Women, Peace and Security Digest: February 2024

Climate Change 

Women and climate change in MENA: Turning adversity into opportunity (Middle East Institute) 

Women and girls in the MENA region face uniquely gendered impacts of climate change exacerbated by inequalities and vulnerabilities like water scarcity and political marginalization, leading to heightened risks of food insecurity and gender-based violence. Despite this, women's local knowledge and capacity to manage resources position them as crucial actors in climate response. 

The Climate Crisis Is Not Gender Neutral (World Meteorological Organization)  

“The climate crisis is far from “gender neutral”. Women and men are affected differently by weather and climate, and therefore need gender-sensitive information and services, WMO Secretary-General Celeste Saulo said in a keynote address.” 

Women in science, not in silence: pioneering change in the global climate crisis (UNESCO) 

“Climate emergencies are not gender neutral. In fact, the degradation of the planet’s natural systems has a disproportionate effect on women and girls.” 

Technology 

A Growing Number of Women Activists Confront Technology and Gender-Based Violence (Tech Policy Press) 

“The negative effects of online threats have wide impacts relating to women and girls’ psychological and mental health, surveillance and privacy. They undermine efforts to incorporate digital security considerations in feminist agendas, rights to data protection and privacy, freedom of assembly or participation in the public sphere, and non-discrimination, among many others.” 

Is AI a force for good? (UN OHCHR)  

“We need to look at the risks to our human rights that digital tech and AI pose, in particular, possible discriminatory outcomes from AI in many sectors and for those already marginalized, along gender, racial and other lines.” 

Human rights must be at the core of generative AI technologies, says Türk  (UN OHCHR) 

“With human rights principles firmly in place, I believe we can safely harness AI’s incredible opportunities and keep striving for creativity, innovation and the best that human beings can deliver.” 

Atrocity Prevention and Global Fragility Act 

Rights experts call for probe into alleged violations against Palestinian women and girls (UN News) 

“We are shocked by reports of the deliberate targeting and extrajudicial killing of Palestinian women and children in places where they sought refuge, or while fleeing. Some of them were reportedly holding white pieces of cloth when they were killed by the Israeli army or affiliated forces,” the experts said. 

Gender apartheid must be recognised as a crime against humanity, UN experts say (UN OHCHR)  

“Increasing global challenges demand that gender apartheid be recognised as a crime against humanity, UN experts said today, highlighting the situation of women and girls in Afghanistan.” 

Risch, Cardin, T. Scott, Booker Introduce Resolution Recognizing Genocide in Sudan (Senate Foreign Relations Committee)  

“U.S. Senators Jim Risch (R-Idaho) and Ben Cardin (D-Md.), ranking member and chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, along with Senators Tim Scott (R-S.C.) and Cory Booker (D-N.J.), ranking member and chairman of the Subcommittee on Africa and Global Health Policy, introduced a resolution recognizing the actions of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and allied militia in the Darfur region of Sudan against non-Arab ethnic communities as acts of genocide.”  

US WPS Updates 

Manning, Frankel Bipartisan Resolution Condemning Sexual Violence by Hamas Passes U.S. House of Representatives (House.gov)  

“The U.S. House of Representatives passed H.Res. 966 with 418 votes in favor and one present vote. The resolution, led by Representatives Kathy Manning (D-NC),Vice Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Lois Frankel (D-FL), Mario Díaz-Balart (R-FL), and Jen Kiggans (R-VA), condemns sexual violence perpetuated by Hamas during the October 7th terrorist attack on Israel.” 

General WPS 

What You Should Know About the Women, Peace, and Security Act of 2017: Updated Winter 2024 (Our Secure Future)  

“Originally published in 2018, this policy brief includes 2023 updates on the United States WPS Act and serves as a guide on the history, implementation, and funding of the act.” 

No time to lose as UK declares violence against women a “national threat”: UN expert (UN OHCHR) 

“Entrenched patriarchy at almost every level of society, combined with a rise in misogyny that permeates the physical and online world, is denying thousands of women and girls across the UK the right to live in safety, free from fear and violence,” said Reem Alsalem, the UN Special Rapporteur on violence against women and girls, in a statement at the end of a 10-day visit to the country.  

Gaza: UN experts call for prioritisation of gender-responsive humanitarian interventions (UN OHCHR)  

“Israel must immediately implement a ceasefire and concrete humanitarian measures that prioritise the needs of Palestinian women and girls in accordance with the International Court of Justice’s ruling of 26 January 2024, UN experts said." 

Letter to the Secretary-General on women’s rights in Afghanistan (NGO Working Group on Women, Peace and Security) 

“This letter on women’s rights in Afghanistan was sent to the UN Secretary-General ahead of the 18-19 February meeting of Special Envoys and Special Representatives on Afghanistan in Doha.” 

Meaningful Partners: Opportunities for Collaboration between Women, Peace and Security, and Small Arms Control at the National Level (ReliefWeb) 

“A Briefing Paper from the Small Arms Survey’s Gender-Responsive Arms Control project—identifies potential avenues for future work to better harmonize efforts related to WPS and small arms control, and improve the effectiveness of both policy areas in achieving their objectives.” 

Gendering Economic Sanctions: Best Practices for the U.K. (New Lines Institute)  

“Given the disproportionate effect that economic sanctions visit on women and girls around the world, the growing use of sanctions to protect women and advance gender equality necessitates a broader discussion of the need to mainstream gender within the U.K. sanctions policy.” 

Notable Events (Past and Upcoming) 

March 4, 2024: Women, peace and security in a shifting security landscape (Atlantic Council and Our Secure Future) 

“Please join the Atlantic Council’s Transatlantic Security Initiative, in the Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security, and Our Secure Future: Women Make the Difference, for a hybrid public event, “Women, Peace and Security in a shifting security landscape,” on Monday, March 4, 2024, from 10:30 – 11:30 am ET.” 

February 27-March 1, 2024: Fragility Forum 2024 (The World Bank) 

“Fragility, conflict, and violence (FCV) is a global challenge… The Fragility Forum 2024 (FF2024), Adapting and Innovating in a Volatile World, will provide an opportunity for those working in and on FCV, including those in the development, humanitarian, government, civil society, private sector, research, and security communities, to exchange experiences, and examine the success and failures of developmental interventions in countries affected by fragility, conflict and violence.”

March 1, 2024: End Gender Apartheid: International Law & Women’s Rights in Afghanistan (Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace and Security) 

A virtual conversation with legal and human rights experts to address growing restrictions on Afghan women via international law. 

March 6, 2024: International Women’s Day forum: How women are tackling global challenges (The Atlantic Council and Vital Voices Global Partnership) 

“In recognition of Women’s History Month and International Women’s Day, the Atlantic Council, in partnership with Vital Voices Global Partnership, is convening a day-long conference exploring the pivotal role of women and girls in tackling the world’s most pressing challenges.”