Presentations / Press

Building Bridges for Nonviolent Change: The Role of Women as Insider Mediators

IPI, October 2024

This event was held the day before the UN Security Council open debate on women, peace and security (WPS) and focused on the vital need to increase women’s participation in formal mediation processes.

This policy forum exposed multiple stakeholders in New York to the crucial work of women as informal bridge-builders in conflict situations, and discussed strategies for including their expertise in formal mediation processes. At the event, the Berghof Foundation launched research reports and a policy brief on the role of women mediators in recent protests in Venezuela, Thailand, and Iraq. These reports offer specific and actionable recommendations for how international donors and practitioners can fulfill capacity building and support needs to empower these women to sustain and deepen their engagement, thereby expanding the potential for achieving peaceful change and conflict transformation.

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At the Nexus of Participation and Protection: Risks and Barriers to Women’s Participation in Northern Ireland

IPI, June 2021

This public discussion launched new research on women’s experiences of risks, harms, and barriers as a result of participation in public life. Focused on Northern Ireland, the research and public discussion highlight the security challenges and threats that women leaders in the community sector, justice and security sectors, and elected politics have encountered as a result of their participation in peacebuilding before, during, and after the Good Friday Agreement.

The ways that women’s full, equal, and meaningful participation is impacted by threats and violence directly and indirectly related to conflict have not yet been fully considered, yet they are a vital part of the women, peace, and security (WPS) agenda. With an overarching goal of advancing gender equality in peace and security, the discussion will highlight the need for the WPS agenda to address “protection” in the context of women’s participation in conflict-affected contexts. Of its four pillars, participation and protection have arguably received the most attention, yet the need to address the inter-relationship between the two pillars remains a gap.

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Feminist Leadership at the UN

IPI, March 2019

What is the current state of feminist leadership and progress advancing gender equality at the United Nations? The election of a new Secretary-General in 2016 opened an avenue for the UN to implement an agenda that puts gender equality and women’s rights at the heart of everything it does. However, even after two decades of women, peace, and security policy development and commitments, women’s representation at all decision-making levels in peace and security matters lags due to structural barriers, lack of access to political arenas, and even threats to women who attempt to participate in these processes.

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Sarah Taylor on Women, Peace and advocating for Security

CCTV, October 2015

A 400-page report targeting peacekeepers accused of serious crimes, including sex crimes. It’s pushing for creating a special international tribunal to bring justice for women abused in conflict zones. CCTV America spoke with Sarah Taylor. She’s the Women, Peace and Security Advocate for Human Rights Watch.

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UN Security Council adopts resolution to include women in peace talks

Radio Australia, October 2013

Sarah Taylor, executive Coordinator of the NGO Working Group on Women Peace and Security, says the adoption of this resolution is the result of a sustained push from UN member states and NGOs.

Presenter: Geraldine Coutts
Speaker: Sarah Taylor, Executive Coordinator of the NGO Working Group on Women Peace and Security Project

opens in new window: http://bit.ly/1aDrPQY

"The Reykjavík Congress on Human Rights: Human Rights Protection & International Law: The Multifaceted Dilemma of Restraining and Promoting International Interventions"

Iceland, April 2013

Presentation on "Women's Human Rights, Armed Conflict, and International Responsibility: Rhetoric and Practice"

Sarah Taylor, Executive Coordinator of the NGOWG on Women, Peace and Security on the three questions all international actors should ask themselves regarding international interventions.

opens in new window: http://bit.ly/1bM9hlf

"Side by Side: Women, Peace and Security"

18 July 2012

Documentary jointly developed by the Australian Government's Australian Civil-Military Centre and UN Women

(min. 6:42; min. 29:57)

Sarah Taylor, Executive Coordinator of the NGOWG on Women, Peace and Security on the fundamental need to include women in all efforts to create and maintain international peace and security; and on international obligations regarding women, peace and security.

opens in new window: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a2Br8DCRxME

"NGO Working Group on Women Coordinator Addresses Security Council"

29 October 2008

Statement presented at annual open debate of the UN Security Council on women and peace and security.

Video Stream (min. 37.45 to 46.40):

http://webcast.un.org/ramgen/ondemand/sc/2008/sc081029am2.rm

Sarah Taylor, Coordinator of the Non-Governmental Organization Working Group on Women, Peace and Security, addresses a Security Council meeting during its consideration of the report of the Secretary-General on women, peace and security. (UN Photo)