Over the past several months, our #WPSAdvice blog series has showcased a range of WPSN-C members as they reflect on the current political situation in Canada, the state of WPS within the federal government, and a range of current global challenges, offering their analysis and advice to the incoming government.
Blog posts have considered the following areas:
- #WPSAdvice: Canada’s Feminist Foreign Policy at a Crossroads: Sustaining Momentum Amid Political Transition by Sophia Papastavrou, Gender Specialist & WPSN-C Steering Committee Member & Sarah Keeler, Policy and Advocacy Specialist & WPSN-C Steering Committee Member
- #WPSAdvice: Building Peace at Home: Why Canada Needs a Youth, Peace, and Security Agenda by Shayne Wong and Imogen Fraser, Canadian Coalition for Youth, Peace & Security (CCYPS)
- #WPSAdvice2025: It’s Still Time for Canada to “Lead by Example” by Karen Breeck MD, MHSc, CD – Federation of Medical Women of Canada Member
- #WPSAdvice: Learning from the Asia-Pacific: How Canada’s New Government Can Strengthen Women, Peace and Security Implementation by Maryruth Belsey Priebe
- #WPSAdvice: Situation Critical: Funding for Women’s Peacebuilding Organizations in Conflict-Affected Contexts by Beth Woroniuk, Senior Fellow, Feminist Foreign Policy Collaborative
- #WPSAdvice: From Crisis to Commitment: Why the New Government Must Lead on Women, Peace and Security by Katrina Leclerc, PhD candidate at Saint-Paul University and chair of the WPSN-C
- #WPSAdvice: Killer robots: a new frontier for Canada to advance WPS by Charlotte Akin, Programmes & Outreach Lead and Sasha Imbleau, Stop Killer Robots, with research contributions from Rosa Lee
- #WPSAdvice: Strengthening Engagement Between the Government of Canada and Civil Society Representatives by Monique Cuillerier, WPSN-C Coordinator
During the same period, WPSN-C also co-hosted, with Women of Colour Advancing Peace, Security and Conflict Transformation – Canada (WCAPS-Canada), the Canadian Coalition for Youth, Peace and Security (CCYPS), Egale Canada, and Inter Pares, a webinar, Queering Peace and Security: Moving from Rhetoric to Action, that reflected on the systemic exclusion still faced by 2SLGBTQI+ communities in peace and security policymaking and practice. As queer and trans communities around the world experience increasing criminalization, violence, and backlash, this dialogue was timely and necessary and holds much for our elected representatives to consider.
2025 marks the 25th anniversary of Resolution 1325, the first United Nations Security Council resolution on Women, Peace and Security (WPS). Canada’s third National Action Plan (NAP) on WPS, Foundations for Peace, was launched last year and now includes ten federal partners, coordinated by Global Affairs Canada. We still await the tabling in Parliament of the first progress report.
This spring saw the end of Jacqueline O’Neill’s term as Canada’s inaugural Ambassador for WPS. The position remains empty and we await a new appointment. An open letter, organized and signed by members of WPSN-C, was sent to Prime Minister Carney and Foreign Affairs Minister Anand in June urged the government to:
- Confirm the continued existence of the WPS Ambassador’s Office within Global Affairs Canada;
- Appoint a qualified WPS Ambassador in an urgent manner; and,
- Provide the Office with the resources and mandate needed to support whole-of-government implementation of Canada’s WPS commitments.
A recent article from the Canadian Press, which quotes WPSN-C chair Katrina Leclerc, also addressed the government’s ongoing silence on the filling of currently vacant special ambassador positions.
What’s coming next?
As we approach the 25th anniversary of UNSCR 1325, Network members are working on their contributions to our next publication, WPS at 25 and Canada’s CNAP3: Feminist Reflections on Progress and Gaps. More details are to come, but expect a launch this fall.
As well, Network members are looking forward to engaging with the new Members of Parliament when the House of Commons resumes sitting in September.
Through these and other upcoming activities, WPSN-C members will persist in advocating for a WPS response to the critical challenges of our time and encourage the Canadian government to continue to show leadership through championing a WPS agenda rooted in action.
The views in this blog are those of the authors only and do not necessarily represent those of the WPSN-C or its membership.
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