace accord with a non-state armed group. A retired University of the Philippines professor, she serves on the boards of the International Crisis Group and Interpeace and received the 2015 Hillary Rodham Clinton Award for Advancing Women in Peace and Security.
📅 Date: November 20, 2025
🕓 Time: 10:00 a.m. EST | 6:00 p.m. Damascus | 4:00 p.m. CET
📍 Online Event. Register here!
Join us as we reflect on how inclusive negotiation processes can open pathways to a democratic and peaceful future.
