24 March 2022 | 12:30pm-2:00pm EST Women’s Intercultural Network joined with Global Partnership for the Prevention of Armed Conflict (GPPAC), UN Women, Shifting the Power Coalition, and the Australian Mission to co-sponsor A virtual informal discussion on how some of the key recommendations of CSW 66 can be operationalized in practice through existing platforms (i.e., the UNSC and UN Climate and Security Mechanism, the Women, Peace and Security and Humanitarian Action Compact (WPS-HA Compact, etc.)
The conversation was Moderated by Sharon Bhagwan Rolls, GPPAC Pacific Regional Representative & Regional Director – Shifting the Power Coalition and began with Marina Kumskova, GPPAC Senior UN Policy and Advocacy Advisor sharing an overview and key takeaways from the CSW66 Agreed Conclusions.
Given the backdrop of UN Security Council Resolution 2242 (S/RES/2242) recognizing the impacts of climate change and the global nature of health pandemics on the trajectory of conflict, and given the inaugural meeting of the Informal Expert Group on Climate and Security in November 2020, which was followed in February 2021, by the UNSC convening for a high-level open debate on climate and security, governments and civil society recognize the linkage between climate vulnerability and conflict fragility.
In this discussion, global peacebuilding and development experts shared the key takeaways from the CSW discussions and the ways the key commitments can inform peacebuilding and development action. This discussion continued building on the ongoing progress in the development of global policy and finance supporting climate security action, including from an intersectional feminist perspective. References were made to important lessons learned from local peacebuilding networks – through their various entry points – who have been able to consolidate knowledge and expertise on climate and security and systematize information exchange through institutionalized channels of multi-stakeholder action. Noted was UNDP report “What Infrastructures for Peace support Peacebuilding in the context of Fragility and Crisis”.
Speakers included:
Christine Clarke, Ambassador for Women and Girls, the representative of Australia
Kyra Luchtenberg, Peace and Security Analyst, Peace, Security and Humanitarian Section at UN Women
Carolyn Kitione, Shifting the Power Coalition Learning Coordinator
Olha Zaiarna, GPPAC Regional Representative for Eastern Europe, Ukraine
Marion Akiteng, Gender Focal Person at Centre For Conflict Resolution (CECORE), Uganda
Catherine Wong, Policy Specialist – Climate and Security Risk, Crisis Bureau UNDP
Ms. Hayley Keen, Australia’s Mission to the United Nations