Program

2024 AWP

The 6th

International Conference on
Action with Women and Peace

09:00 – 10:00 (GMT+9)

Opening Session

  • Opening Remarks
  • Cho Tae-yul, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Republic of Korea
  • Congratulatory Remarks (*Pre-recorded video message)

  • Alina-Ştefania Gorghiu, Minister of Justice, Romania
  • Michele J. Sison, Assistant Secretary for International Organization Affairs, U.S. Department of State
  • Battsetseg Batmunkh, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mongolia*
  • Jacqueline O’Neil, Ambassador for Women, Peace and Security, Canada*
  • Bjorn Olof Skoog, EU Special Representative for Human Rights*
  • Volker Türk, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights*
  • Jean-Pierre Lacroix, Under-Secretary-General, UN Department of Peace Operations (UNDPO)*
  • Keynote Speech
  • Julie Isabel Bishop, Special Envoy of the UN Secretary-General on Myanmar
  • Sima Sami Bahous, Executive Director, UN Women*
  • Ingrid M. Gjerde, Chief of Defense Staff, Norway (Former Force Commander, UN Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP))*

10:00 –10:20 (GMT+9)

Coffee Break

10:20 –11:30 (GMT+9)

Panel Discussion 1: UN Peacekeeping Missions’ Operationalization of WPS Mandates on Promoting Women’s Meaningful Participation in Peace Processes

This session brings together mission leaders, gender advisors, and peacekeepers who have been involved in implementing WPS mandates, including increasing women’s meaningful participation in peace and political processes, and the integration of gender in the work of UN Peacekeeping Missions. Panelists will share promising practices, existing challenges, and key drivers to enhance WPS implementation in the field, including in transition of peace operations context. They will also provide insights on the significance of robust WPS language in peacekeeping mandates as we approach the 25th anniversary of the adoption of the landmark UNSCR 1325 next year.

  • Moderator
  • Louise Olsson, Research Director, Department of Global Politics, Norms and Societies, Peace Research Institute Oslo (PRIO)
  • Panelists
  • Catherine Andela, Chief, Gender Unit, UN Department of Peace Operations (UNDPO)
  • Kasumi Nishigaya, Chief of Gender Affairs Unit and Senior Gender Advisor, UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS)
  • Agbeko Koffi Sodjinou, Gender Affairs Officer, UN Multidimensional integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA)
  • Cecilia Erzuah, Force Gender Integration Mentor and Advisor, UN Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO)
  • Sungyeon Yi, Liaison Officer, UN Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF)

11:30 –11:50 (GMT+9)

Coffee Break

11:50 –13:00 (GMT+9)

Panel Discussion 2: Asian Countries’ Development and Implementation of WPS NAPs

This session convenes experts with in-depth knowledge of the development, implementation and monitoring of WPS National Action Plans (NAPs) in select Asian countries, including the Republic of Korea, Japan, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka, along with an expert on ASEAN WPS Regional Action Plan adopted in 2022. The panelists will discuss approaches specific to the region, best practices and lessons learned, and identify areas for future cooperation to promote the WPS agenda in the region and beyond.

  • Moderator
  • Norul M. Rashid, Policy Advisor on Governance, Peace and Security, UN Women Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific
  • Panelists
  • Rodora Turalde-Babaran, Director of Human Development, ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community Department of the ASEAN Secretariat (*Virtual live participation)
  • Maria Victoria (Mavic) Balleza, Chief Executive Officer, Global Network of Women Peacebuilders (GNWP)
  • Sithara Shreen Abdul Saroor, Co-founder, Women’s Action Network
  • Ryoko Yonamine, Gender specialist on women, peace and security, PhD student at Osaka Jogakuin University
  • Jiso Yoon, Director, Center for International Development and Cooperation, Korean Women’s Development Institute

13:00 –14:30 (GMT+9)

Lunch

14:30 –15:30 (GMT+9)

Special Session: Seeking Peace in Myanmar – Women as Catalysts for Change

This session aims to underscore the importance of incorporating a gender perspective into efforts to build sustaining peace in Myanmar. Panelists will explore how women can act as catalysts for peace in and around Myanmar and highlight the importance of promoting women’s participation in finding a peaceful solution in the interests of the people in Myanmar. They will also discuss how the international community can help create a safe and enabling environment for women peacebuilders to carry out their vital work.

  • Moderator
  • Heisoo Shin, Chair, Board of Directors, Korea Center for UN Human Rights Policy (KOCUN)
  • Panelists
  • Julie Isabel Bishop, Special Envoy of the UN Secretary-General on Myanmar
  • Christine Arab, Regional Director for Asia and the Pacific, UN Women
  • Hai Kyung Jun, Regional Director for Asia and the Pacific, UNHCR
  • Richard Horsey, Senior Myanmar Adviser, Crisis Group
  • Yanghee Lee, Board Chair, International Child Rights Center
  • May Sabe Phyu, Director, Gender Equality Network (*Virtual live participation)

15:30 –15:45 (GMT+9)

Coffee Break

15:45– 15:55 (GMT+9)

Award Presentation for the Winners of the Global Youth Contest

15:55– 16:55 (GMT+9)

Youth Session: Toward the Next 25 Years of Women, Peace and Security Agenda

In this session, youth representatives will take center stage to share their visions for the future of the WPS agenda. Panelists will discuss innovative strategies for promoting women’s participation in peace and security and harnessing new and emerging technologies for greater advocacy of the WPS agenda. This session will also emphasize the crucial role of youth in shaping WPS agenda for the next 25 years, ensuring it evolves to mirror the changing dynamics of conflicts and security challenges.

  • Moderator
  • Emilia Hannuksela, Team Lead, Youth Peace and Security, UN Youth Office
  • Panelists
  • Sarah Little, Founder, More to Her Story
  • Noor Azizah, Director, Rohingya Maìyafuìnor Collaborative Network
  • Hajer Sharief, Co-founder,  Together We Build It
  • Pashtana Dorani, Executive Director, LEARN Afghanistan
  • Eubin Kim, 2024 Korean Youth Envoy for Disarmament and Non-Proliferation

16:55 – 17:00 (GMT+9)

Closing Session

  • Closing Remarks
  • Kweon Ki-hwan, Deputy Minister for Multilateral and Global Affairs, MOFA, Republic of Korea