by Beth Woroniuk, WPSN-C Steering Committee Member
On Monday, September 28th, the WPSN-C will join OCTEVAW (the Ottawa Coalition to End Violence Against Women) and WIIS-Canada in a twitter chat from noon to 2 pm eastern, using #PeaceIncludesWomen and #EndVAW. This is part of the 9th Annual Ottawa Peace Festival, Up For Debate and leads into the activities around the 15th Anniversary of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 in October.
What’s under discussion? The debate is wide open:
- What are the links between violence against women and sustainable peace? How is militarism linked to violence against women? Is peace really just the ‘absence of war’?
- Recent news reports, seminars, and summits have drawn attention to “conflict-related sexual violence.” The UN has noted the last year was “marked by harrowing accounts of rape, sexual slavery and forced marriage being used by extremist groups, including as a tactic of terror.” How is “conflict-related sexual violence” different from violence against women in Canada? How is it the same?
- What would Canada’s foreign and defence policy look like if it took women’s security seriously? Sweden has announced that it will follow a feminist foreign policy. A recent Ottawa event added to the debate on what a feminist foreign policy would mean for Canada.
- We can also unpack ‘violence against women’ more – what are the implications for older women, trans and lesbian women, women from different ethnic or religious groups…?
- What actually works in ending violence against women and girls during armed conflict (and during times of peace)? What programs have you seen that are effective?
- Let’s look at the links between guns, violence and peace. So far, Canada has refused to sign the Arms Trade Treaty. This landmark treaty makes the links between the international arms trade and gender-based violence.
- We can also discuss sexual violence in conflict. This topic has made the news and Canada has announced several funding initiatives. Is Canada funding the right things? Will this make a difference? Does a focus on sexual violence in conflict overshadow other issues in the women, peace and security agenda?
- What are the links between women’s participation in peacebuilding and violence against women? Recent research has confirmed that peace agreements are more successful when women are involved, but violence and the threat of violence often hinders women’s effective participation in negotiations, discussions and peace initiatives.
- What about other forms of gender-based violence? The New York Times reported earlier this week on allegations that the American military was told to ignore sexual abuse of boys by Afghan allies.
And that’s just the start. We look forward to your ideas. Tweet away on September 28th.
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