The Permanent Mission of Sweden to the UN and the UN Office for Disarmament Affairs invite you to a panel discussion on gender-responsive and inclusive disarmament policy in line with the women and peace and security (WPS) agenda. Participants are invited to submit questions via the registration form and share practices and ideas on activating a gender-transformative vision for disarmament at the center of peace and security.
The UN Secretary-General has called on WPS and disarmament actors to work together in bringing the world to invest in human over militarized security. Civil society and researchers are producing evidence for alternative definitions of security for greater equality. Disarmament and arms control are central to this vision of a more people-centred approach to international peace and security.
States have committed repeatedly to the full, equal and meaningful participation of women in disarmament, arms control and non-proliferation, and to address the gendered impact of weapons and violence through the General Assembly resolution 65/69 (2010) and other normative frameworks. Yet, the majority of those speaking in disarmament decision-making forums are still men, and systematic gender analysis in all areas of disarmament is inconsistent.
Sweden was the first of several countries to launch a feminist foreign policy, which places the rights, representation and resources of women and girls at the center of foreign policy, including peace and security. Last year, UN Secretary-General Guterres released his report “Our Common Agenda” and announced a New Agenda for Peace, highlighting holistic approaches to peace and security with gender equality at the center, and UNODA updated its Gender Policy to integrate a gender perspective and inclusion in all its work.
With the policies in place, the question becomes how to translate policy commitments into practice and accountability. This event will explore what a gender-reponsive and intersectional disarmament agenda looks like in action, and how to respond holistically to future security challenges.
Anna Karin Eneström, Permanent Representative of Sweden to the UN, will make introductory remarks, followed by a discussion with Izumi Nakamitsu, Under-Secretary-General and UN High Representative for Disarmament Affairs, Ray Acheson, Director of Reaching Critical Will, and more speakers. The session is moderated by UN-Women.
Discussion questions:
- What are the causes for women’s underrepresentation in multilateral disarmament fora and how can we ensure diverse and meaningful participation and leadership in disarmament diplomacy?
- What is needed to conduct gender analysis in all disarmament programs, including on the impact of weapons and for eliminating gender-based violence?
- How do gender roles and masculinities, contribute to defining security and how can disarmament support a shift towards more people-centered security?
- What practical measures and partnerships are
- needed to better connect gender equality, WPS and disarmament efforts in a complex security landscape?
You can watch the event live on Youtube here.