Florence Raes’ Post

"The failure to include women is stunting the potential for peace, and the international community is partially to blame. International powers that have long promoted women’s inclusion in peace processes are failing to push warring parties to live up to their commitments and are also failing to promote women leaders within their own ranks. This worldwide crisis in the underrepresentation of women is sustaining conflict, and damaging prospects for peace." #peaceandconflict #womeninpeace #conflictresolution https://lnkd.in/gixTWe6n

United Nations Report on Women, Peace, and Security: A Call to Action The latest report from the UN Secretary-General on Women, Peace, and Security paints a stark picture of the current global landscape. Amid record levels of armed conflict and violence, decades of progress in women's rights are at risk. The report highlights the urgent need for reinforced measures to ensure women's participation in conflict prevention, resolution, and recovery. Key findings include: Escalating Backlash: Women's rights defenders and civil society organizations are under attack, with several governments restricting gender-related terminology. Reduced Opportunities: Geopolitical divisions and a shift towards military action over diplomacy are hindering progress. Underrepresentation: Women remain significantly underrepresented in peace processes, with only 9.6% of negotiators and 13.7% of mediators being women in 2023. Funding Gaps: The share of bilateral aid with gender equality objectives has dropped, and funding for women-led organizations in conflict-affected areas remains critically low. The report calls for: Increased Financing: Secure dedicated funding for national action plans and support for women’s organizations. Stronger Accountability: Prosecute gender-based crimes and ensure international accountability for violations of women's rights. Enhanced Participation: Commit to a minimum target of one-third women participants in peace processes, aiming for parity. As we approach the 25th anniversary of UN Security Council Resolution 1325, all stakeholders must turn rhetoric into action. Let's work together to ensure women's full, equal, and meaningful participation in peace and security efforts. 🔗 Read the full report: https://lnkd.in/eXcRSTvF #WomenPeaceSecurity #GenderEquality #UN #UNWomen #HumanRights #PeaceBuilding #WomenInLeadership #SustainableDevelopment

Postcard from the UN Security Council It's UN day here in New York and the annual Open Debate on Women Peace and Security got underway today marking the 24th anniversary since it's adoption on October 31, 2000. We welcome the call from UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed at recognising and reaffirming the diversity of #mediationactors as she a announced the launch of Common Pledge on Women's Participation in Peace Processes to enhance women’s participation in peace processes. The Common Pledge calls on member states and regional inter-governmental organisations including Pacific Islands Forum (and other CROP agencies) to also reaffirm both the role of #regional #womenled Mediator Networks and the urgent need to remove the barriers to agency, rights and inclusion. This is critical timing as the Forum Secretariat supports the PIF Troika heading to #Kanaky in the coming days. The Pledge is a vital move. It has listened to women mediators and our networks as we called for the need for peacebuilding, peacemaking and mediation processes to be opened up in order to ensure peace processes result in genuine and sustainable gender transformative peace. This can be achieved when all parties ensure gender expertise is embedded into planning and women mediators equitably included in all #peacebuilding missions. It is also about ensuring consultation with a broad range of women in civil society that continues throughout the peace processes. France as a permanent member of the UN Security Council also reaffirmed the Common Pledge in its statement to the Council today reaffirming the need for greater spaces for women mediators in peace processes and compliance with international rule of law and humanitarian law. In line with our Pacific Women Mediators Network Open Letter ahead of the Open Debate the statement delivered by FemWISE the Common Pledge, regional women mediator networks bring the expertise and ability to: - Co-ordinate and mobilize support for women’s meaningful participation in peace processes - Enhance legitimacy to the valuable work women are doing in informal settings - Cultivate mentorship for young women mediators - Monitor the implementation of the WPS agenda through feminist mechanisms and - Fostering communication with civil society Read our July brief: https://lnkd.in/gYuth6Wp - Veena Singh Noelene Nabulivou maureen penjueli Frances Namoumou Florence Swamy Adi Litia Nailatikau

Women, Peace & Security Index 2023 1. Denmark🇩🇰 2. Switzerland🇨🇭 3. Sweden🇸🇪 4. Finland🇫🇮 4. Iceland🇮🇸 4. Luxembourg🇱🇺 7. Norway🇳🇴 8. Austria🇦🇹 9. Netherlands🇳🇱 10. NZ🇳🇿 Via: Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace and Security most recent rankings of women's inclusion, justice, and security. Where does your country rank on the WPSIndex 2023/2024? #Mexico ranks on the 142 place... We have to do something about that. Women are critical actors to achieve international peace & security. A gendered perspective & women's equal participation in peace processes, peacebuilding & security. #WPS #Resolution1325 #UN #UNSecurityCouncil #Women #Peace #Security

AU empowers women in peace and security across Africa: Niël Terblanché As the current Chair of the African Union (AU) Peace and Security Council (PSC) for March 2024, Namibia is set to host a crucial High-Level Ministerial Seminar on Women in Peace and Security (WPS) in Swakopmund. This seminar is a significant step in advancing the role of women in peace processes across the continent, aiming to evaluate and enhance their participation and leadership. Scheduled to be attended by the Foreign Ministers of all fifteen member states of the Peace and Security Council, along with distinguished guests including the AU Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security, the Special Envoy of the AU Commission Chairperson on Women in Peace and Security, and six members of the AU Panel of the Wise and its Affiliate Bodies, the event will become a new landmark in the AU’s efforts towards inclusive peacekeeping and conflict resolution. The Peace and Security Council, as the AU’s foremost organ for the prevention, management, and resolution of conflicts, plays a critical role in maintaining stability across the continent. The current membership of the council comprises Namibia, Burundi, Cameroon, Congo, Djibouti, Gambia, Ghana, Morocco, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa, Tanzania, Tunisia, Uganda, and Zimbabwe, representing a broad spectrum of African states united in their commitment to peace and security. The seminar in Swakopmund will not only serve as a platform to review the strides made in integrating women into peacekeeping roles but also to address the challenges that hinder their full participation. It is a reflection of the AU’s recognition of the indispensable role women play in peace and security, a domain that has traditionally been male-dominated. By bringing together key stakeholders and decision-makers, Namibia’s initiative as the chair of the PSC underscores a collective resolve to empower women and leverage their unique perspectives and skills in peacebuilding and conflict resolution processes. This seminar is expected to pave the way for more robust and gender-inclusive peacekeeping policies and practices across Africa. Namibia’s leadership in this endeavour highlights its commitment to gender equality and women’s empowerment, aligning with broader global efforts to ensure that women are not only participants but leaders in the journey towards lasting peace and security. The outcomes of the Swakopmund seminar are eagerly anticipated, as they hold the potential to significantly influence the AU’s approach to women’s roles in peace and security moving forward.

"The role of MAWPS is three-fold: first, to strengthen the capacity and security of women peacebuilders; second, to enlarge the network of global institutions committed to the WPS agenda; and third, to open doors in the corridors of power for women to bring their ground truth, talents, and unique insights.” In a recent article, Ambassador Donald Steinberg, Executive Director of Mobilizing Men as Partners for Women, Peace and Security (MAWPS), speaks about the initiative and the ways in which male allies can advocate for the full and meaningful participation of women in international peace and security structures. Read more: https://lnkd.in/dQv8Rmy7

I'd like to share an important article discussing the upcoming Doha III meeting on Afghanistan's current situation. This UN-convened gathering is set to focus on the country's economy, drugs, and private business. However, it's concerning to see a lack of discussion on human rights, women's rights, and the participation of marginalized communities on the agenda. Women in Afghanistan and around the world are deeply unsettled by this revelation. The crisis of human rights, particularly for women and girls, continues to worsen in Afghanistan, yet the international community has chosen to primarily engage with the Taliban, sidelining Afghanistani women. This is a betrayal of women worldwide. The Doha III meeting presents a crucial opportunity for the international community to align its efforts with UNSC Resolution 1325, advocating for the rights and participation of Afghanistani women in building a sustainable and inclusive peace. It's time we translate policy into action. Women's voices must not only be heard but be central to the negotiations. Let's stand together for women's rights. #Afghanistan #WomenRights #HumanRights #DohaIII #EndGenderApartheid

++New Working Paper++ on Women negotiating peace: A step toward durable peace? by Julika Holdmann, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, ZEF Senior researcher Dennis Avilés; Katharina Löhr, Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF) ➡️https://bit.ly/ZEF-WP236 #peacebuilding #gender ABSTRACT This study investigates whether including women in peace negotiations has facilitated lasting peace. We argue that female negotiators and the action of women’s civil society groups that advocate for gender-related provisions strengthen peace durability. We contend that genderspecific considerations during peace negotiations create conditions for more gender-equal societies that, in turn, makes peace more stable. This study applies a new approach in its analysis by linking women’s participation in peace processes with gender-related provisions and peace durability. An analysis of a series of peace agreements signed from 1989 to 2018 through a Cox regression shows a significant decrease in the recurrence of conflict when at least one woman was a signatory of the agreement. Yet, due to the limited number of nine cases with female signatories, it is not possible to generalize the results. The regression analysis also reveals that gender-related provisions that do not address changes in gender relations do not affect peace durability significantly. As the Colombian and Mindanao (Philippines) cases demonstrate, women’s participation in peace negotiations is no guarantee of lasting peace, thus highlighting the relevance of contextualized studies. The cases' analysis underscores the importance of addressing gender power dynamics thoroughly and implementing gender-inclusive provisions in peace agreements. Keywords: women; peace negotiations; gender-related provisions, conflict, peacebuilding

Its International Women’s Day (IWD). We want to highlight the incredible Israeli & Palestinian peacebuilding women who have been working day-in-day-out to change the reality in the region for the better. More than 60% of our speakers since September 2023 have been women, and we think its vital to platform their voices and perspectives. Trend data since 1990 shows that representatives from women's groups are seldom found as signatories of peace agreements. Of 18 peace agreements reached in 2022, only one was signed or witnessed by a representative of a women’s group or organization. UN Resolution 1325 (2000) – affirms the importance of the participation of women and the inclusion of gender perspectives in peace negotiations, and post-conflict peacebuilding and governance. This is vital now in Israel-Palestine and elsewhere, where women are radically affected by ongoing conflict, war and violence. #InternationalWomensDay Source: https://lnkd.in/dcFiXN3

Today, 24 October, the UN Security Council will convene its annual Open Debate on Women, Peace, and Security (WPS), under the theme "Women Building Peace in a Changing Environment." This event, a highlight of Switzerland’s October Council presidency, will be chaired by President of the Swiss Confederation, #ViolaAmherd, with key speakers including UN Deputy Secretary-General #AminaMohammed, #UNWomen Executive Director #SimaSamiBahous, and #EffieOwuor, Co-Chair of the Network of African Women in Conflict Prevention and Mediation (#FemWiseAfrica). The debate will explore progress and setbacks since the adoption of Security Council resolution 1325 nearly 25 years ago, focusing on women’s essential role in peace processes. Despite the robust international framework, recent years have seen a troubling gap between policy commitments and on-ground implementation, highlighting the need for renewed efforts. The expected launch of a new initiative by Mohammed, encouraging mediating entities to commit to tangible actions for women's participation, could mark a turning point. Bahous will likely emphasize the findings from the recent Secretary-General’s report, underscoring the rise in #conflictrelatedsexualviolence and the #underrepresentationofwomen in #peaceprocesses, while also raising concerns about #decliningfunding for women’s civil society organizations in conflict zones. Civil society representatives and UN member states are urged to share best practices, spotlight innovative tools, and commit to collective action for the enhanced implementation of the WPS agenda. The discussion will address critical challenges, from the need for increased funding and gender-sensitive peace operations, to addressing transnational threats like #terrorism and #climatechange, which disproportionately impact women and girls. The debate will also call for stronger measures to protect women peacebuilders, address the increase in #CRSV, and emphasize #accountability. As the world approaches the 25th anniversary of #resolution1325, it's vital for the Security Council to renew its commitment to gender equality and ensure that women are not only included but lead in peace processes globally. Today’s Open Debate offers a crucial platform to reaffirm that #sustainablepeace is impossible without women's full, equal, and safe participation. We must seize this moment to bridge the gap between commitments and actions, ensuring that women’s voices are not just heard, but central to shaping global peace and security. #WPS #WomenBuildingPeace #UNSC #WomenInPeacebuilding #PeaceAndSecurity #UNSCR1325 #SDG16 #SDG5 ##SheBuildsPeace #CallToAction #WomenPeacebuilders #WPSHACompact #WomenWagingPeace #Beijing+30