7th March 2014
International Women’s Day: ‘women’s economic empowerment and raising girls’ aspirations’.
Upon receiving the Hillary Clinton prize for women, peace and security last month, UK Foreign Secretary Hague said, “I believe that there is no greater strategic prize of the 21st century than the full social, political and economic empowerment of all women everywhere.” [Full speech]
Tomorrow is the 103rd International Women’s Day. A great deal has been accomplished in the area of gender equality and human rights over the last century, however as the global community continues to face crises such as those in the Ukraine and Syria, continued progress and cooperation is crucial.
The UK recognises that long-term conflict prevention requires investment in all perspectives. Women’s participation can provide a more comprehensive understanding of the causes of, and alternative solutions to, violent conflict. Promoting and supporting women’s active and meaningful participation in all peace processes, as well as their representation in formal and informal decision-making at all levels, is vital to international peace and security.
To this end, the UK’s theme for International Women’s Day this year is ‘women’s economic empowerment and raising girls’ aspirations’.
Over coming months, the UK will be participating in and facilitating activities around the globe which contribute to the promotion and protection of women’s and girls’ rights overseas.
Starting next week, the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) will meet to discuss and negotiate ‘Challenges and achievements in the implementation of the Millennium Development Goals for women and girls’. The CSW is one of the main international policy-making bodies
dedicated exclusively to gender equality and the advancement of women, and the UK is a committed member. The draft of agreed conclusions can be viewed here.
Later this month, Ministerial and policy specialists from the UK will visit Sweden to participate in the 2014 Stockholm Forum on Security and Development, being hosted by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) and the Swedish Minister for International Development Cooperation, Hillevi Engström. It will focus on the links between socioeconomic development, conflict, peace and security.
In early June, the UK will host the biggest summit ever held on the issue of ending sexual violence in conflict. The Summit will be co-chaired by Foreign Secretary Hague and the UN Special Envoy for the UN Refugee Agency, Angelina Jolie and will consist of ministerial, NGO and civil society events. All of the 137 States who have so far endorsed the Declaration of Commitment to End Sexual Violence in Conflict which the Foreign Secretary launched at the UN General Assembly earlier this year have been invited to attend (including Sweden of course!).
The Summit will both seek agreement to practical steps from states to shatter the culture of impunity for war zone rape once and for all, and deliver practical and ambitious agreements that bring together conflict/ post-conflict affected countries, donors, the UN and other multilateral
organisations and civil society.
Such agreements could include revising military doctrine and training; improving peacekeeping training and operations; providing support to local and grassroots organisations and human rights defenders; developing the deployment of international expertise to build national capacity; improved support for survivors; and forming new partnerships to support conflict affected countries.
Click here for more information on the Foreign Secretary’s Preventing Sexual Violence Initiative.