Activism  Join the NNST

Network against Non-State Torture
Global Women's Revolution

The Network against Non-State Torture (NNST) is a global, feminist initiative dedicated to supporting survivors of NST through victim-centered advocacy, healing, and political recognition. The organization advances legal reform, develops feminist legal resources, documents survivor experiences, and builds international awareness to establish non-State torture as a recognized torture crime under domestic and international law. To get involved, contact us at 
contact.nnst@gmail.com

Get involved

NNST Goals

  1. Create a feminist, person/victim-centered space for non-State torture victimization-traumatization informed healing and gaining political recognition.
     
  2. Support feminist lawyers and advocates so domestic, national, and international law and court begin to name non-State torture as a torture crime
     
  3. Build a Feminist Legal Resource Center on non-State torture, bringing together legal materials, research, and women’s and girls’ non-State torture victimization informed knowledge.
     
  4. Create a documentary project on non-State torture and the evolution of the NNST
     
  5. For 2026, organize a one-day, in-person transformative gathering in Lisbon, Portugal, including a feminist art exhibition

NNST Inaugural Conference
November 5, 2026, Lisbon, Portugal

Join us for a one day conference featuring talks from expert legal advocates, a survivor art show, networking and support opportunities.

Time: 9am - 6pm
Location: Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation

Contact us to register.

Register

NNST Founding Information & Documents

Podcast: Exciting Outcome of FiLiA panel on Non-State Torture

At FiLiA2025 , Linda MacDonald, Mariane da Cunha, Elizabeth Gordon and Jeanne Sarson presented a panel on non-State Torture. An idea that emerged from this panel was the creation of a Network Against Non-State Torture (NNST), with its official launch on February 3 and a global conference planned in Lisbon in November.

Listen

NNST Fact Sheet

Network against Non-State Torture description & goals

  Fact Sheet   2026

NNST Questions Answered

NNST planning and discussion

  Fact Sheet   2026

NNST El Origen Herstoric (Spanish)

El origen herstoric de la red “NNST” – Un enfoque histórico que rinde homenaje a las mujeres

  Fact Sheet   2026

NNST A Origem Herstoric (Portuguese)

A origem herstoric da rede “NNST” – Uma abordagem herstoric que homenageia as mulheres

  Fact Sheet   2026

NNST L’origine Herstoric (French)

L’origine herstoric du réseau “NNST” – Une approche hertorique rendant hommage aux

  Fact Sheet   2026

NNST Ambassadors

Jeanette Westbrook, MSSW
US Ambassador

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Jeanette has used her lived experience as a Survivor of Non-State Torture and Human Trafficking to advocate for the recognition of Non-State Torture at all levels of government, civil society, and in the survivor populations. 
Trafficked by family members, and community leaders from her home town to three US States, Jeanette pursued accountability and justice in Kentucky in 1992. She is a speaker, presenter, and professional singer/songwriter. 

 

Alexander (Leckie) Langley
Canada Ambassador 

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Women Unsilenced, the first book by Jeanne Sarson and Linda MacDonald, awakened in me a deep commitment to their mission: to have non-state torture recognized for what it truly is—torture. As an ambassador, friends and community members are encouraged to read their work and bring these conversations into book clubs. Outreach to libraries advocates for the inclusion of their books in public collections. Copies have been donated to women’s prisons and community centers to help ensure access for those who may benefit most. These efforts aim to amplify awareness and support meaningful change.

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