Honouring Women of Faith: The 2026 Women of Excellence in Multi-Religious Action Awards

Women of faith are the backbone of religious institutions worldwide, yet their leadership often remains obscured, let alone celebrated. To address this, Religions for Peace, with the generous support of the Gates Foundation and the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation, is proud to announce the second edition of the Women of Excellence in Multi-Religious Action Award.

The Women of Excellence awards are dedicated to celebrating the vital contributions of women leaders who are driving progress in human rights, peace and security, and sustainable development.

“Women of faith are among the most trusted, resilient, and deeply connected leaders within their communities,” said Deepika Singh, Deputy Secretary General of Religions for Peace, and the architect of the awards program. “They serve as pillars of perseverance and agents of transformation.

“There are millions of such women around the world whose daily efforts sustain and enrich the lives of everyone in their communities. The Women of Excellence awards are just one small way to acknowledge their essential contributions.”

Religions for Peace received 10 nominations for this year’s award from around the world, Singh noted.

READ short bios of all the nominees for this year’s award

“Each is a Woman of Excellence in her own right,” she said. “And we congratulate all the nominees.”

The prestigious award ceremony will take place in New York on 18 March 2026, held as a parallel event to the 70th session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW70).

The priority them of CSW70 is ensuring and strengthening access to justice for all women and girls, including by promoting inclusive and equitable legal systems, eliminating discriminatory laws, policies, and practices, and addressing structural barriers.

Ensuring and strengthening access to justice for all women and girls is critical in ensuring the full and effective participation and decision making in public life – as well as in eliminating gender-based violence.

By aligning with CSW70, the event aims to raise the profile of the women leaders on the global stage, enabling them to secure new partnerships and allowing the international community to learn from their resilience and community impact.

Read about previous award winners

The Selection Process & Prizes

The Religions for Peace International Secretariat reviewed the global pool of nominees, and will specifically honour three with awards.

• Impact Grants: Recipients will receive a cash prize specifically intended to scale their grassroots initiatives and deepen their engagement with Interreligious Councils (IRCs).
• Global Media Campaign: Beyond the ceremony, all nominees will be featured in a global campaign to amplify their stories and advocate for gender equality in religious spaces.

Strengthening the Network

This award is more than a one-time recognition; it is a catalyst for institutional growth. Awardees will serve as strategic trainers and mentors, sharing best practices and documented methodologies across our global movement. By collating these diverse initiatives, Religions for Peace is building a permanent archive of the rich, multi-religious contributions women make to our shared sacred flourishing.