The association IAWM emerged from the Network of Women’s Museums, which was founded in Merano, Italy in 2008. The Women’s Museum in Merano and Senegal organised the first congress, where 25 women’s museums from all five continents joined for a meeting. The Iranian Nobel Peace Prize Winner (2003) Shirin Ebadi was invited to take over the role of the godmother of the congress and thereafter, she became the permanent godmother of the network.