Welcome to Our Secure Future’s monthly Women, Peace and Security (WPS) Digest, “the done for you” newsletter on WPS. Every month we curate the latest articles and reports on intersectional, cross-cutting issues focused on women’s rights, and international peace and security matters. Here's what we found in the month of July.
WPS at the 2024 NATO Summit
NATO Policy on Women, Peace and Security (2024)
On July 10th, NATO released its updated policy on Women, Peace and Security. The new policy addresses new security threats, such as technology-facilitated gender-based violence (TFGBV) and climate change, and outlines NATO’s key measures for integrating WPS and gender perspectives across its core tasks.
Our Secure Future and Women In International Security Co-Host High-Level Breakfast for Women Leaders at the NATO Summit (Our Secure Future)
“As the 2024 NATO Summit commenced in Washington, D.C., Our Secure Future (OSF) and Women in International Security (WIIS) hosted a private event, Beyond Representation: Women’s Leadership, on July 10th highlighting the impact of women leaders and the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) agenda in the transformation of NATO strategy.”
Advancing Women, Peace, and Security through Security Cooperation in NATO (Center for Strategic and International Studies)
“In the future, NATO may advance its women, peace, and security agenda by mandating gender considerations in security cooperation, encouraging female participation in capacity-building activities, and ensuring operational effectiveness and resilience across the alliance.”
OSF Highlights the Importance of NATO’s Commitment to WPS in Conflict Prevention and Resolution (European Business Review)
“As NATO continues to integrate gender perspectives into its core tasks, OSF sees an alignment between its goals and NATO’s commitments, for it is increasingly evident that WPS is not just an add-on, but an essential component of NATO’s ability to address complex security challenges.”
FACT SHEET: Advancing Women, Peace and Security at the NATO 75th Anniversary Summit (The White House)
“This week, as Allies and partners gather for the NATO 75th Anniversary Summit, the Biden-Harris Administration is proud to announce new actions and reaffirm our enduring commitment to advancing the Women, Peace, and Security agenda as integral to NATO’s core tasks.”
The Women, Peace, and Security agenda made important strides at NATO’s Washington summit (The Atlantic Council)
“Much of the NATO summit earlier this month was overshadowed by US domestic politics, but one issue did make significant and bipartisan, if underacknowledged, headway when allies met in Washington: the Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) agenda.”
Climate Change
Gender Mainstreaming in Climate Change, Resilience and Disaster Risk Reduction (United Nations Regional Collaborative Platform)
“This Issue-based Coalition (IBC) emerged from the United Nations reform process... the IBC seeks to strengthen and streamline the coordination between agencies and accountability of the UNS on climate change, resilience, and disaster risk reduction (DRR), at the regional and sub-regional level.”
A Call to Protect Mexico’s Women Climate Leaders (Ms. Magazine)
“Mexico remains one of the most dangerous places for human rights defenders—particularly for women climate leaders, who face targeted violence, threats and attacks, with little to no effective protection from the state.”
Climate Change to Exacerbate the Burden of Water Collection on Women’s Welfare Globally (Nature Climate Change)
“Climate change is aggravating water scarcity worldwide. In rural households lacking access to running water, women often bear the responsibility for its collection, with adverse effects on their well being through long daily time commitments, physical strain and mental distress.”
Technology
“‘Help! I’m overwhelmed!’ Hundreds of girls say they face sexual harassment online. This is what they want to change” (CNN As Equals and Plan International)
“CNN As Equals and NGO Plan International surveyed more than 600 young women and girls aged 13-24 across nine countries worldwide and found that most (75%) have faced harmful content online at some point, with more than one in 10 experiencing it daily or almost daily.”
Briefing: Gender and Human Rights in the Digital Age (Amnesty International)
“Marginalized groups, including women and LGBTI people, face threats to their human rights due to extensive and improper data collection practices that do not reflect their individual realities... This under-regulated accumulation and processing of vast amounts of data not only constitutes harmful mass surveillance but also entrenches discrimination against women and LGBTI people.”
General WPS
Making the Case for Women, Peace and Security: Evidence and Country Examples (Our Secure Future)
“This guide, complete with key evidence and country examples, illustrates the necessity of the Women, Peace and Security agenda and the critical role that women play in peace and security efforts around the world.”
Rethinking Airbase Security Through a Gender Lens (Australian Government Defense)
“A transformative Gender in Military Operations (GiMO) training program is enhancing education for personnel at 1 Security Forces Squadron, RAAF Base Williamtown. Led by Flight Lieutenant Rob Iglesias, the program aims to deepen aviators’ understanding of human terrain complexities and the impact on the airbase security environment.”
Japan’s New Diplomatic Pillar: Women, Peace, and Security (Center for Strategic and International Studies)
“Japan’s strengthened promotion of WPS, coupled with its unique expertise in disaster prevention and response, is unlocking new diplomatic opportunities. This enhanced promotion of WPS will not only position Japan as a pivotal player globally but also introduce potential to tackle related domestic challenges.”
“More people than ever will go to polls in 2024, when 113 countries have never had a woman at the helm, and only 26 countries are led by a woman today.”
Continuing Promise 2024 hosts Women, Peace and Security Symposium in Jamaica (America’s Navy)
“Close to 35 government and community leaders, including those from the JDF, national and local law enforcement, and correctional officers, attended the symposium where they participated in multiple group exercises and lively discussions focused on the prevention of gender-based violence (GBV).”
Upcoming Notable Events
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.”
September 23-24, 2024 - IWPR 2024 Power+ Summit! (Institute for Women’s Policy Research)
“IWPR’s Power+ Summit is not just another conference—it’s a call to arms. It’s a space where we come together to reimagine the future of gender equity.”
September 24, 2024 - 2024 Women In Defense National Conference (Women in Defense)
“The 2024 Women In Defense (WID) National conference will bring together more than 500 women from across the nation to network and learn from government and industry experts. WID’s National Conference seeks to strengthen the defense industrial base by educating, empowering, and supporting a diverse and inclusive workforce.”
Opportunities
Policy Writer, Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace & Security - School of Foreign Service (Georgetown University)
“The Policy Writer plays a critical role in translating original GIWPS research and analysis for a policy audience. They conduct substantive editing and copyediting of research reports, policy briefs, and other GIWPS content before publication; and manage additional responsibilities that include but are not limited to generating ideas for new types of content, writing original content in various voices, and conducting policy-relevant research.”
“ECODIT is seeking qualified candidates for the position of Gender Analysis Coordinator for the five-year USAID Gender Leadership, Equity, and Advancement for Development (LEAD) Program. The Program provides technical assistance and forward-leading programmatic support, thought leadership, and knowledge dissemination in gender integration to USAID Missions and Bureaus across sectors and focus areas. The Gender Analysis Coordinator will report to the Deputy Chief of Party/Objective 1 Lead. They will provide project management and administrative support to the successful design and implementation of gender analyses for USAID at the strategy, sector, and/or activity levels.”
Gender Equity Intern - Fall 2024 (The International Rescue Committee)
“IRC programming assists refugees to become economically self-sufficient and supports acclimatization within the United States by providing access to casework services... This role will support the IRC’s Gender Equality work, cross-cutting programmatically and departmentally to support the administration of equitable services and the proper consideration of gender concerns in programmatic and departmental initiatives.”