Parliamentary action to ensure equal participation and sustainability in disarmament initiatives.
Webinar co-organized by the Inter-Parliamentary Union, Parliamentarians for Nuclear Non-proliferation and Disarmament, World Future Council and Youth Fusion.
This was the sixth in a series of international parliamentary events in follow-up to the publication of Assuring our Common Future: a parliamentary handbook on disarmament for security and sustainable development.
Thursday December 1, 2022. Livestreamed at PNND Facebook page.
Session A: Timed for Asia/Pacific: 7:00 – 8:30 Central Europe Time (CET).
Video-recording of Session A
Session B: Timed for the Americas/Europe/Africa: 16.00 – 17:30 CET.
Video-recording of Session B
Event Outline
The UN Secretary-General’s report Securing our Common Future, recommends that, in order to sustainably rid societies of the weight of armed violence, disarmament and arms control processes should include all relevant stakeholders and impacted parties. This includes empowering women and ensuring their equal and meaningful participation.
Following in the footsteps of UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on “Women, Peace and Security”, which recognizes the importance of including a gender perspective in peace-related efforts, parliaments should seek to identify and address the barriers that limit the participation of women in peace and disarmament-related matters.
Gender approaches to disarmament and security also address the different and disproportionate impact of weapons proliferation and armed conflicts on women, and incorporate a full range of perspectives and frameworks for security, including national/military, human and common security. These contribute to international processes and parliamentary practices that can make peace and disarmament efforts more inclusive, effective and sustainable. (See PNND: Gender, peace and security program).
The event will draw from relevant sections of Assuring our Common Future, including the section on Ensuring the participation of women in peace and disarmament.
Objectives of the event
1. Increase awareness of the value of gender perspectives and approaches in disarmament processes;
2. Enhance knowledge of Resolution 1325 (Women, Peace and Security) and good practices for its implementation;
3. Share examples of effective policies and parliamentary practices that better include women and gender approaches in disarmament-related efforts.
Languages
The event will take place as an online webinar. Session A in English. Session B with simultaneous translation in English, French and Spanish.
Program
Session A:
Introductions by the Co-chairs:
- Brigitte Brenner (Austria), IPU Permanent Oberver to the UN in Vienna;
- Michaela Sorensen (Mozambique/Denmark), PNND Gender, Peace and Security Program Officer and OSCE Youth Fellow;
Speakers:
- Karin Olofsson (Sweden), Secretary General, Parliamentary Forum on Small Arms and Light Weapons
- Aigerim Seitenova (Kazakhstan). Producer of the Youth Fusion podcast series Nuclear Collateral Damage: Conversations with Survivors and Experts;
- Major Alistair Plimmer Ret. (New Zealand), Senior Commander of the Bougainville Truce Monitoring Group;
Questions and interventions followed by panelist responses and concluding comments.
Session B
Introductions by the Co-chairs:
- Brigitte Brenner (Austria), IPU Permanent Oberver to the UN in Vienna;
- Melusine Lebret (France), Member Youth Fusion.
Speakers:
- Radha Day (United Nations), Chief of UN Office of Disarmament Affairs Regional Disarmament, Information and Outreach Branch;
- Dr Hedy Fry MP (Canada), OSCE Parliamentary Assembly Special Representative on Gender;
- Karin Olofsson (Sweden), Secretary General, Parliamentary Forum on Small Arms and Light Weapons
Questions and interventions, followed by panelist responses and concluding comments.