Online meeting on Women, Peace, and Security

WPS Meeting Oct. 2023

On October 16th, the Swedish Dialogue Institute for the Middle East and North Africa convened an online meeting on Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) in the MENA region. The meeting gathered a group of prominent experts from the MENA region, Europe, and Canada, representing diverse sectors such as academia, civil society, international organizations and public sector.

Throughout the discussions, participants engaged in a rich exchange of diverse perspectives, delving into the complexities of the Women, Peace, and Security agenda and its implementation in light of recent regional developments. They called for a comprehensive reevaluation of peace strategies and for enhancing efforts to develop inclusive and sustainable processes.

Central to the discussions was a unanimous recognition of the critical role of women’s comprehensive participation within all societal frameworks and in all levels of peace building processes. Several participants expressed concern over women’s involvement still being limited, in particular in more formal settings, among decision makers and around negotiating tables.Key take-aways from the meeting included:

• Inclusive Participation: Ensuring women's active and meaningful involvement across all facets of society is fundamental to realizing sustainable peace and the full potential of the Women, Peace, and Security agenda.
• Shrinking Civil Space: While women’s prominent roles in the context of civil society was highlighted, participants expressed serious concerns in the face of shrinking civic spaces, pointing to women facing increasing threats and gender-based violence (GBV), which in turn creates an environment where essential voices are restrained, participation is undermined, and societal advancement is hindered.
• Paradigm Shift in Conflict Resolution: A fundamental change in perspective is needed, moving from a mentality of winning wars to one dedicated to ending them. This approach underscored the importance of sustainable peace strategies, prioritizing human rights and long-term societal stability over temporary military victories.
• Accountability in NAPs: The effectiveness of National Action Plans (NAPs) is hindered by a lack of genuine commitment to their implementation, often stemming from governmental reluctance to alter existing power structures. Advocacy efforts should be intensified, highlighting incentives about the societal and governmental benefits that sincere implementation of the WPS agenda can bring.

For more details, read the Report from online meeting on Women, Peace, and Security