XV Summit of the Non-Aligned Movement
First Ladies Summit
WOMEN IN CRISIS MANAGEMENT
Perspectives on Current Challenges, Best Practices and Lessons Learned
Sharm El Sheikh
July 15-16, 2009
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Concept Paper
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XV Summit of the Non-Aligned Movement
First Ladies Summit
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Women in Crisis Management
Perspectives and Challenges, Best Practices and Lessons Learned
I. Background
The world is living in unprecedented times, witnessing a global economic and financial crisis, the volatility in global food prices as well as climate change-related hazards. These enormous challenges have raised the attention of the international community to the need for a significant shift towards an improved globalization based on sustainability, human dignity, broader social protection and effective dialogue. In turn this necessitates direct engagement of women in crisis management related, but not limited to the said crises.
The NAM First Ladies Summit is scheduled to be held on 15-16 July 2009 in Sharm El Sheikh, in conjunction with the Non-Aligned Movement Heads of States and Governments Summit, under the title: Women in Crisis Management: Perspectives and Challenges " Best Practices and Lessons Learned". This theme is in line with the Non-Aligned Movement focus on addressing the global challenges we face today.
The role of women in the development of their societies has been under focus by NAM countries in the last decade. This resulted in convening two ministerial meetings on women issues and concerns, together with the establishment of a NAM Institute for the Empowerment of Women in Kualalumpur, Malaysia. Hence, we need more concrete efforts, with action oriented measures in the areas of advancement of women and achievement of sustained economic growth and the sustainable development of our societies.
The NAM First Ladies Summit provides a unique opportunity in the pursuit of such objectives.
II. Summtit Objectives
The First Ladies Summit aims at making assessment of the challenges we are facing today. It will further attempt to convey a strong political message through a viable gender perspective from NAM countries on the appropriate means to address these challenges.
The summit will constitute a platform for NAM First Ladies to identify ways and means through which women can play an effective role in crisis management. This will take place through the following:
• Inputs provided through the presentations of key United Nations Agencies on the current financial, food humanitarian and health crises focusing on the importance of paying due consideration to the needs of women, especially in NAM countries, and to integrate them in the different stages of the crisis management.
• Insights on the scope of the crises, identifying best practices and lessons learned at the national, regional and international levels as well as exploring areas of cooperation and coordination among NAM members.
• Inputs on the challenges facing the empowerment of women, the role of women in peace-building, conflict resolution and natural disasters.
• Exploring ways and means to further develop and share capacity building initiatives to meet the needs of women in cooperation with the United Nations system and the civil society.
III. Overview of the Programme of Work and sub-themes for discussion
The First Ladies Summit will be divided in two substantive sessions. The first session will take place in the afternoon of the 15th of July 2009. The meeting will resume on the morning of the 16th of July through a second working session. (Please refer to the attached draft agenda and draft program of work)
Day One:
The Inaugural Statement by H.E. Mrs. Suzanne Mubarak, First Lady of Egypt will be followed by presentations seven minutes each by the heads of FAO and WFP. An interactive dialogue will follow and discussants will be given five minutes each to address the meeting. Discussants are encouraged to focus on the sub-theme of working session one as follows:
Sub-theme for Working Session One: Expanding Prospects for Women in the Context of the Global Economic and Food Crises – Transforming Challenges into Opportunities.
Expanding economic opportunities to women is vital to overcome negative consequences resulting from Global Crises. This session will explore ways and means through which our societies can further harness national and regional initiatives that enhance the role of women in crises management. Participants are encouraged to address the following questions:
How can NAM help women prepare themselves for challenges ahead? What are the required tools to transform challenges into opportunities?
This session may also address the following issues:
Identification and response to specific needs of women in crises.
Integration of a gender perspective in policies and responses.
Exploration of Global Plans and means of enhancing cooperation and coordination between relevant stakeholders and development of more cohesive strategies.
Identification of best practices and success stories.
Day Two:
Sub-theme for Working Session Two: Enhancing Women's Role in Addressing Global Humanitarian and Health Crises.
Presentations will be made by the heads of WHO and ITU on global humanitarian and health crises.
In a world facing increased and recurrent humanitarian and health crises, the role of women is essential in effective crisis management and the well being of their societies. The purpose of this session is to exchange experiences and lessons learned from the participation of women in various phases of management of humanitarian and health crises, with a special focus on integrating a gender perspective into all crisis management related activities.
The UNSC Resolution 1325 (2000) and also UNSC Resolution 1820 (2008) offer meaningful perspectives in the role of women on crisis management (attached is an overview of "Suzanne Mubarak Women's International Peace Movement (SMWIPM)"). The role that modern information and communication technologies can play in addressing these crises will also be discussed. This session may also address the following questions:
How are women disproportionately affected during the various phases of humanitarian and health crises? what are the best ways of addressing their needs?
What are the different approaches identified by international organizations and relevant international actors to address these crises?
How can we create synergies and enhance cooperation between various stakeholders when addressing humanitarian and health crises?
What role can modern information and communication technologies play in confronting these crises?
IV. Outcome and Recommendations:
In conclusion, a Chair's Summary, including main points of discussion and recommendations, resulting from the debate, will represent the outcome of the First Ladies Summit. A follow-up mechanism can be envisaged to mobilize the engagement of all stakeholders in order to implement the points of agreement resulting from this summit, among which a special Web-site designed as a tool of networking, exchange of views, experiences and best practices.
OVERVIEW ON THE SUZANNE MUBARAK WOMEN’S INTERNATIONAL PEACE MOVEMENT (SMWIPM)
The Suzanne Mubarak Women’s International Peace Movement (SMWIPM) is a non-profit, non-governmental international association established in 2003 with a mandate to mobilize, empower and engage global citizens in enhancing peace and human security. The Movement’s vision for peace extends beyond the absence of war, to focus on peace in its broadest and most holistic sense, building safe communities by targeting the root causes of violence. The Movement seeks to empower women and youth, engaging them in the promotion of human security taking into consideration the imperatives of human rights, justice, tolerance, democracy and equality. Furthermore, it is highly dedicated to transforming ground realities for marginalized and vulnerable segments of societies, building bridges of tolerance and respect across borders and fostering a global culture of peace.
History of SMWIPM Empowerment of Women
The Suzanne Mubarak Women’s International Peace Movement is dedicated to creating partnerships with individuals and groups working for peace in its broadest sense, catalyzing their ideas and expertise into consolidated action. Towards this end, the Movement has created a Global Coalition of Women Defending Peace composed of over 400 individuals, including a wide range of organizations working for peace throughout the African region.
The Movement’s Global Coalition specifically aims to collaborate in strengthening the role of women in promoting peace and protecting women and children from all forms of violence and exploitation. In line with this objective, the Movement recently launched the End Human Trafficking Now! campaign, which is the first international initiative of its kind that places the business community at the forefront of global anti-human trafficking efforts.
The Movement plays a vital role in bridging the significant communication gap that exists between decision-making levels and the grassroots levels. Seizing the opportunity presented by the NEPAD Heads of State, and Government Implementation Committee, as well as African Peer Review Forum meetings in Sharm el Sheikh, the SMWIPM invited in 2005 the First Ladies of the NEPAD states for a roundtable discussion pertaining to “Women and Peace”. The aim of this roundtable was to share ideas and experiences on the best ways to coordinate efforts to further harness the potential of women throughout the region in peace and security processes. Discussions were centered on the progress that had been achieved throughout the African continent and the obstacles that remained, both nationally and regionally, to engender all development, peace and human security initiatives and channels. Participants agreed to work together closely on the implementation of various joint programs, including the formulation of a cohesive plan of action in collaboration with non-governmental organizations.
SMWIPM Selected Past Events
Since its inception, the SMWIPM has worked hard to strengthen legal instruments and conventions pertaining to women’s rights and empowerment. In this regard, it has partnered with the United Nations on many fronts, especially in helping strengthen legal instruments and tools dedicated to the enhancement of peace and human security. The Movement has worked hard to raise awareness and disseminate the principles with regard to conventions, declarations and resolutions including CEDAW and UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security. The Movement joined forces with various international organizations, including the United Nations Fund for Women (UNIFEM), to organize the Arab region’s first workshop to address the importance of UNSC resolution 1325. The event brought together 52 participants from 14 different Arab countries to discuss ways to disseminate the message and implement the recommendations of the resolution across the region. In 2006, the Movement also organized a regional seminar aimed at encouraging participants to examine existing strategies being undertaken by governments and international organizations to tackle the obstacles hindering the institutionalization of this resolution.
Following-up on these successful events, the Movement is planning to re-connect with participants and partners to form a regional network dedicated to the implementation of the provisions of UNSC resolution 1325 throughout the Arab countries. The Movement is currently working on developing a regional action plan, which will strive to achieve the following objectives:
Enhance the visibility of initiatives of network members through awareness raising campaigns.
Stimulate regular debates and dialogues between network members on issues pertaining to women, peace and security.
Engage stakeholders and work towards the formation of a regional coalition for the implementation of UNSC resolution 1325 throughout the region.
In 2006, the Movement launched itself on a quest to address the global challenge of human trafficking during a roundtable discussion with representatives of the international business community in Athens in January 2006. The outcome of this successful event was the launch of the End Human Trafficking Now! campaign—the first worldwide initiative that places the business community at the forefront of anti-trafficking efforts. The Ethical Principles against Human Trafficking are among the main advocacy tools of this campaign. By signing, businesses not only express their solidarity with victims of this abominable scourge, but also commit to contributing to anti-trafficking efforts and bolstering the activities of governments, inter-governmental and non-governmental organizations.