Local Women, Global Impact: Advancing WPS through the Pact for the Future: A side event at the Summit of the Future

In conjunction with the Summit of the Future, OSCE and GNWP will convene a panel discussion on the Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) agenda. This event will serve as a platform to highlight the experiences and present actionable recommendations from grassroots women peacebuilders addressing the critical intersections of the WPS agenda with pressing issues in Central Asia, Eastern Europe, and the South Caucasus, all in pursuit of achieving local and global equitable peace and security.

Speakers

• Welcome remarks

Dr Lara Scarpitta, OSCE Senior Advisor on Gender Issues

HE Vanessa Frazier, Permanent Representative of Malta to the United Nations in New York

Ms Bandana Rana, Chair of the CEDAW Committee and Chair of the Board of Directors at GNWP

• Keynote Address

Ambassador Melanne Verveer, Executive Director of the Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace and Security

• Panel Discussions

Ms Anastasiia Nenka, Head of the Women Information and Consultatvie Center (Ukraine)

Ms Yekaterina Ushakova, National Coordinator Y-PEER (Kazakhstan)

Ms Ana Nemsadze, Women, Peace and Security Direction Coordinator, Women's Information Center (WIC) (Georgia)

• Concluding remarks

UN Women (TBC)

Moderator: Ms Maria Victoria 'Mavic' Cabrera Balleza, Founder and CEO of the Global Network of Women Peacebuilders

Background

The Summit of the Future at the United Nations provides a crucial platform to advance the Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) agenda, a vital framework for addressing global governance challenges and promoting a more inclusive, sustainable future. The WPS agenda is a cross-cutting imperative that should be integrated into all global peace and security discussions, necessitating its prominent inclusion in the Pact for the Future—the Summit's actionable outcome document.

OSCE and GNWP will spotlight local women peacebuilders and mediators working on key issues in Central Asia, Eastern Europe, and the South Caucasus, including the Localization of WPS, intergenerational partnerships, and sustainable financing. By bringing forward women's unique experiences and recommendations in conflict prevention, resolution, and peacebuilding, this dialogue will underscore their essential role in achieving the durable peace and inclusive security frameworks outlined in the Pact for the Future.

Incorporating the perspectives of women peacebuilders into the Pact is crucial as their grassroots insights offer unique solutions and enrich the discourse. This inclusion ensures that strategies and policies address the diverse needs of conflict-affected communities, informing gender-responsive approaches essential for sustainable peace and development.

Registration

Please register here. Event format: hybrid. Zoom details will be shared after registration.

Registration closes on 15 September at midnight.