Yalta European Strategy (YES) and the Embassy of Canada in Ukraine Co-organized a Virtual Expert Discussion on Women, Peace and Security

On November 27, 2020, Yalta European Strategy (YES) together with the Embassy of Canada in Ukraine held a virtual expert discussion on women, peace and security (WPS) co-organized on the occasion of 20 years of the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325. 

Erika Kvapilova, UN Women Representative to Ukraine; Jacqueline O’Neill, Canada’s Ambassador for Women, Peace and Security; Anders Fogh Rasmussen, Founder of Rasmussen Global, Secretary General of NATO (2009-2014), and Prime Minister of Denmark (2001-2009), YES Board member; Olha Stefanishyna, Vice Prime-Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration of Ukraine; and Melanne Verveer, Executive Director of the Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace and Security, and former first U.S. Ambassador for Global Women’s Issues, were among the speakers. A panel discussion followed by a Q&A, moderated by Larisa Galadza, Ambassador of Canada to Ukraine. 

The panelists discussed the role of women in peace processes and conflict resolution; how to move from commitments to accomplishments and increase women’s meaningful participation in peace processes and the number of women in military, peacekeeping and law-enforcement; how to support and fund the WPS agenda; how empower, support and protect women’s organizations; how the international community can support WPS efforts in Ukraine; Ukraine’s new National action plan on WPS and how to improve coordination between various law-making and executive bodies; and reflected on the 20 years of UNSCR1325 and its achievements so far globally and in Ukraine.

Among participants of the event were decision-makers in position to advance the women, peace and security agenda within the Government and Parliament of Ukraine.