2019 AWP

2019 awp

The 1st International Conference on Actin with Women and Peace

Name : The 1st International Conference on Actin with Women and Peace

Topic : Global Partnership to Combat Sexual Violence in Conflict

Date : July 2-3, 2019

Location : Lotte Hotel Seoul, Crystal Ballroom

Host : Minister of Foreign Affairs, Republic of Korea

Language : Korean, English

  • Opening Session

Welcoming Remarks

Kang Kyung-wha Minister of Foreign Affairs, Republic of Korea

Congratulatory Remarks (* pre-recorded video message)

Retno L.P. Marsudi  Minister of Foreign Affairs, Republic of Indonesia
Bineta Diop   Special Envoy on Women, Peace and Security, African Union Commission *
Margot Wallström  Minister for Foreign Affairs, Sweden *
Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon Minister of State and Prime Minister’s Special Representative on Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict, U.K *

Keynote Speech

Pramila Patten  Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in Conflict, United Nations
Denis Mukwege  Medical Director, Panzi Hospital; Nobel Peace Prize Laureate

Session 1

  • Current Status and Global Norms on Sexual Violence in Conflict

The objective of this session was to review how global norms on women, peace and security have evolved thus far, and project their way forward in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. This session paid special attention to key international instruments and resolutions including the 1979 Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, the 1995 Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, the 2000 UN Security Council Resolution 1325, and subsequent follow-up resolutions. The speakers discussed the current UN Women and UNFPA actions to combat sexual violence in conflict. The session included sexual violence in the African context and efforts of the African Union to promote women’s rights in conflict situations and women’s participation in peace processes. The session presented the nexus among gender, peace and development within the context of SDGs by shedding light on the changing theories and approaches in respective areas and seek how they could be applied to fragile and conflict-affected countries.

Moderator

Paik Ji-ah Ambassador and Permanent Representative, Permanent Mission of the Republic of Korea to the United Nations and Other International Organizations in Geneva Speakers

Speakers

Jessica Neuwirth   Director of the Human Rights Program, Roosevelt House, Hunter College

Asa Regner   Assistant Secretary-General, United Nations; Deputy Executive Director, UN Women

Dereje Wordofa   Assistant Secretary-General, United Nations; Deputy Executive Director on Programme, United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)

Bineta Diop   Special Envoy on Women, Peace and Security, African Union Commission

Shin Heisoo   Member, UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights

Session 2

  • Ensuring a Survivor-centered Approach

In order to create a peaceful world, we must listen to survivors who experienced conflict and those who are working towards peace. The session provided a vivid portrayal of the situation of women in conflict-affected countries and listen to their recommendations for ensuring a survivor-centered approach to justice at the international and national levels. Survivor testimonies of current cases; including a video testimony of Kim Bok-dong; brought attention to various forms of wartime sexual violence, initiate a call for action to include women as agents of change in the peacebuilding process, and ensure a gender-based approach for post-conflict reconstruction. The session also introduced the international reparation initiative to provide justice and support for survivors and communities affected by sexual violence in conflict.

Moderator

Zeid Raad Al-Hussein Former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights; Perry World House Professor of the Practice of Law and Human Rights, University of Pennsylvania

Speaker

  • Testimonies of the Survivors and Activists from around the World

A Video Testimony of Kim Bok-dong

Mer Ayang   National Coordinator, SEMA, The Global Network of Victims and Survivors to End Wartime Sexual Violence (Republic of South Sudan)

Angela Escobar   National Coordinator, SEMA, The Global Network of Victims and Survivors to End Wartime Sexual Violence (Republic of Colombia)

Dalal Khairo   Activist, Yazda; National Coordinator, SEMA, The Global Network of Victims and Survivors to End Wartime Sexual Violence (Republic of Iraq)

  • A Global Reparations System for Survivors : International Reparation Initiative

Denis Mukwege   Medical Director, Panzi Hospital; Nobel Peace Prize Laureate

Session 3

  • Voices of the Youth

The youth are our future. In this session, we brought the young generation to the table and listen to their creative and innovative solutions to combat sexual violence in conflict and promote women’s participation in peacebuilding in all aspects of conflict and post-conflict peace processes. The Youth Global Essay Competition, entitled, “Combat Sexual Violence in Conflict” was the essay competition for the youth worldwide and was the official side event of the Conference. The top three contestants from the Competition had invited as speakers to the Conference to present their research findings and innovative ideas to help combat sexual violence in conflict and to promote women’s participation in the peacebuilding process. The presentation was the final round of the competition, and the awardees had decided by a panel of judges. The awards had presented in the closing session of the Conference.

Moderator

Chung Chinsung Member, UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination

Judges

Lee Jung Ok Representative of the Women’s Forum for Peace and Diplomacy

Esther Dingemans Director, Dr. Denis Mukwege Foundation

Lee Kyung-eun Director, Amnesty International Korea

Presentations by the Finalists of the 2019 Youth Global Essay Competition, “Combat Sexual Violence in Conflict”

  • Reconstructing Marawi : Gender-Based Approach to Addressing Sexual Violence in Post-Conflict Marawi, Philippines

Victorena II Diesta and Charmaine Distor (Philippines)

  • Integrating Community-Based Justice Mechanisms in the Fight Against Conflict-Related Sexual Violence : A Case Study of the Traditional Gacaca Justice System in Rwanda

Josiah Wamwere-Njoroge and Esther Karanja (Kenya)

  • Protecting and Empowering Survivors of Sexual and Gender Based Violence in the Rohingya Conflict

Lee Yujin and Kim Sooyeon (Republic of Korea)

Session 4

  • Humanity and Solidarity in Action

This session introduced efforts of various actors to build sustainable and inclusive peace and advance women’s empowerment and gender equality in conflict-affected countries. The session began with the judicial efforts of the International Criminal Court for delivering survivor-centered justice. The representatives of UN agencies and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) then shared their experiences in implementing global norms on gender, peace, and development into practice and dealing with various aspects of conflict-related sexual violence. Special attention was given to coordinated partnerships among various stakeholders to uphold international standards and to take necessary measures to ensure the conditions that will pave the way for enduring peace, such as a multi-sectoral approach for survivors of conflict-related sexual violence, including healthcare and psychosocial support, and measures to empower the survivors to overcome sexual violence in conflict.

Moderator

Kamala Chandrakirana Co-founder, Musawah

Speaker

  • Judicial Efforts for Delivering Survivor-Centered Justice

Gloria Atiba-Davies Head, Gender and Children Unit, Office of the Prosecutor, International Criminal Court

  • UNFPA Responses to Sexual and Gender-based Violence in Conflict

Asa Torkelsson Representative, UNFPA Bangladesh

  • Addressing Gender Based Violence in Emergencies

Bo Viktor Nylund Deputy Regional Director, UNICEF Eastern & Southern Africa

  • Psychosocial Support Project for Rohingya Women : Resilience Building

Kim Byoung Joo Executive Director and Chair of the Board of Directors, ADI(Asian Dignity Initiative)

Closing Session

The Award Ceremony was conducted for the winners of the Youth Global Essay Competition. Then as a wrap-up of the two-day Conference on action with women and peace, the rapporteur presented key findings, present and future challenges and innovative measures to empower and protect women from sexual violence in conflict and promote women’s meaningful participation in the peacebuilding process. The Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea gave the closing remarks, underscoring forward looking points for next year’s 2nd conference on Action with Women and Peace.

Presentation of Awards

Kang Kyung-wha Minister of Foreign Affairs, Republic of Korea

Summary Report

Kim Eun Mee Dean of the Graduate School, Ewha Womans University

Closing Remarks

Kang Kyung-wha Minister of Foreign Affairs, Republic of Korea

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