How can the OSCE work for inclusive and gender just peace throughout the conflict cycle? This side-event was organized on May 19, by the Kvinna till Kvinna Foundation in collaboration with the Swedish Chairpersonship of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) and co-sponsored by the Finnish Permanent Delegation to the OSCE.

Kosovo Women’s Network (KWN) Executive Director, Igballe Rogova, was among the panellists discussing the obstacles they have faced and their individual contributions to building sustainable peace in their respective context.

During her introduction, Rogova emphasised the crucial importance of local women’s rights organisations taking part in peacebuilding processes.

“Local women’s rights organisations and activists have the information and the trust of their communities. Without their involvement in all parts of the conflict cycle, we will not prevent conflict or build inclusive peace”, she emphasized.

“There is no peace, without justice”, Rogova added, while demanding for implementing the United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1325 on Women, Peace, and Security.

Rogova further invited all panellists to read the Facts and Fables, as a collection of stories about implementing this resolution in Kosovo since 2000.

Petra Tötterman Andorff, Secretary General of the Kvinna till Kvinna Foundation, also highlighted the significance of including women’s rights groups and women’s needs in all conflict-solving processes.

“The exclusion of women from peace and transition processes means that women’s specific perspectives and priorities are not considered. Women’s participation needs involvement of local women and women’s rights organizations throughout the conflict cycle.”

Other panellists were: Ekaterine Gamakharia, Head of Tbilisi Office, Cultural Humanitarian Fund “Sukhumi”, Nina Potarskaya, National Coordinator Ukraine, Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom, and Liliana Palihovici, OSCE Chairperson-in-Office’s Special Representative on Gender.

The message was clear from all the panellists- local women have the expertise, and the trust of their communities, and there is no meaningful and inclusive peacebuilding process without their involvement.

This side-event was organised as part of the online Conflict Cycle Seminar for delegations of OSCE taking part States and Partners for Co-operation hosted on 17-19 May by the Swedish OSCE Chairpersonship, in collaboration with the OSCE Secretariat. It’s intent is to inform stakeholders on how different OSCE mechanisms and other multilateral organisations can be improved in order to enable greater inclusivity of civil society and women peacebuilders throughout the different phases of the conflict cycle.

Read more HERE.

**

Related articles:

Resolution 1325 Requires Consultations with Women’s Rights Groups in Kosovo

KWN part of the Conference Celebrating 20 years of Resolution 1325

20 Years of Resolution 1325: Kosovo Needs to Implement This Resolution