Advancing the Role of Women Political Leaders in Peace and Security - Insights from the Conference

From November 17 to 20, 2014 Women’s Action for New Directions (WAND) and the EastWest Institute’s Parliamentarians Network for Conflict Prevention (PN), in partnership with the Konrad Adenauer Foundation (Rabat), convened 18 female political leaders and legislators from the United States, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Egypt and Morocco for the conference “Advancing the Role of Women Political Leaders in Peace and Security.”

“Bringing together women peacemakers in Morocco, land of tolerance, peace and diversity, links the west to the east on common issues and challenges about conflict prevention and peace management.”

Loubna Amhaïr MP, Member of the Moroccan House of Representatives; Member of the Parliamentarians Network for Conflict Prevention

In addition to internal working sessions in which participants shared experiences and identified common challenges, the conference included high-level policy meetings with the president of the Moroccan House of Representatives; the chairman of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, Islamic Affairs, Diaspora, Immigration and National Defense; the director of the Department of the United Nations and International Organizations in the Moroccan Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation; and the minister of Solidarity, Women, Family and Social Development.

“The escalating violence and instability in parts of the Middle East lends new urgency to our efforts to convene women leaders in the region and from the U.S. We share views and build trust across national boundaries. We are resolved to act together on our shared commitment to strengthen the role of women across the globe in building sustainable peace.”

Nan Grogan Orrock, Georgia State Senator; President, Women Legislators’ Lobby of WAND

Participants explored concrete ways to implement the principles of UN Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1325 on Women, Peace and Security and to sensitize policy and decision makers about its relevance. Committed to continue their coalition and further strengthen the role of women in peace and security, participants also discussed potential activities for 2015, when UNSCR 1325 will celebrate its 15th anniversary.