General Women, Peace and Security

As the United Nations Security Council adopts a new resolution on conflict-related sexual violence today, we detail the efforts of a UN Trust Fund-supported programme that works to ensure that sexual and gender-based violence perpetrated by the Khmer Rouge during the 1974-1979 genocide in Cambodia is never forgotten.

In the lead up to the UN Security Council Open Debate and resolution on sexual violence in conflict June 24th, WILPF reminded states that sexual violence in conflict is a failure to implement all elements of the full Women, Peace and Security (WPS) agenda. Rather than provide Band Aid solutions, we urged them to address root causes of such violence in militarized inequality and take concrete steps to move from resolution to action.

A couple months ago, I asked for advice on how to create a network between very small NGOs active in the crafts sector in villages and towns in the northern part of Cyprus.

The advice I got: “Invite them for a coffee.” Could it possibly be that simple?

One of UNDP's innovation partners is Nesta, and they've been experimenting with randomized coffee meetings.

This how Nesta describes the idea on their blog:

What are the gendered consequences of the war in Syria? Are the UN Security Council Resolution 1325 and the international human rights framework having any impact in shaping the response to the on-going crises? How can it be ensured that women play their proper role in bringing peaceful resolution to the crises and contribute to building a society, which respects women's rights and gender equality?

Women must be present! So said the parliamentary commission on banking standards, which has today called for a better gender balance at the heart of investment banks in order to prevent future economic crises caused by risk-obsessed male-dominated trading floors.

The Women's International League for Peace and Freedom with several international civil society organisations and the Syrian Women's Network (SWN) expect the Geneva Process to be renewed with the aim of bringing about a resolution to the crisis in Syria and the building of a democratic system. We demand the full and effective participation of Syrian women from civil society in any and all forthcoming meetings.

Last month, in May 2013, the High-Level Panel of Eminent Persons on the Post-2015 Development Agenda launched its report. A report that unfortunately does not meet our expectations and presents many loopholes.

After thirty years abroad, Amal* returned to Libya in early 2011 to join the armed uprising against Muammar Gaddafi, the country's former leader. On her first day on the front line she met a 17-year-old girl who had been gang-raped by Gaddafi soldiers.

We Demand a Truly Democratic Government Respectful of a Participatory System based on Freedom and Peace! We will Continue to Resist the Authoritarian and Sexist Policies of the Turkish Government!

As one of the 79 members of Taksim Solidarity Platform on Gezi Park, Women for Women's Human Rights (WWHR)-New Ways continues to insist on the following demands of the Platform:

On 4th June 2013, the Permanent Mission of Ireland organized and hosted a High Level Panel discussion on Women and Peacebuilding in the Great Lakes region, with the participation of Special Envoy for the Great Lakes Region of Africa, Mary Robinson; Special Representative of the Secretary General (SRSG) on Sexual Violence in Conflict Zainab Bangura; Development Minister of Ireland Joe Costello and women's civil society leader and Ugandan lawyer