The Global Civil Society consultation was co-organized by Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF) and Global Network of Women Peacebuilders (GNWP), with more than sixty civil society advocates and activists from around the world in attendance. Ms. Radhika Coomaraswamy, lead author of the Global Study, updated participants on the progress of the global study, and participants shared their recommendations and experiences, and explored how to use the Study to galvanize action at the national and international levels.
Civil society participants included representatives from Afghanistan, Armenia, Burma, Burundi, Canada, Cameroon, Colombia, Congo-Brazzaville, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Fiji, France, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Kenya, Libya, Nepal, Netherlands, Pakistan, Philippines, Rwanda, Serbia, Sierra Leone, South Sudan, Sweden, Syria, Uganda, and the United States.
Radhika Coomaraswamy provided an overview of the Global Study, and noted that it will be an independent, political, and forward-looking study which will be developed in consultation with the High-Level Advisory Board and informed through consultations with Member States, civil society, and experts, as well as field visits. Civil society will play a critical role in developing the study and in mobilizing action for implementation. In particular, civil society was invited to provide information via a survey, submitting information directly to the Global Study team, participate in focus group consultations, country visits, and civil society strategic consultation.
Participants’ specific recommendations for the Global Study included:
- Ensure inclusive civil society engagement in Global Study and review process;
- Address WPS issues for all women and regions, not a select group or limited to Security Council agenda;
- Increase and strengthen tools and pressure to move from commitments to accomplishments;
- Strengthen the prevention pillar of the Women Peace and Security (WPS) agenda and the integrated human security approach;
- Strengthen protection and funding for women peace work and women human rights defenders;
- Engage non-traditional stakeholders;
- Implement WPS across the United Nations system; and
- Address emerging issues of conflict and extremism, including state violence and new technologies of war and surveillance.
