WHO WE ARE
We are NOT Weapons Of War
Nous ne sommes pas des armes de guerre
Too often, sexual violence in conflicts and crises is seen as an inevitable tragedy, when in reality, it is a strategic weapon of domination and destruction. Our fight is to have these crimes recognized for what they truly are: serious violations of international law that must be fought with the same determination as any other war crime.
Céline Bardet, Presidente and Founder of WWoW
We Are NOT Weapons of War (WWoW) is an international non-governmental organization founded in 2014, committed to combating conflict-related and crisis-related sexual violence.
Based in Paris, WWoW operates as an expertise and advocacy agency, developing innovative solutions to meet the needs of survivors—women, men, and children—who bear the scars of these mass crimes, which remain largely unpunished.
It was during the Global Summit to End Sexual Violence in Conflict, held in London in June 2014, that Céline Bardet, an international criminal lawyer and investigator, launched the awareness campaign “I am NOT a Weapon of War”.
This message carried a clear demand: to call on (inter)national institutions and civil society to take action against this scourge, to shine a light on this crime—one that has existed throughout history yet remains overlooked and relegated to the background.
The message resonated, bringing people together.
From this simple campaign, and in response to the international support it generated, the desire grew to go further—to make expertise available, to unite professionals and volunteers willing to engage in this fight. Céline Bardet then decided to establish an NGO, giving it the name of the campaign.
This was the birth of We are NOT Weapons of War.
OUR MISSION
WWoW works to prevent, document, and combat conflict-related and crisis-related sexual violence. We strive to ensure that survivors have access to justice, appropriate medical and psychosocial care, and reparations mechanisms. Through our actions, we aim to break the cycle of impunity and advance political and judicial responses to these crimes.
OUR ACTIVITIES
WWoW structures its work around four strategic pillars:
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Documentation and the Fight Against Impunity
Development of technological tools such as BackUp, enabling the secure documentation of sexual violence and supporting judicial investigations.
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Advocacy
Raising awareness among political and legal actors to improve the recognition of sexual violence in conflicts and crises, and strengthening legislative frameworks.
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Strengthening Local Capacities
Training legal, medical, and psychosocial professionals to ensure an appropriate and sustainable response on the ground. Working with lawmakers to adapt laws and regulations to the rights of survivors.
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Support for Survivors
Implementing concrete solutions to ensure access to medical care, psychosocial support, and justice.
OUR APPROACH
WWoW works in partnership with local and international organizations, ensuring that responses are contextualized, effective, and sustainable. Our actions align with a global vision that incorporates the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly those related to justice, gender equality, and peace.