Women4NonViolence | About the founder

About the founder

Betsy Kawamura is a social advocate who believes that survivors of armed conflict and gender-based violence (GBV) can help catalyze the implementation of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 and allied resolutions globally. As a survivor in Okinawa, a small island south of Japan during the Vietnam War, she has worked internationally to empower women, especially those of ethnic minority origin. She holds a Bachelor of Business Administration degree with highest honors (with minor in fine arts) from the University of Hawaii, a Master of Business Administration degree from San Francisco State University and has solid experience as a strategy consultant and financial controller internationally for various industries including pharmaceuticals and consumer goods.

Her presentations and workshops in Europe, Asia and in the USA have focused on empowering survivors of gender-based violence (GBV) for high level political engagement. Her active network of state representatives, legal specialists, advocates and media agencies internationally aids in survivors’ empowerment in both conflict and peace zones, all the way to the International Criminal Court in the Hague. Her presentations and workshops on effective integration and political empowerment for survivors in Europe, Asia and the USA have been geared toward strengthening survivors' empowerment, prevention of armed-violence and securing women's visibility in high-level peace discussions. She encourages survivors' testimonies to be heard at The Hague and in national tribunals to push UNSCR 1325 past that of paper tiger status; and to strengthen survivors' testimonies as per article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights on freedom of expression.

Betsy is a member of the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom (IKFF Norway) and the Nordic 1325 Group; and contributes to the International Action Network on Small Arms (IANSA), Nobel Women's Initiatives, PeaceJam and other groups focused on survivors' rights globally. Our organization is a member of the Coalition for the International Criminal Court, International Campaign to Ban Landmines and Cluster Munitions Coalition, North Korea Freedom Coalition and International Network of Museums for Peace.

Our group wishes to thank everyone who has supported in various ways, the founding and operations of W4NV. We are very grateful for your input, patience and resources which have enabled us to focus on our main mission and objectives of empowering survivors and dissident voices globally!