On the occasion of the International Day for Women Human Rights Defenders 2023, the Generation Equality Feminist Movements and Leadership Action Coalition, in collaboration with the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) and the Compact on Women, Peace and Security and Humanitarian Action, will convene a commemorative event to recognize and support the work of women human rights defenders (WHRDs) in all their diversity, with a focus on crisis and conflict-affected settings.
WHRDs can be, among others, peacebuilders, community leaders, feminist activists, LGBTQI+ activists, climate and environmental activists, journalists, artists and health service providers. Their role in building trust in societies and contribution to peacebuilding is crucial. However, WHRDs continue to be targeted with harassment, both on and offline, reprisals, intimidation, physical and sexual assault, and even death.
This year’s event, scheduled to take place virtually on 29 November at 8:30 – 10:00am EST, will make visible, recognize and support the work of WHRDs in various conflict-affected settings, building on the Special Rapporteur on HRDs’ report “Pathways to peace: women human rights defenders in conflict, post-conflict and crisis-affected settings.” Furthermore, the event will complement and strengthen the momentum generated on the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women and will contribute to the objectives of the “UNITE! Invest to prevent violence against women and girls” #noexcuse.
The event will take the form of a moderated panel discussion will bring together various stakeholders to discuss the protection of WHRDs, raise awareness about the obstacles faced in conflict-affected settings, and explore lessons learned and opportunities to strengthen their work.
Moderator:
Laila Alodaat, Deputy Secretary General, Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF)
Panel Discussion:
Volker Türk, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights
Ambassador Jacqueline O’Neill, Ambassador for Women Peace & Security, Canada
Ambassador Keith McBean, Deputy Permanent Representative of Ireland to the United Nations
Mary Lawlor, Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders
Olena Shevchenko, Executive Director, Insight Ukraine
France Bognon, Program Director, International Civil Society Action Network
Wai Wai Nu, Founder & Executive Director, Women Peace Network, Myanmar
Randa Siniora, General Director, The Women's Center for Legal Aid and Counselling (WCLAC) Palestine
Riya Williams Yuyada, Co-founder & Director, Crown The Woman, South Sudan
Kaavya Asoka, Executive Director, NGO Working Group on Women, Peace & Security
Linda María Cabrera Cifuentes, Executive Director, Sisma Mujer Corporation, Colombia
Lopa Banerjee, Director Civil Society Division, UN Women
Spoken Word by Joyce Babatunde, Afrosoul artist from Cameroon
Please registration here or use the QR code in the flyer below.
