SAVE (Sisters Against Violent Extremism) is the world's first female counterterrorism platform aimed at empowering women to combat extremist ideologies and contribute to peace-building globally. It engages various groups, including mothers, schools, and NGOs, and currently operates in several countries while advocating for women's leadership in security and de-radicalization efforts. The initiative highlights the importance of connecting mothers across conflicts to promote understanding and reconciliation.

1. SAVE – Sisters Against Violent
Extremism

2. Structure

3. What is SAVE?
 SAVE is the world‘s first female counterterrorism
platform.
 SAVE is a Women without Borders initiative.
 SAVE encourages female leadership and action in
security, counter-terrorism, and peace-building.
 SAVE provides women with the tools to challenge
extremist thinking and develop alternative strategies
to combat global terrorism.
 SAVE breaks through barriers of nationalism,
religion, and ethnicity to form a global network of
women dedicated to end violent extremism.

4. Who does SAVE work with?
 Mothers
 Universities and schools
 Victims and survivors of terrorist attacks
 Policy-makers
 NGOs and women’s
groups
 Former radicals
 Academics and
Educators

5. Where does SAVE currently operate?
Israel & Palestine
Yemen
India
Pakistan
Indonesia
Tajikistan
Northern Ireland
Upcoming:
Somalia, England, Nigeria
and France

6. Mothers MOVE!
• Encourage mothers to act as early-warning
systems for the signs of radicalization, given their
position at the heart of families and communities.
•Equip women with the tools to challenge extremist
thinking and to advocate for alternatives to violent
extremism.
•Promote dialogue about and provide mutual
support for ending violent extremism.
•Engage in on-the-ground data collection to
gather evidence for needs-based project
implementation.

7. Phyllis Rodriguez & Aicha el-Wafi
build bridges after 9/11
•Phyllis Rodriguez lost her son
in the 9/11 attacks.
•Aicha el-Wafi is the mother of
Zacarias Moussaoui, the first person
ever to be tried in a US court on
charges of involvement in the
9/11 attacks.
•Phyllis and Aicha formed a strong
bond over the years; together they advocate
against all forms of violent extremism.

8. NIGERIA
•Christian pastor Esther
Ibanga and Muslim scholar
Khadija Hawaja came together
to end the violence in Nigeria.
•Their shared experience with
the threat of violent extremism
brought them closer together.
•They are a perfect example of
how influential women can be
in combating the ideologies
and realities of violent
extremism.

9. .
Bridge-building dialogues
INDIA & PAKISTAN
There is no ‘them,’ there is only ‘us’
 With Indian and Pakistani activists, experts, academics, victims
 Breaking down prejudice
 Building understanding
 Building on commonalities
 Creating SAVE spaces

10. Mothers for Change!
Research project in Egypt, Pakistan, Israel, Palestine,
Northern Ireland (and Saudi Arabia)
 Addressing mothers as key players
in the process of prevention and
deradicalization.
 Identifying ways to engage women
as critical actors in their
communities.
 Identifying the tools they need to act
as early warning systems in their
immediate environment.

11. Mothers‘ Schools
 Increasing mothers’ self-
confidence to counter violent-
extremism through a strategic
course.
 Identifying local and
international trainers to deliver
additional free courses in a wide
range of topics such as health,
language and parenting.

12. ISRAEL & PALESTINE
•Robi Damelin and Siham Abu
Awwad reached out to one another
across the divide of the conflict and
formed a strong alliance.
• They are determined to achieve a
‘human solution’ for the ongoing
conflict by reaching out to other
mothers on both sides.
•It’s not enough to merely include
women and mothers in the peace
process; they must be among the
leaders.

13. Takeaways from SAVE‘s field visit to
Israel & Palestine in February 2012

14.  Both Palestinian and Israeli mothers wish for a more stable and
prosperous future for their children.
 Palestinian mothers are increasingly worried that their children might
become involved in violent activities.
 Israeli mothers are often concerned when their children are obliged to
join the army.
 The suffering of a Palestinian
mother who lost her son/daughter
in the conflict is the same as the
pain of an Israeli mother who lost
hers.
 By connecting on a human
level, these mothers become
able to see eye to eye and ‘use
their pain as a power’ to
achieve reconciliation and
peace.

15. Hillary Clinton on SAVE

16. Follow SAVE Online!
Website: www.women-without-borders.org
Blog:
womenwithoutborders-save.blogspot.com
Facebook: Women without Borders Fanpage
Twitter : @SAVEalerts

17. Join us!
Women without Borders/SAVE
is looking for summer and fall interns
Send your CV and cover letter to:
office@women-without-borders.org