In addition to the International Review submissions listed previously, here are other briefs to check out:
By Beth Woroniuk, Coordinator/WPSN-C and independent consultant. Follow her on twitter @bethottawa
In the midst of summer bbq’s, heatwaves and cottage visits, WPSN-C members have been busy participating in two policy reviews launched by the Canadian government. Our submissions are now on our website!
Canada’s International Assistance Review (IAR) involved numerous consultations across the country (and in embassies around the world). WPSN-C members (both organizations and individuals) participated in informal discussions and frequent consultations. We sought to highlight the importance of gender analysis and the WPS agenda in the discussions of peace and security assistance. We organized our own informal consultation, bringing together WPSN-C members and Global Affairs Canada Staff. And we explored – along with many others – what a feminist lens means or could mean for Canada’s international assistance. Continue reading
On July 21st, the Women, Peace and Security Network – Canada hosted an informal consultation on “Mainstreaming the WPS Agenda: A Consultation on Feminist Approaches to Peace and Security International Assistance.” The consultation was well attended by representatives from both civil society and Global Affairs Canada.
The afternoon began with an opening panel on “What would a feminist approach look like in Canada’s development assistance in the peace and security theme?” with comments from Rebecca Tiessen (University of Ottawa) and Pamela O’Donnell (Director and Deputy Head START, Global Affairs Canada). This panel provided the feminist context for the day’s discussions, as well as the perspective of Global Affairs Canada. Continue reading
On June 7, 2016, Global Affairs Canada hosted a Consultation on Peace and Security as part of the International Assistance Review.
Beth Woroniuk, WPSN-C Coordinator, was invited to speak on the opening panel on ‘advancing women, peace and security.’ Here is the text of her remarks.
Thanks to Global Affairs Canada for the invitation to speak at this Consultation. It is an honour to share this platform with such distinguished thinkers and practitioners.
Last year’s Global Study on the implementation of Security Council Resolution 1325 notes that of the more than 2200 resolutions adopted by the Security Council it is hard to think of one resolution that is better known for its name, its number and content than resolution 1325. It was born out of activism by the women’s and peace movements and based in the revolutionary ideas that peace is only sustainable when women are fully included and that peace is inextricably linked with equality between women and men. Yet the Study also notes that for many, many women around the world, the resolution has been a failure, that progress has been too slow and that resource commitments have not matched global rhetoric. Continue reading
Coming up next month Myanmar – formerly known as Burma – will present to the United Nations’ Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women, a report on the nation’s progress on gender equality and women’s rights. Myanmar has supported the eradication of discrimination against women, for the past 19 years and continues to uphold its promise by enforcing laws to protect women’s rights.
As Myanmar has legally ratified the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), they are required to submit national progress reports every four years. The report to be presented in July will be delivered alongside suggestions made by non-governmental organizations that have gender equality in their respective agendas.
Although Myanmar has been active in its support for CEDAW through the creation of strategies such as the National Strategic Plan for the Advancement of Women, at this time the nation will collaborate to improve laws and draft new policies to further enhance their results.
