Challenges Forum Webinar: WPS 2020 – How can A4P be a catalyst?
On 11 February 2020, the Challenges Forum International Secretariat held an open webinar on how Action for Peacekeeping (A4P) can be a catalyst for advancing the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) agenda. The webinar was co-hosted by Folke Bernadotte Academy. The webinar is now available to watch online.
The panel consisted of:
- Njoki R Kinyanjui, Chief of Gender Unit & Senior Gender Adviser, Department of Peace Operations, United Nations
- Lisa Sharland, Challenges Forum Senior Advisor and Head of the International Program at the Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI) in Canberra, Australia
- Gabriela Elroy, Head of the Women, Gender Equality and Youth Programme at the Folke Bernadotte Academy in Sweden
The webinar started off with a discussion on how A4P can be a catalyst for advancing the WPS agenda and the necessary steps to be taken. Women’s roles in peacekeeping missions were discussed as well as how to address the need to increase the number of women serving in field missions. The panellists shared their views on the need to create an environment within peacekeeping missions which enable female participation. The webinar highlighted women’s participation in peace operations from both a rights-based and instrumentalist approach. Another question discussed was the challenges and opportunities facing gender advisers in missions.
Following the panel discussion, an active Q&A session with the audience was held. Webinar participants watching the webinar live could chat questions adressed to the panellists.
The key points of the discussions have been summarized in a short paper which is available to download here.
The chair of the webinar was Dr. Björn Holmberg, Director of the Challenges Forum International Secretariat (CFIS) who broadcasted from the Challenges Forum Partner The US Army Peacekeeping and Stability Operations Institute (PKSOI). Maria Bedford, Senior Officer at CFIS, moderated the discussions.