Meet the 2026
Exceptional Women of Peace
Award Finalists
Below in alphabetical order are the finalists for the Exceptional Young Women of Peace and Exceptional Woman of Peace Awards.
Enjoy the brief videos of who these extraordinary women are and their phenomenal work for peace.
Bushra Alsaadi – Southern Yemen
Mariam Amiri – Afghanistan
Aya Chebbi – Tunisia
Patricia Elias – Lebanon
Moriko Hori – Japan
Rita Marie Johnson – Costa Rica
Justine Kerubo Motachi – Kenya
Nina Koevoets – Greece
Please Join Us for the 2026 Exceptional Women of Peace Awards
Saturday, October 31, 11:00 am ET on Zoom: https://zoom.us/j/6091308836
At Pathways To Peace, we consider the annual awards ceremony our “feel-good” event of the year. It is so heartwarming and inspiring to hear from the award recipients – their stories of courage, strength, and determination. These champions for peace often work in the most challenging circumstances.
Thank You to all candidates for the Exceptional Women of Peace Awards – every one of you is an exceptional woman of peace!
And when we honor the awardees, we honor all women who have the vision and courage to build Peace in our world.
You inspire us!
Awards Ceremony Keynote Speaker: Ambassador Anwarul K. Chowdhury
As in the past, our 2026 Exceptional Women of Peace Awards Ceremony Keynote Speaker is Ambassador Anwarul K. Chowdhury – a steadfast advocate for the role and leadership of Women, at the United Nations and beyond. Thank you, Ambassador!
October 31st is a significant date for our Exceptional Women of Peace Awards Ceremony, as it commemorates the adoption of UN Security Council Resolution 1325 in 2000. The resolution acknowledges the disproportionate and unique impact of armed conflict on women and girls. It calls for the adoption of a gender perspective to consider the special needs of women and girls during conflict, repatriation and resettlement, rehabilitation, reintegration, and post-conflict reconstruction. Ambassador Chowdhury was instrumental in the passage of Resolution 1325 and has been unwavering in his support, advancement, and promotion of women’s leadership.
About Ambassador Anwarul K. Chowdhury
We honor Ambassador Chowdhury for his longstanding commitment to recognizing and honoring the role of women as essential in building the global Culture of Peace!
The 2025
Exceptional Women of Peace Awards Ceremony!
At Pathways To Peace, we consider the annual awards ceremony our “feel-good” event of the year. It is so heartwarming and inspiring to hear from the award recipients – their stories of courage, strength, and determination. These champions for peace often work in the most challenging circumstances.
Thank You to all candidates for the Exceptional Women of Peace Awards!
Every one of you is an exceptional woman of peace!
And when we honor the awardees, we honor all women who have the vision and courage to build Peace in our world.
You inspire us!
Meet the Exceptional Women of Peace Leadership Team!
These global leaders have the difficult job of selecting the woman and young woman awardees.
Background on the Exceptional Women of Peace Awards
How do we define Exceptional Women of Peace?
We know that women are rising all around our world and in great numbers. In big and small ways, women are standing in their power and speaking their own truth. Out of this “rising up,” we see women and young women using their voice and presence to create positive change and build lasting Peace. And we recognize that women have been the heart and hands of the movements for Peace throughout our history. As Project Lead Kimberly Weichel explains, “This award honors the inspiring work of women peacebuilders whose courage, leadership, and commitment to Peace stand out as beacons of strength and hope.”
At the heart of exceptional all women of Peace, we see five fundamental driving forces:
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- Passion for the world they want for all
- Compassion that recognizes and respects the value and suffering of those in need
- Vision to see a future world at Peace
- Conviction that manifests as an unwavering belief that change can happen
- Action to produce the desired change
In the spirit of our recently passed Co-Founder, Avon Mattison, PTP recognizes the exceptional leadership of women of all ages, backgrounds, and experiences. And we wish to honor those among us that have exceeded all expectations in their quest for sustainable Peace. Thank you for being Peace! We applaud your commitment to co-creating Peace, and we look forward to our work together. Wherever your heart leads you, and what opportunities surface for you, you ARE a pathway to Peace!
See our archive of past award ceremonies and interviews with finalists.
Honoring the Following Women of Distinction
Cheryl Melody Baskin
Nancy Merritt
Mariya Taher