Our Secure Future’s quarterly WPS Watch provides a timely overview of pivotal developments shaping the women, peace and security agenda worldwide. As we turn the corner past March, in this edition, we call special attention to key briefings marking International Women’s Day and Women’s History Month.
Dear Colleague,
Our Secure Future’s quarterly WPS Watch provides a timely overview of pivotal developments shaping the women, peace and security agenda worldwide. As we turn the corner past March, in this edition, we call special attention to key briefings marking International Women’s Day and Women’s History Month.
- 70th session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW70)
- Official documentation: The 70th session on CSW 2026, including statements from civil society.
- March 2, 2026 - The White House, Office of the First Lady
- Full Remarks: First Lady Melania Trump Addresses U.N. Security Council, Championing Peace Through Education on March 2, 2026.
- March 3, 2026 - The White House
- Statement: Presidential Message on Women’s History Month on March 3, 2026.
- March 4, 2026 - Organization of American States (OAS) Permanent Council
- Press Release: Regarding the Permanent Council’s special session to commemorate International Women’s Day (IWD) focused on digital transformation and the challenges and opportunities it presents for women’s rights in the western hemisphere, released on March 4, 2024.
- During the Permanent Council Special Session, OSF Vice President Sahana Dharmapuri briefed member states on the crossover between the Women, Peace and Security Agenda and emerging technology and the practical innovations underway. She also issued a warning on critical blind stops as quoted in the OAS press release above, raising questions that are often left out of defense and tech-sector discussions: “Who is making these decisions? Who is designing these technologies and this entire technological ecosystem? And who is being left out?”
- Eight-Minute Remarks on Video: Tune into Vice President Dharmapuri’s OAS International Women’s Day Remarks on March 4, 2026.
Sahana Dharmapuri, Vice President of Our Secure Future, delivers remarks before the Permanent Council of the OAS on how emerging technologies are reshaping peace, security, and democratic governance through a Women, Peace and Security lens on March 4, 2026.
- March 8, 2026 - UN Women
- Statement: A message from UN Women Executive Director Sima Bahous for International Women’s Day issued on March 8, 2026.
- March 12, 2026 - NATO Command and Control Centre of Excellence
- Event Brief: NATO’s International Women’s Day Event brief in Utrecht issued on March 12, 2026.
- March 12, 2026 – U.S. Senate Resolution 640 Supporting the Goals of International Women’s Day
- U.S. Senate Resolution: Senator Jeanne Shaheen [D-NH] introduced Resolution 640 with Senator Susan Collins [R-ME] as a cosponsor, which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
- March 18, 2026 - United States Mission to the United Nations
- The Opening Statement for the 70th Sessions on the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) in NYC issued on March 18, 2026.
- The U.S. Mission’s Explanation of vote on the agreed CSW conclusions released on March 19, 2026.
- April 3, 2026 - European Union
- Statement: EU Statement marking the International Women’s Day published on April 3, 2026
Our Secure Future thanks the U.S. Congressional Caucus on Women, Peace and Security Co-Chairs, Representative Lois Frankel (D-FL) and Representative Jen Kiggans (R-VA), for their continued bipartisanship leadership on Capitol Hill, and the WPS community for continuing to advance the WPS agenda.
We are honored to serve as your trusted source for all matters related to women, peace, and security, and to count on your partnership as we stay the course to advance WPS efforts across the globe at all decision-making tables to bring about a safer world.
Please send any questions or comments to [email protected].
Warmly,
Sahana Dharmapuri
Vice President of Our Secure Future