Women's Federation for World Peace International UN Office Geneva Report June - December 2024 — Carolyn Handschin

13TH OF SEPTEMBER, 2024

Women in Conflict Venue: UN Headquarters Geneva & WFWPI UN Office Geneva

On the 13th of September, a seminar on This is being done through various “Women in Conflict” was organized by initiatives, including microcredit projects and IMWU, with IHRAAM, WFWPI UN, and social development efforts. These initiatives NGOCSWGE at the Human Rights Council have led to reduced violence against women 57 in Geneva. The discussion focused on the and improved education for girls. It was urgent need for awareness and action pointed out that the term “widow” often regarding widows’ rights globally, as they conjures images of older women, but there is are often overlooked. The lack of data on a growing number of young widows, widows, due to many not having marriage including those as young as 16 years old. certificates, makes it difficult to quantify This demographic shift is linked to increased their numbers. Additionally, the challenges conflict and early enforced marriages, faced by widows, such as severe abuse and necessitating targeted protections for these discrimination compounded by traditional vulnerable individuals. harmful practices, were highlighted. Ms. Carolyn Hadschin emphasized the need The speakers stressed the need to stop these for human values, human rights dialogue, abuses and recognize widows as a powerful and the importance of listening attentively to group of survivors who can achieve the voices of victims. She highlighted that significant change when supported. violence cannot be tolerated and that Organizations like Widows Rights women, especially as mothers and heads of International have made strides in families, play a crucial role in understanding supporting widows. this instinctively.

7TH, 8TH, AND 9TH OF JUNE, 2024

Youth Peace Advocacy and Negotiation Training Venue: Beirut, Lebanon

The 4th edition of the Youth Peace Conference and Peace Accords was hosted on the 7th, 8th, and 9th of June, 2024 in Beirut, Lebanon. The Women’s Federation for World Peace International (WFWPI) UN Office Geneva organized the conference in partnership with the Youth and Student’s Association for Peace, Lebanon. Several higher educational Institutions in Beirut also joined. It had been advised that one cannot speak about war and peace now in Lebanon, but the Geneva team found something very different. The youth are passionate to speak about their engagement for peace and problem solving in their communities and among ethnicities. There was an in-depth discussion of the nation’s development, women’s rights, and peace. The event included a one-day training followed by two days of youth-led debates on various topics related to the “role of women’s development as a necessity for peace in the MENA region.” The ideas and insights shared on these vital topics were outstanding, and very real, and after engaging in meaningful discussions, recommendations were adopted that will be reported at our side event during the 56th Human Rights Council Sessions in Geneva.

12TH JUNE,2024

Ambassadors Breakfast Briefing, and B+30 update Venue: Vieux Bois Restaurant,Geneva

On June 12, the 5th NGO CSW Geneva Ambassador’s Breakfast Briefing was held at the Vieux Bois Restaurant under the leadership of WFWPI President Carolyn Handschin, the UN NGO Committee on the Status of Women Geneva. The event focused on “Women and Men Working Together for Gender Equality,” with informal discussions on preparations for the Beijing +30 recommendations on the Education and Training of Women.

Ideas such as financing innovation within educational institutions to identify and encourage future teachers, and providing grants and scholarships and raising the teaching profession to a more dignified prominence were addressed as Ambassadors, UN leaders and committee members sat together around breakfast tables to listen to one another’s concerns. Recommendations were gleaned that can be included in the documents being prepared by civil society for the intergovernmental meeting in October, that will then become part of the Beijing + 30 Report, eventually voted at the CSW69 in 2025.

17TH TO 22ND JUNE, 2024

Professional Academy Training Venue: UN Headquarters Geneva & WFWPI UN Office Geneva

WFWPI UN Office Geneva aims to provide young people with the opportunity to enhance their skills and knowledge in the area of development and women’s rights, while being emmersed in the ongoing 56th Human Rights Council, Its many events, meetings and opportunities to interact with governments and United Nations entities provide a perfect backdrop to the theme of international cooperation.

The Professional Academy on Human Rights and International Cooperation occurred in Geneva from June 17th to 22nd, 2024, part of a series of advocacy and knowledge-building programs on prevalent human rights issues. As part of our agenda was to include understanding mechanisms of international cooperation, reflection on human rights and development, the role of international development organizations, and collaborating projects for development.

Participants: We had young professional leaders from nine countries, representing different regions.

17TH TO 22ND JUNE, 2024

Internship During HRC56 Venue: UN Headquarters Geneva

In the second week of HRC56, we to the United Nations Office and other welcomed three new interns: Jessie from international organizations in Geneva.The South Africa, Sophia who is Swiss- interns also had the opportunity to debrief Canadian, and Haiqah, a Pakistani- their experiences with WFWPI President American. They were given tasks which Carolyn Handschin, the UN NGO included writing daily notes on significant Committee on the Status of Women events they attend and producing a Geneva. journalistic article on one of the issues discussed at these events, with references to HRC56 plenary discussions.

They attended several events, such as a special event by UN Women commemorating the International Day for the Elimination of Sexual Violence in Conflict, titled “Women Walking for Peace: Leveraging Human Rights Mechanisms for the Prevention and Response to Conflict- Related Sexual Violence.” This event featured participation from the Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary- General on Sexual Violence in Conflict, CEDAW, Justice Rapid Response, the Global Survivors Fund, and UN Women, and was supported by the Catalan Agency for International Development Cooperation (ACCD) and co-sponsored by the Permanent Mission of Guatemala

18TH JUNE,2024

Side Event on Fulfilling the Right to Education through International Cooperation Venue: UN Headquarters Geneva

June 18 was an important moment at our HRC56 panel on “Fulfilling the Right to Education through International Cooperation, especially in Conflict Zones”. In the presence of many government representatives, UN entities and fello NGO’s speakers highlighted collaboration among UN entities, governments and civil society, tapping into the broad matrix of human rights mechanisms so as to fight injustices like violence against women and conflict with greater effectiveness. The WFWPI UN Geneva’s Beirut Youth Peace Accord was presented as a best practice in intergenerational partnership for conflict resolution and social transformation. The panel included a comment from the former Special Rapporteur on Violence against Women. The side event was hosted by WFWPI, Soroptimist, and NGO CSW Geneva.

21ST JUNE, 2024

Challenges And Prospects For Women, Peace And Human Rights In Afghanistan Venue: UN Headquarters Geneva UPF and WFWPI collaboration

The event featured distinguished speakers During an interview Ms. Handschin, stated addressing various aspects of governance that, as an outcome, it has been decided to and peace in Afghanistan, emphasizing the reconvene at the UN later in the year, for a role of women. The program was full-day session. This meeting will bring introduced by Carolyn Handschin, Director together government representatives, of WFWPI Office for UN Relations, who experts, and NGO leaders for an in-depth referred to the decades of educational and discussion on collaborative efforts to development programs of WFWPI improve the situation in Afghanistan. Afghanistan, continuing outside the country since the Taliban takeover. Shah Gul Rezai, a former Afghan parliament member, and Doha peace negotiations participant, shared on the crucial role of women in Afghan governance and lessons from the peace talks. Rahmatullah Nabil, former Chief of Security of Afghanistan, presented strategies for sustainable governance and peace through inter-Afghan solutions. Mohammad Alam Izdyar, former Vice- President of the Afghan Senate, emphasized the strengthening the rule of law and human rights protection. Shukria Barakzai, former Deputy and Afghan Ambassador to Norway, addressed gender apartheid in Afghanistan. Finally, Dr. Rahela Kaveer, representing the “Afghan Peace Dialogue Movement,” highlighted the role of women in diplomacy, education, and women’s rights for peace in Afghanistan.

21ST JUNE, 2024

Women and Children in Conflict Venue: UN Headquarters Geneva

On June 21st, during the 56th Human Rights Council meeting our WFWPI President Carolyn Handschin, the UN NGO Committee on the Status of Women Geneva was invited by Peace Through Dialogue to speak at a side event. She spoke about the urgent issues faced by women and children in conflict and colonialism-affected areas. The event aimed to promote dialogue, improve understanding, and mobilize action to protect and empower women and children in conflict zones.

The speakers included representatives from Pakistan, Kasmir, Afghanistan, Zimbabwe. Voices of international advocates from WFWP UK, the EU Parliament and Widows for Peace contributed to the discussions. While some described heart- wrenching stories of failure to protect and violations of women and children in conflict, there were also commitments to solidarity among women and mothers. Proposals for a next event at the September session of the HRC were acknowledged.

21ST JUNE, 2024

WFWPI written statements submitted to 56 HRC Venue: UN Headquarters Geneva

source:https://documents.un.org/doc/undoc/gen/g24/069/76/pdf/g2406976.pdf? token=V70mqMDvnQmbKDNbHc&fe=true

Accomplishments June 2024 has been an exceptionally full month. The Women’s Federation for World Peace International (WFWPI) UN Office Geneva organized the 4th edition of the Youth Peace Conference in Beirut, Lebanon. The conference focused on discussions about the nation’s development, women’s rights, and peace, with a one- day training session followed by two days of youth-led debates on the role of women’s development for peace in the MENA region. Recommendations that were made during the conference will be reported at the ongoing 56th Human Rights Council Sessions in Geneva.

The NGO CSW Ambassadors Breakfast Briefing discussions in June brought governments and civil society together to prepare for the Beijing + 30 Review and Civil Society Forum in October, which we are hosting. Intensive discussions are bringing together hundreds of women and their organizations across our broad ECE region to formulate our recommendations that we hope will define policies for decades to come.

Additionally, we hosted the Professional Academy Training on Human Rights and International Cooperation, giving the young leaders the platform to express their views and assisting them in starting their initiatives.

The side events on the Right to Education,Challenges And Prospects For Women, Peace And Human Rights In Afghanistan and Women and Children in Conflict were held to promote dialogue, understanding, and focused government / civil society collaboration in these important areas. Two statements, cosigned by other NGO’s, were submitted to the HRC56, coming out of the work of the 7th WFWPI Human Rights Internship Program (February to May).

15 OCTOBER ,2024

World Council of Churches Venue: Geneva

The World Council of Churches (WCC) invited WFWPI UN OFFIce Director, UN Women and others to speak on B+30 outcomes. Ms.Carolyn Handschin participated in the opening session of their Women’s Human Rights Advocacy training on October 15, 2024, in Geneva.

This annual training, which coincides with CEDAW sessions, aimed to enhance the capacity and skills of faith-based organizations in conducting gender justice and women’s human rights advocacy from local to global levels. The opening panel focused on Beijing+30, followed by breakout groups for further informal engagement. Ms.Carolyn’s participation was highly valued due to her vast experience in global advocacy.

21ST JUNE, 2024

Beijing+30 Civil Society Forum Geneva A clarion call for partnership Venue: Geneva

From October 19th to 20th, the Beijing+30 Review for Civil Society in the UNECE region was held in Geneva, organized by the NGO Committee on the Status of Women-Geneva. The invitation to joins forces has been sent to the ECE region, using a variety of tools and networks. Major global and local organizations, including the Women’s Major Group, the NGO Committees on the Status of Women Geneva, Vienna and New York, the Europe and North America Caucus, were invited. All 56 countries of the UNECE were represented in the Working Groups (WG).

WG were established for each of the 12 Critical Areas of concern, and each engaged virtually dozens of times throughout. WFWPI led two groups; “Education for Women and Girls” and “Women and the Environment”. Each group approached the task slightly differently, depending on the expertise and in some cases, even sub-groups were created.

A 1000-word statement, from each of the Working Groups, signposting key civil society concerns though acknowledging achievements in addition to gaps and challenges was created as well as a paper with three recommendations, short-, medium- and long-term actions submitted to the Government Review on October 21-22. The recommendations all included civil society commitment to partnership.

19-20 OCTOBER ,2024

Intergovernmental Meeting Venue: UN Headquarters Geneva

Following the impactful Civil Society Consultations and Forum hosted by the NGO CSW Geneva on October 19-20, the President and two Vice Presidents were invited to deliver statements with recommendations to the ECE Beijing +30 Intergovernmental Review on October 21-22.

This culminated in a year’s work of gathering input, assessing gaps, and success related to the promises made by governments across the 52 countries of the entire ECE Region in 1995 in the 12 Critical Areas of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action. Over 300 women representing 65 plus NGOs participated in the many hundreds of virtual Working Group meetings that culminated in the statements, summaries and reports that can be found here: From October 19th to 20th, the Beijing +30 Review for Civil Society in the UNECE region was held in Geneva, organized by the NGO Committee on the Status of Women-Geneva.

Additionally, 7 selectively prepared civil society written statements were submitted to the ECE and UNWomen, hosts for the governmental forum, to be included in their report to the global gathering at the 69th Commission on the Status of Women in New York in March 2025 .

11 DECEMBER ,2024

7th Ambassadors Briefing / Government-Civil Society Roundtable Venue: Geneva

NGOCSW Geneva hosted its Ambassador’s Breakfast Briefing Series, “Women and Men Working Together for Gender Equality” at the Vieuxbois Restaurant on December 11. Discussions at this 7th event followed up on the recommendations of both governments and civil society at the Beijing +30 ECE Intergovernmental Review October 21- 22 and identified the challenges, gaps and strengths in civil society cooperation. The participants included eleven governments, the UN Economic Commission for Europe, UN Women Geneva, and UNESCO Geneva.

Significant outcomes include a tripartite partnership with several young democracies (after 1990) and two UN Agencies to provide training to local NGOs in their nations throughout 2025. NGOCSW Geneva will be host, with WFWPI as lead coordinator, providing educational elements.