Mobilizing action for impact: The Women, Peace and Security and Humanitarian Action Compact

As part of the Generation Equality Forum, and in commemoration of the 25th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action and the 20th anniversary of UN Security Council resolution 1325 (2000) on women, peace and security, a virtual high-level event held on 27 October, announced Board and Catalytic Members of the new Compact on Women, Peace and Security and Humanitarian Action. The upcoming Generation Equality Forum is a civil society-centred, multi-stakeholder, global gathering for gender equality and women’s rights, convened by UN Women and co-hosted by the Governments of Mexico and France, in partnership with civil society.

The high-level event took place amidst calls for more concerted action to improve the lives of women and girls living in conflict and crisis contexts across the globe. In July 2020, the Generation Equality Forum announced the development of a Compact on Women, Peace and Security and Humanitarian Action, as one of the outcomes of the Forum, aimed at fostering implementation of existing commitments on women, peace and security and humanitarian action. 

The Board and Catalytic members announced at the event represent a diverse group of stakeholders that will mobilize an inter-generational, inclusive global movement for action on women, peace and security and humanitarian action. Board Members are expected to lead the design and implementation of the Compact, with support from Catalytic Members. 

Board Members include: Namibia, Norway, Sierra Leone, the United Arab Emirates, the African Centre for the Constructive Resolution of Disputes, the Feminist Humanitarian Network, the Global Network of Women Peacebuilders and Karama. Catalytic members include: Canada, Estonia, Finland, Spain, Sweden, Palestine, UNHCR, the Women’s Peace and Humanitarian Fund, Gender Action for Peace and Security, Global Partnership for the Prevention of Armed Conflict, International Civil Society Action Network, Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom, Women’s International Peace Centre, Women’s Refugee Commission and WO=MEN Dutch Gender Platform.

Opening the event, moderator Sarah Hendriks, Director of the Policy, Programme and Intergovernmental Division at UN Women, highlighted that, “the Compact is intended as a collective, inclusive and inter-generational effort to take stock of existing commitments on women, peace and security and humanitarian action and drive momentum for action and implementation of these commitments, while leveraging existing coordination mechanisms.”

Ms. Amani Aruri, representing the Generation Equality Forum Youth Task Force, underlined that the current state of affairs doesn’t call for a celebration, but rather “an alarming reminder to all duty bearers and stakeholders that not enough has been done to ensure peace and security [...], to ensure power is transferred to put women at the heart of peacebuilding processes [...] and to ensure protection of women peacebuilders, especially young women.”

UN Women’s Executive Director, Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka expressed her hope that “the Compact will accelerate the momentum of goals and commitments that promote accountability and leadership at all levels”, to move the needle on the Women, Peace and Security agenda. 

Ms. Martha Delgado, Undersecretary for Multilateral Affairs and Human Rights of the Mexican Ministry of Foreign Affairs, asserted that “the Compact should contribute to the mobilization of resources, cooperation and accountability” to reduce the gaps between the aspirations and concrete actions on women, peace and security and humanitarian action. 

Delphine O, Ambassador and General Secretary of the Generation Equality Forum of the French Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs, called attention to the linkages with the Action Coalitions, explaining that Compact is “similar in spirit and goals but different in shape,” with the objective of creating “a platform that will itself create synergies that will catalyze commitments [...] to give new momentum to the women, peace and security agenda that we know is under attack.”

Read the full story on the Generation Equality Forum website