News and Updates
COVID-19 and its impact on women’s participation in peace processes: Challenges and opportunities
As weeks of lock downs, remote work, and stay-at-home orders turn into months, at ICAN we continue to regularly connect virtually with our partners in the Women’s Alliance for Security Leadership (WASL).
On May 7, we were joined by H.E. Anne Linde, Swedish Minister for Foreign Affairs, as the discussions focused on how the pandemic is impacting current peace processes.
ICAN in Conversation: Recent Webinars, Discussions and Panel Events
May 12: Olive Branch or Fig Leaf? The Risks and Opportunities of the Global Ceasefire Call in the Time of Corona - LSE Centre for Women, Peace and Security May 12: Preventing Violent Extremism in time of COVID, Ground Realities & Global Responsibilities - UNDP May...
How do Women Peacebuilders Cope with Rising Domestic Violence and the Humanitarian Impacts of COVID-19?
“Where is the State?”
With a deficient response from, and sometimes the complete absence of, governments and the international community, civil society and women peacebuilders across the world are taking the responsibility of responding to their communities needs.
However, they need the resources, recognition, and support of their governments and the international community. In the words of a peacebuilder from Cameroon, “civil society is there ready to take the lead, but by what means and by which roads.”
The fifth weekly virtual meeting of the Women’s Alliance for Security Leadership (WASL) focused on women peacebuilders’ humanitarian response with guests including H.E. Ambassador Kåre Aas, Norwegian Ambassador to the US; Luc Duckendorf from the Luxembourg Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Amjad Saleem from the International Federation of the Red Cross.
Read the full summary of the meeting.
Ground Realities: Women, Peacebuilding & the Pandemic
How can people stay home when they are dependent on daily wages to feed their families? How can they wash hands if there is no soap or water? From Cameroon to Yemen, women are making soap, and tackling the lack of water. As first responders, women peacebuilders are trying to fill the vacuums and urgent basic needs in terms food, sanitization and security such as mediating ceasefires and calling for prisoners’ release.
On April 23, 2020. Assistant Secretary General Asako Okai, UNDP’s Crisis Bureau Director, and her colleagues joined the ICAN-hosted call with some 45 women peacebuilders across Asia, Africa, the Arab World and Latin America to discuss health care, livelihood and crisis management in the time of Corona.
Read the full summary of the meeting
Part II: How are Women Peacebuilders Responding to Covid-19?
The second weekly virtual meeting of the Women’s Alliance for Security Leadership (WASL) continued the discussion of what women peacebuilders around the world are doing to respond to COVID-19. The conversation also revealed emerging trends in the way the pandemic is impacting peace and security, from reinforcing authoritarian practices to providing fuel for extremist narratives.
How is the Pandemic Exacerbating Extremisms?
The discussion in the third WASL virtual meeting addressed the question: how is the pandemic exacerbating or alleviating xenophobia, ethno-nationalism, religious or other extremisms and are there gendered dimensions to this?
Around the world, women peacebuilders report an uptick in hate speech, xenophobia, and extremist messaging. In The Maldives, for example, extremists are recruiting by brainwashing people into believing the pandemic is the wrath of God for not following religious instruction. In Sri Lanka, Islamic burial rites are being denied despite complying with WHO guidelines and Muslims are being portrayed in mainstream media as spreading the disease. Elsewhere it is the government’s poor or biased response that is feeding into extremist narratives. In Cameroon, for example, responses threaten to exacerbate the conflict because only prisoners from certain regions were given clemency to alleviate the crowding in prisons.
Women Peacebuilders Responding to Covid-19 – Virtual Calls Summary
Starting from April 2, 2020, and on weekly basis, some 30+ members of Women’s Alliance for Security Leadership (WASL) gather for a two-hour virtual meeting.
Here you can download summaries of discussions that took place and know What the Women Say about the situation in their countries, ongoing challenges, early warning signs, and local women peacebuilders’ response.
ICAN’s Statement on our Gender- and Conflict-Sensitive Response to COVID-19
As we watch our own leaders react, we at ICAN are reminded and humbled by the strength and dignity of our partners in the Women’s Alliance for Security Leadership (WASL). For years they have faced the threat of war and militarism, of displacement and life-threatening diseases, and at each turn, they have stepped up to the plate to be the first responders in their communities. To support them, we are adapting our activities to respond to the current crisis, while retaining our focus on inclusive peacebuilding and prevention of violent extremism.
Please read the statement to know how ICAN is responding to COVID-19.
How are Women Peacebuilders Responding to Covid-19?
By Helena Gronberg
On April 2, 2020 some 40+ members of Women’s Alliance for Security Leadership (WASL) gathered for a two-hour virtual meeting. The objective of this first virtual get-together was to share reflections and experiences as well as solidarity around how the Covid-19 pandemic is affecting local women peacebuilders around the globe. It is evident that the crisis is driving many to yet again step up and lead the charge against the pandemic in their communities.
Women Peacebuilders on the Frontlines of COVID-19
Women peacebuilders are again on the frontlines, working to prevent the spread of a pandemic in their communities. When civil society is strong and independent, CSOs can respond to a variety of crises, from war to a pandemic.
Women, Peace and Security in the Time of Corona
An op-ed by Sanam Naraghi Anderlini about the gendered impact of COVID-19, and the relevance of the WPS agenda.
Yemen’s Food for Humanity Foundation: Humanity calls for an immediate cease fire to ensure an emergency medical response
Press Release: Food for Humanity Foundation: Humanity calls for an immediate cease fire to ensure an emergency medical response in Yemen to COVID 19 and Cholera outbreak
ICAN Launches Campaign in Washington DC to “Stand with Women Peacebuilders”
In celebration of International Women’s Day, the Embassy of Norway and the International Civil Society Action Network (ICAN) convened a panel discussion, New Decade, New Promise: Call to Action to Stand with Women Peacebuilders, on March 11th at the Ambassador’s residence.
“Protecting Women Peacebuilders” workshop convened in London
With participation of governments and civil society, the meeting sought to develop practical guidance and policy recommendations for governmental and intergovernmental actors seeking to play a proactive role in the protection women peacebuilders.
Now in Russian, Gendered Transitional Justice and Gender Responsive Ceasefires Animations
We are excited to launch the Russian versions of the Better Peace Initiatives’ animations: Gender Responsive and Inclusive Ceasefires, and Gendered Transitional Justice!