May 2011 Inclusive Security Newsletter
To have Inclusive Security's e-Newsletter sent to you every other month, please visit:
http://www.huntalternatives.org/pages/8357_subscribe_to_the_inclusive_security_newsletter.cfmI. Recent Activities
Changing Leadership at Inclusive Security
After five years as director of The Institute for Inclusive Security, Carla Koppell has taken a position with the US Agency for International Development, where she will serve as senior coordinator for Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment and senior adviser to the administrator. Along with her departure, Inclusive Security announces the promotion of three staff members to new leadership positions: Evelyn Thornton has been named chief executive officer; Jacqueline O'Neill, director; and Miki Jacevic, chief training officer. Ambassador Swanee Hunt continues as chair.
http://www.huntalternatives.org/pages/8705_leadership_change_at_
inclusive_security_a_note_from_the_chair_april_2011_.cfm
Moderating Extremism in Pakistan
With support from the US Institute of Peace, The Institute for Inclusive Security and its local partner in Pakistan, PAIMAN Alumni Trust, launched the “Women Moderating Extremism” program during a five-day workshop in Islamabad.
http://www.huntalternatives.org/pages/8693_
moderating_extremism_in_pakistan_april_2011_.cfm
Supporting Afghan Women Peacebuilders
Women peacebuilders from 12 insecure provinces in Afghanistan gathered at a March workshop in Kabul hosted by Afghan nonprofit The Liaison Office and Women Waging Peace Network Member Palwasha Hassan. They explored Afghan women’s perspectives on the peace process and developed recommendations for enhancing women’s inclusion in the Afghan Peace and Reintegration Program. Hassan and Network member Rangina Hamidi later traveled to Washington, DC, where Inclusive Security connected them to policymakers in the US Department of State and Congress.
http://www.huntalternatives.org/pages/8698_supporting_
afghan_women_peacebuilders_march_april_2011_.cfm
Elevating the Voices of Sudanese Women
Just weeks after the referendum that resulted in an over 99 percent vote in favor of secession, Inclusive Security traveled to Sudan to continue planning with Sudanese women for the peaceful creation in July of two new countries.
http://www.huntalternatives.org/pages/8692_
elevating_women_s_voices_in_sudan_february_2011_.cfm
Pushing for Ivorian Women’s Participation in Mediation
When hundreds of women peacebuilders from West Africa met in Abuja, Nigeria, to demand that the Economic Community of West African States include women in mediation processes in Cote d'Ivoire, Inclusive Security supported two Women Waging Peace Network members—Leymah Gbowee and Ruth Caesar, both of Liberia—to join them. With UN Women, Inclusive Security co-sponsored a discussion in New York on women’s participation in peace processes during the annual Commission on the Status of Women. Gbowee blogged about the deaths of several Ivorian women peacebuilders.
http://www.huntalternatives.org/pages/8690_
pushing_for_ivorian_women_s_participation_in_mediation_march_2011_.cfm
Supporting Palestinian Women Peacebuilders
Inclusive Security hosted four Palestinian women in DC for a week of advocacy with policymakers. The peacebuilders met with representatives of USAID, the House, Senate, State Department, and J Street, among others.
http://www.huntalternatives.org/pages/8694_
supporting_palestinian_women_peacebuilders_april_2011_.cfm
Highlighting Women, Peace and Security for Academics
Women in International Security, the Center for Complex Operations at the US National Defense University, and Inclusive Security co-hosted a reception at the International Studies Association annual conference, held this year in Montreal. More than 100 scholars attended and learned about the latest research on women, peace, and security and the need for more academic attention to this important topic.
http://www.huntalternatives.org/pages/8700_
highlighting_women_peace_and_security_for_academics_march_2011_.cfm
Focusing on Sexual Violence in Armed Conflict in Colombia
Carla Koppell led a discussion at the event “Sexual Violence: The Hidden Side of the Colombian Armed Conflict,” held March 23 in DC. Co-hosted with the US Office on Colombia and the Open Society Foundations, the event marked the release of the new Inclusive Security policy brief, “Strengthening Colombia’s Transitional Justice Process by Engaging Women.” A report titled “First Survey on the Prevalence of Sexual Violence against women in the context of the Colombian armed conflict 2001-2009" was also released.
Assisting NATO to Improve Operational Security
Inclusive Security is helping to strengthen NATO objectives by investigating how incorporating gender perspectives in operations contributes to enhanced security.
http://www.huntalternatives.org/pages/8707_
assisting_nato_to_improve_operational_security_april_2011_.cfm
Discussing Women, Peace and Security at USAID
Inclusive Security led a two-hour discussion on women, peace, and security for approximately 15 USAID staff members from the Office of Conflict Management and Mitigation, the Office of Democracy and Governance, and the Bureau for Democracy, Conflict and Humanitarian Assistance. This session generated ideas and momentum around the US National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security.
Joining the NGO Working Group on Women, Peace, and Security
Inclusive Security has joined the NGO Working Group on Women, Peace, and Security, which collaborates with the UN, its Member States and civil society toward full implementation of Security Council Resolution 1325 and all other Security Council resolutions that address women, peace and security.
http://www.huntalternatives.org/pages/8691_
inclusive_security_joins_the_ngo_working_group_on_women_peace_and_security_april_2011_.cfm
Analyzing Gender in Efforts to Consolidate Peace and Security in the Americas
Carla Koppell joined representatives of the Inter-American Commission of Women, the Geneva Centre for the Democratic Control of Armed Forces, the US Department of State, the Organization of American States Department of Public Security, and the US Institute of Peace for the XXIX Policy Roundtable of the OAS titled “Women, Peace and Security.”
http://www.oas.org/en/media_center/videos.asp?sCodigo=11-0046&videotype=&sCollectionDetVideo=9
II. Training
American University's Peacebuilding and Development Summer Institute
Miki Jacevic, Inclusive Security’s chief training officer, teaches a course in May titled “Inclusive Security: Expanding Participation of Women in Peace Processes” at American University’s Peacebuilding and Development Summer Institute in Washington, DC. Network member and Training of Trainers alumna Sujata Thapa of Nepal will co-facilitate.
http://www.american.edu/sis/pdi/Summer-Inst-Course-Description.cfm
III. New Publications from Inclusive Security
Leveraging Women’s Community Leadership: A Model for Outreach in Urban Refugee Populations (April 2011)
Assisting urban refugees presents unique challenges. As the proportion of refugees in urban areas continues to grow, it becomes increasingly important to identify successful models for reaching out across cities. The UN High Commissioner for Refugees’ office in Syria has developed an innovative approach to extending its reach across Damascus. This publication explains how UNHCR engages women leaders within refugee communities to improve service delivery. (6 pages) http://www.huntalternatives.org/pages/8684_
leveraging_women_s_community_leadership_a_model_for_outreach_in_urban_refugee_populations.cfm
Strengthening Colombia's Transitional Justice Process by Engaging Women (March 2011)
The Colombian National Commission for Reparation and Reconciliation (CNRR) is a transitional justice mechanism effectively structured for involving women and addressing their priorities and needs. Mainstreaming gender has involved advocating for particular women to serve as commissioners, support for the creation of a gender unit within the commission, close collaboration with women’s civil society organizations, capacity building for prosecutors and magistrates, and technical assistance to commissioners and staff. This document gives an overview of the CNRR's efforts to mainstream gender and provides guidance on how to adapt and replicate this impressive, comprehensive approach. (8 pages)
http://www.huntalternatives.org/pages/8660_
strengthening_colombia_s_transitional_justice_process_by_engaging_women.cfm
Across Conflict Lines: Women Mediating for Peace (March 2011)
Women remain largely absent from high-level international peace negotiations around the globe, particularly as mediators and facilitators of formal processes. This document summarizes findings from The Institute for Inclusive Security’s 12th Annual Colloquium, which brought together 21 female mediation experts from Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America, and the Middle East. It outlines the unique contributions women make to mediation and includes the experts’ specific recommendations for increasing the prevalence of female mediators, enhancing communication and cooperation with women and civil society during negotiations, and augmenting attention to women’s priorities and needs in peace talks. Women's collective expertise provides important insights into the need for improved mediation to create durable peace. (8 pages)
http://www.huntalternatives.org/pages/8677_
across_conflict_lines_women_mediating_for_peace.cfm
Visit our full list of publications for our Toolkit, policy commission reports, and more:
http://www.huntalternatives.org/pages/8049_publications_by_year.cfm
IV. Inclusive Security in the News
Michelle Barsa appeared in the radio townhall "Joined by War" taped in the capitals of the United States and Afghanistan in early May.
Birute Regine published an article titled “Women's Intelligence is Collective Intelligence” on PeacexPeace.org on April 14. Inclusive Security Chair Ambassador Swanee Hunt is cited throughout the article advocating for the positive attributes that women bring to peace processes.
http://www.peacexpeace.org/2011/04/womens-intelligence-is-collective-intelligence/
Carla Koppell and Haleh Esfandiari of the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars co-authored “Make sure women can lead in the Middle East” published in the Common Ground News Service on March 9.
http://www.commongroundnews.org/article.php?id=29397&lan=en&sid=2&sp=0
Carla Koppell published “The Word on Women—Half of peace accords fail within five years” on Trustlaw.org in March.
http://www.trust.org/trustlaw/blogs/the-word-on-women/half-of-peace-accords-fail-within-five-years
Carla Koppell joined a State Department celebration of the Decade of the African Woman and Women’s History Month in March.
http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2011/03/159261.htm
V. Upcoming Events
May 3–10 2011 (Sudan)
In collaboration with the National Democratic Institute, Inclusive Security will contribute to workshops with women in civil society and the South Sudan Legislative Assembly on women’s leadership in constitutional review processes.
May 4, 2011 (Washington, DC and Kabul, Afghanistan)
Inclusive Security Advocacy Specialist Michelle Barsa appears in a radio townhall "Joined by War" taped in the capitals of the United States and Afghanistan.
May 16–23, 2011 (Cairo, Egypt)
Inclusive Security travels to Cairo to meet with women leaders in civil society and government to discuss women's inclusion in the ongoing political transition.
May 23–27, 2011 (Jerusalem, Ramallah, and Tel Aviv)
Inclusive Security Senior Program Specialist Rebecca Miller travels to Jerusalem, Ramallah, and Tel Aviv to meet with Israeli and Palestinian coalitions of women leaders actively advocating for women's leadership in high-level decisionmaking.
May 24, 2011 (Brussels, Belgium)
Inclusive Security Director Jacqueline O’Neill facilitates sessions and presents at a meeting of the NATO Committee on Gender Perspectives.
For an up-to-date list of future events, please visit the Inclusive Security website's events page.
http://www.huntalternatives.org/pages/7868_events.cfm
VI. Select News from the Women Waging Peace Network
Click to read the expanded April 2011 update on the Network members’ activities summarized below.
Afghanistan
Rangina Hamidi and Palwasha Hassan traveled to DC to participate in a discussion on women’s role in reconstruction in Afghanistan. The two peacebuilders also met with US policymakers.
Cambodia
Mu Sochua discussed why politics matter to women at a DC event hosted by the National Democratic Institute.
Colombia
Sandra Suarez is the first woman candidate to run for governor in Antioquia Department, the capital of which is Medellín. Elections will be held in October.
India
Rita Manchanda was featured in the new publication Peacemaking in Asia and the Pacific: Women’s participation, perspectives and priorities, from the Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue.
Iraq
Mishkat Al Moumin contributed “How Defending Nature Can Defeat Al Qaeda” in a special issue of Solutions Journal. She also blogged at TrustLaw.
Liberia
On March 23, Ruth Caesar and Leymah Gbowee participated in the “Thousand Woman Protest March” in Abuja, Nigeria, demanding women's inclusion in mediation in Cote d'Ivoire. Media coverage included Agence France-Presse, The Inquirer, Afrique en ligne, Panapress, and African Feminist Forum.
Kenya
Njoki Wamai co-wrote a report titled “Beyond Numbers—Women's participation in the Kenya National Dialogue and Reconciliation.”
Nepal
Bandana Rana joined Inclusive Security for a discussion on Nepal’s National Action Plan on UN Security Council Resolution 1325.
Northern Ireland
Monica McWilliams spoke at the Inclusive Security offices in DC and published an article in a special issue of Solutions Journal.
Palestine
Cairo Arafat, Naila Ayesh, Amal Hadweh, and Enas Nazzal visited DC to practice messaging skills and advocate to US policymakers. Listen to the two-part Voice of America radio program Press Conference USA featuring all four women peacebuilders.
Philippines
Irene Santiago was featured in Exploring ways to empower women in peacemaking, a new publication from the Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue.
Sri Lanka
Kumudini Samuel was featured in Exploring ways to empower women in peacemaking, a new publication from the Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue.
Yemen
An anonymous member of the Women Waging Peace Network blogged about politics in Yemen at TrustLaw.
Click to read the expanded April 2011 update on the Network members’ activities summarized above.
About The Institute for Inclusive Security
The Institute for Inclusive Security uses research, training, and advocacy to promote the inclusion of all stakeholders, particularly women, in peace processes. We work with a global network of well over 1,000 women leaders from more than 40 conflict regions. Our research gives policymakers new strategies to drive inclusion by examining tangible contributions of women peacebuilders. Our training provides leaders the specialized skills and knowledge to direct local, national, and international peacebuilding. Our advocacy to high-level policymakers promotes change that makes peace processes more broad-based, and thus sustainable.
The Institute for Inclusive Security
2040 S Street NW, Suite 2
Washington DC, 20009
+1.202.403.2000
information@huntalternatives.org
www.InclusiveSecurity.org
To have Inclusive Security's e-Newsletter sent to you every other month, please visit:
http://www.huntalternatives.org/pages/8357_
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