Source: UN Web TV
In 2000, the United Nations Security Council passed Resolution 1325 (UNSCR 1325) on Women, Peace and Security (WPS) calling on all actors to address the impacts of conflict on women and girls worldwide and to systematically include women in peacebuilding efforts, including peace talks, peacekeeping and post-conflict reconstruction. The Resolution was a collective pledge by Member States and the entities of the United Nations (UN) system to ensure that women and girls are not only considered in prevention and protection efforts, but participate fully, equally and meaningfully role in peace processes and in decision making. This commitment has been increasingly embraced following adoption of subsequent resolutions, and in other political commitments.
The “Report of the Secretary-General on Women and Peace and Security, 28 Sept 2023 (S/2023/725)” indicated that women's participation in peace processes had declined the latest years. Their numbers in UN keeping were almost below 7 per cent notwithstanding the contribution of the Elsie initiative. Consequently, robust institutional, national, regional and international policy and normative frameworks have been adopted to enhance the implementation of WPS but yielding mixed results. While some progress is evident, it has been slow, uneven and ridden with challenges and trends of regression and backtracking on the gains made to date. For instance, progress made through legislative reforms to advance women’s representation in decision making in countries such as Democratic Republic of the Congo, Central Africa Republic and South Sudan; and intensified advocacy and awareness on women’s leadership, agency and engagement –has not always translated into desired results given competing variables.
Today, the WPS agenda remains critically important, making implementation of the WPS Agenda in peacekeeping an operational necessity and a priority for UN peacekeeping and other stakeholders. Key policy and strategic documents including the Action for Peacekeeping Initiative, New Agenda for Peace, and the Gender equality Architecture Plan. All of which seeks to accelerate progress and lay strong foundation for cooperation, solidarity and trust —as well as observing accountable, effective and responsive approaches to WPS mandate implementation in peacekeeping.
This High-Level meeting held at the UN Headquarters on 23 October 2024 brought together stakeholders to foster reflections on lessons from the recent release of a Joint Effectiveness of Peace Operations Network, Training For Peace and Stimson Centre Report on the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUSCO) in implementing the WPS mandate.
The event examines best practices and insights on WPS perspectives in the future of peacekeeping. It draws on an analysis of how the UN internally promotes and adapts WPS inside the mission, during the transition and how different factors have impacted on the ability of the mission to implement the WPS aspects of its mandate in the DRC.
PROGRAMME:
- Welcome & Official Opening Remarks by Michael Kingsley, Director for Central and Southern Africa, TBC
- Joint TfP, EPON and Stimson Centre Report w/ Dr Lisa Sharland, Senior Fellow and Director of the Protecting Civilians & Human Security program at Stimson Centre, Dr Jenny Lorentzen, Senior Research Fellow, NUPI.
- Roundtable discussion facilitated by Dr Andrew E. Yaw Tchie, Senior Research Fellow and Training for Peace Coordinator, NUPI. Discussants: Mireille Affa'a, Senior Gender Affairs Officer, MONUSCO, Mr Zinurine Alghali, Senior Advisor, Peace and Security Coordinator of the African members of the UN Security Council (A3) and Dr Emma Birikorang, Acting Director of Research, KAIPTC.
- Closing Remarks by Merete Fjeld Brattested, Permanent Representative of Norway to the United Nations.
