Women, Peace and Security Digest: August 2024

Climate Change 

Youth Day Spotlight: How Two Young Women are Tackling Environmental Crises (UN Women) 

“As the world faces the growing challenges of climate change, it is the younger generation who not only feel its impacts but who, going forward, will be tasked to mitigate and manage the global response to the climate crisis... This International Youth Day, we spotlight two young climate innovators – Nida Yousaf Sheikh from Pakistan and Sahithi Radha from India. Through their creativity, optimism, and digital prowess, they are not only addressing critical environmental challenges but also creating a more resilient world for future generations.” 

International Public Opinion on Climate Change: Differences by Gender and Income/Emission Levels (Yale Program on Climate Change Communication) 

“Climate change affects everyone, but not equally. Women, especially in poorer countries, face disproportionate risks and challenges from extreme weather events and resource shortages. For instance, they face increased household burdens and a higher likelihood of gender-based violence during climate-related disasters. Research also finds that women are generally more concerned than men about climate change, particularly in wealthier countries.”  

Refugees without Recognition: Climate Change and Ecological and Gender Inequality (Blog of the European Journal of International Law) 

“Despite recognizing that “climate change is the defining crisis of our time,” the United Nations High Commissioner on Refugees (UNHCR) has not endorsed the concept of “climate refugees.” This lack of recognition, which extends to other international legal bodies as well as national governments, compounds the vulnerability of those displaced by climate change.”  

Climate Migration Amplifies Gender Inequalities (Danish Institute for International Studies) 

“Women living in poverty are widely assumed to be particularly vulnerable to environmental risks and climate change. In Nepal, the rising number of men migrating across borders to find work, leaving women with all the care and household responsibilities, is considered to be one of the main factors contributing to this climate vulnerability for women. However, the links between migration, climate change and gender are complex.” 

Technology 

Harnessing the Power of Technology for a More Equitable Future (Wilson Center) 

“Today marks International Youth Day, a day highlighting young people’s voices, as well as actions and initiatives that empower their meaningful participation in society. This year’s focus is “From Clicks To Progress: Youth Digital Pathways For Sustainable Development,” a celebration of digital innovation to solve the world’s most pressing challenges and to advance the UN Sustainable Development Goals... MEP’s Enheduanna is spotlighting the opportunities for technology to support gender equality and empower women in the Middle East & North Africa—and its limitations—with contributions from Global Fellow Sola Mahfouz, entrepreneur Maryam Hassani, and scholar Bassant Hassib.”   

So Many Women Around the World Face Technology-Facilitated Gender-Based Violence, but Why Aren’t They Taken Seriously? (Missing Perspectives) 

“Research shows that technology and online platforms are being increasingly used to harm women, but legislation alone isn't enough to address this. Dutch non-profit Rutgers conducted a study in partnership with various non-profits in seven countries in Africa, Asia, and the Middle East to better understand the dynamics of TFGBV, the accountability mechanisms in place, how they function, and any ongoing efforts to address it.” 

UNFPA and Canada Launch a Global Programme to Tackle Technology-Facilitated Gender-Based Violence (United Nations Population Fund) 

“Technology-facilitated gender-based violence is a rapidly growing concern for millions of  women and girls around the world. Born of misogyny and gender inequality, this violence permeates both online and offline spaces to not only deprive women and girls of the transformative benefits of technology, but also to further entrench damaging gender and social norms. In response, Canada and UNFPA, the United Nations sexual and reproductive health agency, have joined forces to put an end to technology-facilitated gender-based violence.”  

Atrocity Prevention 

Women Leaders From Chile and Colombia Share Their Experiences in Conflict Resolution and Peacebuilding (UN Mission)  

“In Cauca, Indigenous Mapuche women from the Araucanía region in Chile, Nasa and Misak women from Colombia and local women leaders shared their experiences as part of the International Conference of Women Mediators for Peacebuilding and Conflict Resolution.”  

Why We Must Listen to the Unsung ‘Sheroes’ of War (World Economic Forum)   

“Women in war zones are often disproportionately affected by conflict, but research shows they also play a key role in helping others in their communities... Governments and civil-society organizations must listen to, partner with and amplify the voices of women-run networks in order to save lives and help more people affected by conflict around the world.”

General WPS 

Where's the Money? Exploring the Budget Gaps in Women, Peace and Security Initiatives (Our Secure Future) 

“This analysis looks at the crucial role of funding in shaping the national Women, Peace and Security (WPS) agendas. By examining nations with varying levels of financial commitment and exploring the concept of gender budgeting, this article aims to analyze how targeted financial strategies could potentially affect policy-making and WPS implementation strategies.” 

The U.N.’s Women Peace and Security Agenda After Twenty-Five Years (The Regulatory Review)  

“Almost a year earlier, in July 2023, the U.N. Secretary General presented the New Agenda for Peace, his vision of peace and security based on international law to reform the global peace and security architecture. The New Agenda for Peace raises profound fears of the pushback against women’s rights along with the existential challenges of the potential weaponization of technology, rising inequality, shrinking of civic space, and climate emergency.” 

Women’s Power Index (Council on Foreign Relations, Women and Foreign Policy Program) 

“Created by CFR’s Women and Foreign Policy program, the Women’s Power Index ranks 193 UN member states on their progress toward gender parity in political participation. It analyzes the proportion of women who serve as heads of state or government, in cabinets, in national legislatures, as candidates for national legislatures, and in local government bodies, and visualizes the gender gap in political representation.”  

Press Release Afghanistan: Three Years of Taliban Rule and International Inaction Have Left Afghan Community with Little Hope (Amnesty International)  

“The Afghan community is struggling with three years of unresolved frustration as the Taliban de facto authorities commit human rights violations and crimes under international law against the Afghan people, especially women and girls, with absolute impunity, said Amnesty International today.” 

War Is Draining Ukraine’s Male-Dominated Work Force. Enter the Women. (The New York Times) 

“More and more women are replacing men mobilized in the army. But there are not enough of them to make up for the labor shortage affecting the economy.” 

300,000 Haitian Women and Girls Are Displaced Without Basic Safety and Health Services (UN Women) 

“New York, Port au Prince – A recent report by UN Women shows the alarming living conditions and lack of security faced by 300,000 displaced women and girls in Haiti, exacerbated by ongoing political instability, escalating gang violence, and hurricane season further threatening the Caribbean Island.” 

Notable Events 

August 29, 2024 - Three Years Later: The Dire State of Afghanistan and Global Strategies for Ways Forward (Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace and Security) 

“To mark the third year since the fall of Afghanistan to the Taliban, the Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace and Security and the Afghanistan Policy Lab at Princeton School of Public and International Affairs will convene a group of policymakers, civil society leaders, and affected communities for a high-level event at the Princeton SPIA DC Center to discuss the roadmap to the future.” 

September 5, 2024 - "The Sisterhood: The Secret History of Women at the CIA," Author Talk (Women's Foreign Policy Group) 

“Please join the Women's Foreign Policy Group and Johns Hopkins SAIS' Defense & Intelligence club to discuss "The Sisterhood: The Secret History of Women at the CIA" for the Fall installment of WFPG's Author Talk series.. New York Times bestselling author Liza Mundy will discuss her newest book, which details the long history of women's integral involvement in the CIA from the time it was founded to present day.” 

September 10-12, 2024: PeaceCon 2024 (Alliance for Peacebuilding)  

“On September 10th - 12th, join the Alliance for Peacebuilding—in partnership with the U.S. Institute of Peace—for our 12th annual conference, PeaceCon 2024—Status Quo No More: Building Peace in the Time of Rising Violent Conflict, in hybrid format.” 

October 21-22, 2024 - Reclaiming Women, Peace and Security: Defining a Path Forward (The Women, Peace and Security Focal Points Network) 

“The United States of America, Romania, Switzerland, and South Africa, as the 2024 Leadership Quad of the WPS Focal Points Network, and UN Women as Network Secretariat, are pleased to invite you to the Sixth Capital-Level Meeting of the Women, Peace and Security Focal Points Network, which will take place on October 21-22 in New York, United States under the theme, “Reclaiming Women, Peace and Security: Defining a Path Forward.” 

Opportunities  

Senior Advisor, Gender-based Violence Prevention and Response (Save the Children) 

“As the Senior Advisor, Gender-based Violence (GBV) Prevention and Response, at Save the Children US (SCUS), you will shape and advance Save the Children's efforts to address GBV through a lens of decoloniality and social justice. You will drive technical excellence, programmatic innovation, and impactful partnerships to create lasting change.” 

Crisis Response Intern (Vital Voices Global Partnership) 

“The Vital Voices team is seeking a motivated intern who will provide administrative and programmatic support to the Crisis Response department and assist with research of global crisis, development of communication materials, grant documentation and case management. The Intern will work across a portfolio of projects alongside the Crisis Response team and learn from cross-functional teams with leaders and peers with various backgrounds, education, and experiences.” 

Program Manager, Voices Against Violence & Fellowships (Vital Voices Global Partnership) 

“The Program Manager, VAV and Fellowships will work directly under the supervision and guidance of the Director, Issue Advocacy. This pivotal leader will be responsible for overseeing VAV (Voices Against Violence) subawards, providing key GBV knowledge and expertise to partners and stakeholders. This role will manage the Peace Fellowship, working closely with global leaders at the intersection of GBV and Women, Peace and Security. The Program Manager will expand Vital Voices’ presence in Europe, collaborating with partners to implement project partnerships and grow the European Vital Voices Network.”