2020 AWP

2020 AWP

The 2nd International Conference on Action with Women and Peace

Name : The 2nd International Conference on Actin with Women and Peace

Topic : Ending Sexual Violence in Conflict : Ensuring a Survivor-Centered Approach

Date : November 24, 2020

Location : Lotte Hotel Seoul, Crystal Ballroom / Hybrid

Host : Minister of Foreign Affairs, Republic of Korea

Language : Korean, English

Opening Remarks

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

Congratulatory Remarks (* pre-recorded video message)

Michelle Bachelet  United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights *
Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon  Minister of State and the Prime Minister’s Special Representative on Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict, U.K *
Niels Annen  Minister of State at the German Federal Foreign Office, Germany *
Jacqueline O’Neill  Ambassador for Women, Peace and Security, Canada *

Keynote Speech

Pramila Patten  UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict *
Denis Mukwege  Medical Director, Panzi Hospital / Nobel Peace Prize Laureate *
Nadia Murad   Founder and President, Nadia’s Initiative / Nobel Peace Prize Laureate *
Angelina Jolie  Special Envoy, UNHCR *

Session 1

Sexual violence in conflict had already been a dramatically under-reported crime, and the pandemic had risked being further obscured. The global nature and associated fear and uncertainty of the pandemic had provided a vulnerable condition that could have triggered multiple forms of violence against women and children in conflict-related settings. This session had analyzed the direct and indirect impacts of the recent COVID-19 pandemic on sexual violence against women and girls in conflict-affected settings. The session had also spotlighted the efforts to support survivors of sexual violence in refugee camps during the pandemic and had focused on innovative ways to support the survivors in the post-COVID-19 era.

Moderator

Cho Young-Sook Ambassador for Gender Equalilty, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Republic of Korea

Speakers

Lindsey Cameron   Head, Thematic Legal Advisers, ICRC, Switzerland

Rebecca Eapen   Senior Community Based Protection Officer, UNHCR, Bangladesh

Massimo Diana   Representative, UNFPA Country Office, Sudan

Song Woong-Yeob   Vice President, Global Partnership, KOICA

Session 2

In recent years, international society had endeavored to amplify the voices of survivors and had reflected them in the process of developing remedies. A survivor-centered approach to conflict-related sexual violence had been one of the most important principles to be secured when dealing with gender-based violence. We had needed to listen to the voices of the survivors regarding a survivor-centered approach. In this session, we had listened to the survivors’ experiences and had discussed judicial approaches and efforts to document the testimonies of survivors.

Moderator

Stephan Klingebiel Director, UNDP Seoul Policy Center

Speakers

Shyamala Gomez   Founder and Executive Director, Centre for Equality and Justice, Sri Lanka

Jaya Luintel   Co-Founder and President, The Story Kitchen, Nepal

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

Melinda Reed   Executive Director, Women’s Initiative for Gender Justice, USA

Leslie Thomas   Founder, ART WORKS Projects / Co-Founder, MIRA Studio, USA

Special Session

We had launched the ‘2020 Global Youth Video Competition on Action with Women and Peace’ to have listened to the inspiring ideas of ensuring a survivor-centered approach in ending sexual violence in conflict. Young people between the ages of 19 and 34 from around the world had participated in the competition. They had presented the context-specific action to combat sexual violence in conflict-affected settings through the implementation of a survivor-centered approach. The videos of the winners had been screened.

Award

Global South Friends Team
Maria Cristina Guayasamin Urquizo, Maria Teresa Ponce Carrion, Carla Catalina Sotomayor Moreira (Ecuador), Andrea Katherine Obando Lopez (Colombia)

4ever Team
Soeun Choi, Hyeonseo Kim, Yuna Seo, Daeun Lee (Republic of Korea)

Nahye Park
Nahye Park (Republic of Korea)

Closing Session

The Conference held under the theme “Ending Sexual Violence in Conflict: Ensuring a Survivor-centered Approach” will wrap up the discussions with a summary report by the rapporteur. The rapporteur will ensure a survivor-centered approach in practice and share the key findings as well as present and future challenges to end sexual violence in conflict amid the COVID-19 pandemic. In closing, forward-looking points for next year’s conference on Action with Women and Peace will be underscored.

Summary Report from the Rapporteur

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

Closing Remarks

Ham Sang-wook Deputy Minister for Multilateral and Global Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Republic of Korea