2023 AWP

2023 AWP

The 5th International Conference on Action with Women and Peace

Name : The 5th International Conference on Action with Women and Peace

Topic : Promoting the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) Agenda at the UN Security Council

Date : November 30, 2023

Location : Grand Hyatt Seoul, Grand Ballroom

Host : Minister of Foreign Affairs, Republic of Korea

Language : Korean, English

Opening Remarks

Jin Park Minister of Foreign Affairs of Korea

Congratulatory Remarks (* pre-recorded video message)

Graça Machel  Co-founder and Deputy Chair of the Elders *
Maryam bint Ali bin Nasser Al Misnad  Minister of Social Development and Family of Qatar
Noura bint Mohammed Al Kaabi   Minister of State at the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Erin M. Barclay   Senior Official for the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor, U.S. Department of State
Kelly T. Clements   UN Deputy High Commissioner for Refugees
Fazilatun Nessa Indira   Minister of Women and Children Affairs of Bangladesh *
I Gusti Ayu Bintang Darmawati   Minister of Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection of Indonesia *
Battsetseg Batmunkh  Minister of Foreign Affairs of Mongolia *
Tanja Fajon  Minister of Foreign and European Affairs of Slovenia *
Irene Fellin   NATO Secretary General’s Special Representative for WPS
Signe Guro Gilen   Special Envoy for WPS of Norway
Stella Ronner-Grubačić   EU Ambassador for Gender and Diversity *
Jacqueline O’Neill   Ambassador for WPS of Canada *
Imafuku Takao   Ambassador in charge of UN Affairs of Japan *
Tawakkol Karman   2011 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate *

Panel Discussion 1

This session aims to address challenges and responses related to the WPS agenda within the UN Security Council. The panelists will share their insights on how UNSC members can contribute to strengthening and enriching the WPS agenda in the face of increased conflicts, as well as emerging security threats. This discussion takes place in the context of the imminent 25th anniversary of the adoption of the UNSC Resolution 1325 in 2025 and aims to provide a platform for dialogue as we approach this significant milestone.

Moderator

Eun Mee Kim   President of Ewha Womans University

Panel

Kaavya Asoka   Executive Director of NGO Working Group on WPS

Norul Mohamed Rashid  Policy Advisor on Governance and Peace & Security, UN Women Asia and teh Pacific

Lara Scarpitta   OSCE Senior Advisor on Gender Issues

Abdelkader Araoua   Coordinator for Silencing the Guns at the AU Commission

Eiko Narita   Chief of UNFPA Tokyo Representation

Phoebe Donnelly   Senior Fellow of International Peace Institute

Panel Discussion 2

This session aims to bring together women practitioners who have been actively engaged in frontline conflict resolution and peacebuilding efforts around the world. The panelists will highlight the crucial role women can play as catalysts for peace and provide valuable guidance on promoting women’s participation in peace processes. The session will also explore ways to establish a safe and enabling environment for women peacebuilders to carry out their work.

Moderator

Jasmin Nario-Galace   Senior Program Director, Global Network of Women Peacebuilders

panel

Normah Samsuri   Brigadier General of the Malaysia Armed Forces

Samira Gutoc   Chairperson, Ako Bakwit

Millicent Otieno   Founder, Local Capacities for Peace International

Gwendolyn Myers   Founder and Executive Director, Messengers of Peace

Dwi Rubiyanti Kholifah   Indonesia Country Director, Asian Muslim Action Network

Soonyoung Choi   Executive Director & Health Specialist, North Korea Programme, World Vision Korea

Special Session

The Special Session aims to bring together experts in the fields of WPS and human rights within the context of North Korea. Through the lens of WPS, this session will delve into the unique experiences and challenges encountered by women in North Korea, as well as those exposed to human rights violations and violence while fleeing the country. The objective is to enhance the relevance of the WPS agenda for addressing human rights in North Korea, as part of efforts to understand and improve the human rights situation in North Korea.

Keynote Speech

Shin-wha Lee   Ambassador for International Cooperation on North Korean Human Rights

Moderator

James Heenan   Representative of OHCHR Seoul

Panel

Reem Alsalem   UN Special Rapporteur on Violence against Women and Girls, its Causes and Consequences

Siobhan Hobbs  Former Gender Adviser for the UN Commission of Inquiry into Human Rights in the DPRK

Seh-lynn Chai   Author, The Hard Road Out

Jean Lee   Visiting Fellow, the East-West Center (Former Associated Press’s Pyongyang Bureau Chief)

Youth Session

In this session, youth representatives will take the center stage to raise their concerns on online gender-based violence and its implications for the progress of the WPS agenda. Online space such as social media platforms can amplify women's voices, yet it can also turn into an arena for attacks discrediting and silencing women negotiators, mediators, peacebuilders, community leaders, and human rights defenders, including advocates for victims of sexual violence. Youth representatives will discuss strategies to promote safe, inclusive, and constructive online engagements that are conducive to the advancement of the WPS agenda.

Moderator

Jiso Yoon   Director of Center for International Development and Cooperation, Korean Women’s Development Institute

Panel

Sylvie Lee   Public Policy Manager, Meta (Facebook) Korea

Nguyễn Thúc Thùy Tiên  Activist in Vietnam

Rowella Marri Berizo  Activist in the Philippines

2023 Global Youth Video Competition

Yong-Seok Song (Republic of Korea)

Nahomi Adenew Tola (Ethiopia)

Karen Barua (Paraguay)