Women in International Security Israel
What We Do
Mentorship Program:
The Mentorship Program is our flagship program which pairs high level women with entry-level women for career counseling and assistance. The relationship is a one on one relationship proctored by WIIS Israel to ensure that all mentees are paired with a woman as closely related to their career goals.
'From Advocacy To Advancement':
In connection to the Mentorship Program, WIIS Israel runs a project called ‘From Advocacy To Advancement’ which pushes forward important advocacy and legal campaigns regarding women’s role in the field of security and peace in Israel through internships with high-ranking female officials and researchers. The internships are unique in that they are designed to empower women starting their professions by providing role models and one-on-one mentoring through an ongoing working relationship.
On-Campus Program:
WIIS Israel partners with the top universities in Israel to hold monthly lectures and workshops on campuses across the country. Participating universities include Bar-Ilan University, Haifa University, Hebrew University, Interdisciplinary Center Herzliya and Tel Aviv University. The lectures include a broad spectrum of topics including security and conflict resolution as well as practical workshops such as CV building and interviewing skills.
Career Center:
A list of current job openings, fellowships, research opportunities, conferences and other events are provided to registered WIIS Israel members. Many of these opportunities are brought to our attention through our mentors network.
Lastly, WIIS Israel serves as a research body on issues pertaining to women, Israel, security, the Middle East, conflict resolution and UN Resolution 1325. Research on these issues are published through the WIIS Israel blog “WIIS Up” as well as the bi-monthly journal The WIIS Israel Middle East Review.
Who We Are
WIIS Israel Mission Statement:
WIIS Israel is dedicated to increasing the influence of women in the fields of foreign and defense affairs in Israel and the greater Middle East in a continuous effort to increase democratic values and gender equality. WIIS Israel also serves as a well-respected think tank on international security issues in Israel.
WIIS Values and Core Characteristics:
Women In International Security Israel (WIIS Israel) is an international affiliate of Women in International Security (WIIS) located in Washington D.C., USA. WIIS Israel was founded in September 2010 by Julia Chazkel and Lea Landman at the IDC Herzliya, Herzliya, Israel.
1. WIIS defines international security broadly, inclusive of a range of disciplines such as conflict resolution and human rights, but focuses on the intersection or nexus of these issues with security.
2. WIIS bridges the divides among:• issues (traditional security and human security);• generations of women;• and sectors (academic, practitioner, policymaker).
3. WIIS educates and inspires women at all stages of their careers – the multigenerational aspect of its network is one of WIIS’s greatest strengths.
4. WIIS builds local, national and global communities that empower women in many different countries.
5. WIIS encourages the active civic engagement of women and men who understand the importance of inclusive and diverse participation in peace and security.
6. WIIS is a non-profit, non-partisan organization that advocates for women’s inclusion and leadership in the peace and security fields, but does not lobby on specific pieces of legislation.
7. WIIS provides valuable services and resources to build a global network of women in these fields, and increases the number and visibility of women across sectors and around the world.
WIIS Background and Affiliation:
Established in 1987 by a small group of women experts in foreign and defense affairs, today WIIS has 5,000 members—women and men—in 47 countries from academia, think tanks, the diplomatic corps, the intelligence community, the military, government, non-governmental organizations, international organizations, the media, and the private sector.
WIIS is a part of the Center for Peace and Security Studies (CPASS), in the Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service, Georgetown University. The School of Foreign Service is the oldest and largest school of international affairs in the United States. CPASS, which encompasses WIIS and the internationally renowned Security Studies Program, is Georgetown’s organizational home for teaching, research, events, and publications in international peace and security studies.