Key voices for lasting change - Shaping the WPS agenda for the next 10 years

The WPS agenda touches upon the fundamental organization of states and societies, going beyond strictly issues of peace and security, towards the realities of daily life. For societies to be able to prosper, all citizens must be involved. By bringing together a diverse range of perspectives from different countries, Key Voices for Lasting Change provided invaluable input for anyone working in and on WPS, all over the world. In light of the 20th anniversary of UN resolution 1325 on women and peace and security and in preparation for the UN Security Council Open Debate week, Cordaid and the Civil Society Platform for Peacebuilding and Statebuilding (CSPPS) held a week-long series of virtual dialogues showcasing good practices and inspiring examples for the WPS Agenda from the 19th to the 23rd of October 2020.

The series provided a dialogue space for sharing valuable input by women's (rights) activists and for showing the diversity of the WPS agenda. By providing a space for key voices to share how to shape the WPS agenda, this series contributed to the development of our sensitivity and contextual understanding and called for action to move from resolutions to implementation on the ground. The five webinars that made up the WPS Series shed light on developments and debates around WPS and their impact on the WPS agenda. Speakers from the local partner networks and civil society partners of Cordaid and CSPPS provided the lens through which we examine these issues. Key Voices for Lasting Change gave a voice to different actors and groups in society that are involved with the WPS agenda, focusing on youth, civil society actors and (women’s rights) activists. The series focused on aspects of social, cultural and civil life, from participation in electoral processes and peace processes, to the role of religion in implementing the WPS agenda.

This report will provide you with the outcomes of each side-event, as well as general outcomes and recommendations of the series altogether & access to the videos.

Sessions

◼ Youth-Led Activism for Women, Peace and Security: Looking for a new paradigm

◼ Shrinking Space for Women’s Rights Organizations Working on the WPS Agenda

◼ Political Participation and the WPS Agenda: Challenges and inspiring practices from Burundi, CAR and Guinea-Bissau

◼ Religion and the WPS Agenda: Harnessing the potential of religion to improve opportunities for women in the most fragile contexts

◼ Women’s Rights on the Line: Fighting for women’s rights when it matters most – peace processes