Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace and Security

As 2024 comes to a close, we want to thank you for your commitment to our common cause. This has been a particularly challenging time for women. Conflicts rage around the globe, taking the greatest toll on women and their families. But this is not the full story. Women are also on the frontlines working to resolve conflicts, protect human rights, and advance economic opportunity. They are leaders and changemakers with whom we are privileged to work.  This year, we launched the first-ever Women, Peace and Security Conflict Tracker, convened women leaders from Sudan, Ukraine and Afghanistan to inform policymakers, inaugurated a new Middle East and North Africa Women Peacebuilders Initiative, published new research on conflict-related sexual violence, climate change and more, presented at high-level global conferences, and hosted Nobel Peace Prize winners. Next year—2025—will mark 25 years since the UN Security Council adopted the landmark resolution on Women, Peace and Security, which recognized the critical role women play in peacebuilding. We look forward to working with you to leverage this milestone year in ways that advance progress for women and a better world. From all of us at GIWPS, thank you, happy holidays, and may there be peace on earth 🕊️🌍 Read more about our work this year: https://lnkd.in/efi5Z9hN

We condemn the Iranian regime's latest effort to further restrict the rights of women and girls. The "Chastity and Hijab" law is yet another manifestation of Iran's effort to oppress women and girls systematically. This law should be immediately repealed. https://lnkd.in/eiYXZQ3C

We hosted a roundtable with Oleksandra Matviichuk on the critical importance of strongly supporting Ukraine and ensuring the country's security against Russia’s aggression. This event took place on the same day that Russia unleashed a fusillade on cities across Ukraine in the now almost three-year full-scale invasion. Russia is especially targeting the electrical system to rob Ukrainians of heat and light and break their spirit in the cold of winter. It is critical for Ukraine to prevail not only for its independence, freedom, and identity but also to protect democracy, international order, and the security of other nations. We were honored to have Ukraine’s Ambassador, Oksana Markarova, former US Ambassador to Ukraine, John Tefft, and Ambassador of Lichtenstein to the US, Georg Sparber, join us as well.

We recently launched our latest report, “Pathways to Justice and Accountability for Conflict-Related Sexual Violence: Lessons Learned and Policy Recommendations from the Frontlines,” on the widespread use of conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV) and its devastating impacts on individuals and communities, which can last generations and undermine peace and security efforts. Authored by Jess Keller, the report presents actionable policy recommendations for key stakeholders to hold perpetrators accountable, meet survivor needs, and follow through on their commitments to deliver justice. It draws on insights from leaders in Ukraine, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Kosovo, and Colombia that we convened this fall, with support from the Embassy of Germany in Washington, D.C. Read the full report and watch our launch event recording here: https://lnkd.in/gdsvTuFS

GIWPS Policy Associate Ana Lejava reflects on Georgia's recent election—including the protests in Tbilisi, attended by nearly 200,000 people—and how it has threatened democracy and women's rights. "What is unfolding in Georgia serves as a stark reminder of the challenges facing democracy and gender equality worldwide,” she writes. Despite this setback, Georgia’s first female president continues to fight against authoritarianism and stand up for Georgia’s democratic values. Read more about President Zurabishvili and the fight for Georgia’s democratic future in Ms. Magazine. https://lnkd.in/eRX64-iR

GIWPS Senior Fellow Dr. Xanthe Scharff reflects on the end of the Assad regime—and what it means for Syrian women. #Syria

Our network of Global Women Leaders called on the international community to support the Georgian people and President Salome Zourabichvili as they take to the streets to protest the Russia-aligned ruling party’s suspension of EU accession. Read their letter. https://lnkd.in/ex3UAcEY

Join us on Human Rights Day, December 10th at 10:00 a.m. ET, for a virtual launch of an important new GIWPS report “Pathways to Justice and Accountability for Conflict-Related Sexual Violence,” created with support from the Embassy of Germany in Washington, D.C. We will be joined by women working to achieve justice for survivors in Ukraine, Kosovo, Bosnia-Herzegovina, and Colombia. As conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV) rages on around the world with impunity, these expert panelists will draw from their experiences across conflicts to discuss lessons learned for addressing the global scourge of CRSV, and offer insights into new avenues for accountability and action that meet survivor needs. Click here to RSVP: https://lnkd.in/ghCcXKtf

We had the privilege of participating in an international conference on Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) held in the Philippines last month. This conference was particularly significant for GIWPS as it marked the launch of the third Women, Peace and Security Center of Excellence in our partnership with the U.S. Department of State and fellow implementing partner the Gender Action for Peace and Security (GAPS) UK. The centers, also located in Kosovo and Colombia, serve as regional hubs for advancing the WPS Agenda. The launch of the WPS Center in Manila provided an invaluable opportunity for global leaders and experts to reflect on the progress of the WPS Agenda, share insights, and discuss strategies to accelerate the full participation of women in peacebuilding efforts around the world. The conference focused on “Bridging Regions for Women, Peace and Security” and was co-organized by the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (OPAPRU); the Philippine Center for Islam and Democracy (PCID) led by Ms. Amina Rasul; and the ASEAN Institute for Peace and Reconciliation (ASEAN-IPR) and featured notable civil society organizations and distinguished peace advocates. “It was a privilege and a pleasure to attend a global conference of over 800 leaders in government and civil society all focused on advancing the WPS Agenda,” said our Managing Director Carla Koppell, “It was a remarkable demonstration of the commitment in the Philippines and around the world to learn from one another and share best practices on critical topics including intersections between climate change and elevating women in peacebuilding, the need to further integrate women into the security sector, and the importance of integrating the WPS Agenda into education.”

A delegation from GIWPS participated in COP29 Azerbaijan last week to advocate for gender-inclusive and conflict-sensitive climate action. While there, we convened two expert panels in partnership with the Nizami Ganjavi International Center and with support from the Embassy of Germany in Washington, D.C. Our first panel, “Promoting and Supporting Women’s Leadership for Effective Climate Action and an Inclusive Just Transition,” focused on the importance of women’s leadership in environmental protection, supporting entrepreneurship, and climate-smart solutions. Panelists included H.E. Sheikha Shamma bint Sultan bin Khalifa Al Nahyan, H.E. María Fernanda Espinosa Garcés, Founder and CEO of Energy Act Ukraine Yuliana Onishchuk, CEO of Carbfix Dr. Edda Aradottir, Policy Director of the Women's Environment & Development Organization Mwanahamisi Singano, and Management Consultant of the Self Employed Women's Association Shivna Majmudar. Our panel on “The Gender, Climate, and Security Nexus” highlighted the intersection of climate change and conflict, with urgent examples from Ukraine, the Sahel, and Colombia. Panelists included Former Deputy Prime Minister of Georgia H.E. eka tkeshelashvili; Former Executive Secretary of the UNFCCC Amb. Patricia Espinosa Cantellano; Former Chairperson of the State Committee for Family, Women and Children Affairs of Azerbaijan Hijran Huseynova; Co-Chair of International Indigenous Peoples Forum on Climate Change Hindou Oumarou Ibrahim; Climate Justice Coordinator at Climalab Ángela Ocampo; Climate Change Expert at EcoAction Ukraine Sofia Sadogurska; and Advocacy Coordinator at the Conflict and Environment Observatory Ellie Kinney.   We must ensure women are active participants in shaping solutions and advancing inclusive climate action. Read more about our three top takeaways from COP for the gender and climate agenda: https://lnkd.in/exs_Y3pD