Women for Women: The Role of Women in War

Overview

War affects women through targeted violence, displacement, and suppression of rights, including access to education. However, situations like these also reveal their resilience and leadership.  

In this talk Sophia Maier, war correspondent, investigative journalist, and author, speaks with Preeti Malkani, co-founder of Women for Women International Deutschland , about war crimes where women are the primary victims.

Addtionally, they highlight how crucial the economic empowerment of women and solidarity with them is in building peace, and what vital role the mutual support of women plays in this.

This talk ends the accompanying program for James Nachtwey’s exhibition Memoria. Nachtwey dedicated his life to documenting the brutal realities of war and advocating for peace with his photographs. The exhibition is only on view until 3 May.  

Your ticket includes access to all exhibitions on the same day.

Image credit: Karbala, Iraq, 2003 © James Nachtwey Archive, Hood Museum of Art Dartmouth

About the Speakers

Sophia Maier 

Sophia is a journalist and war correspondent. Until 2024, she reported for stern TV and, through her documentary format #WHY on RTL, covered wars and crisis regions in the Middle East, Ukraine, and European refugee camps. Most recently, she has been working as a special correspondent for RTL News.

Sophia also focuses on domestic political issues, particularly on the challenges of maintaining a resilient democracy in the face of growing influence from right-wing and authoritarian forces. As an expert on the Middle East and migration, she is a regular guest on political talk shows such as Maischberger and Markus Lanz.

Sophia Maier’s non-fiction debut and SPIEGEL bestseller, Heart of Barbed Wire: A War Correspondent on Lost Humanity and the West’s Double Standards, was published in autumn 2025.

Preeti Malkani

Preeti Malkani is the co-founder of Women for Women International Germany, chair of the German supervisory board, and a member of the international supervisory board. With her expertise in marketing and communications, Preeti helps WfWI raise awareness of the organization’s important work and support its fundraising efforts. After studying business administration at the University of Hamburg, she worked for international network agencies. For the past 15 years, she has been working as an independent marketing and communications consultant.

About the moderator  

Paloma Frau is the Director of Cultural Events & Programming at Fotografiska, where she curates dynamic experiences at the intersection of art, culture, and community. With a background in dancing, as well as in the conception, direction and management across show, video and event projects, she combines creativity, precision, and a keen eye for storytelling.

Schedule

• 18:30 – Doors open
• 19:00 – Talk with Q&A
• 20:00 – End

Tickets

• Event (incl. Museum Entry): 15 €
• Members: 0 €