On the occasion of the UN Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) 68th Session, the Journalists and Writers Foundation (JWF) is organizing an in-person panel discussion “Women`s Leadership for Sustainable Peace and Conflict Resolution” to host experts on women human rights defenders (WHRD) to create a platform and raise awareness of the current challenges encountered by WHRDs and their transformative role in conflict prevention and mitigation.

Rising armed conflicts across the globe, the surge in the killings of civilians, enforced migration levels reaching a peak, and the alarming increase of militarization are among the vicious barriers disabling the gender-mainstreaming of the Sustainable Development Goals. The contemporary state of our community combatting increasing forms of crimes against humanity is also creating new barriers to the implementation of the Global Goals as they are at risk of being a promise in peril as we complete the halfway of the 2030 deadline. 

Meaningful participation of WHRDs in conflict situations increases the effectiveness of monitoring and reporting on gender-based crimes and strengthens the call for seeking justice and accountability. In addition to the distressful conditions that they work in encountering violence of various forms, intimidation, legal restrictions, and criminalization of their work, WHRDs also battle against deeply rooted patriarchal structures. In this CSW68 Panel Discussion, JWF aims to gather experts from diverse disciplines to stress the fact that sustainable peace is %35 more achievable when women leaders are meaningfully active in the conflict prevention and resolution stages. However, achievement of this long-lasting phase of peace is only possible by promoting WHRD`s rights, agency, and safe and meaningful participation environments. 

On this CSW68 Panel Discussion, the Journalists and Writers Foundation will bring together experts on women human rights defenders to discuss: 

• Transforming Gendered Power Dynamics in Peace and Security: UN Secretary-General`s New Agenda for Peace
• Cohesive Approach Endorsed by Women Peacemakers in Conflict Zones
• Shaping the Feminist Foreign Policy for Conflict Resolution
• Dismantling Patriarchal Structures to Increase Women`s Participation in Peace and Development
• Facilitating Technology for Women Human Rights Advocates

Date and Time: 12 March 2024, Tuesday | 8:30 – 10:00 AM EST 

Venue: Church Center to the UN (8^th Floor) | 777 United Nations Plaza, New York, NY 10017 

Format of the Event: 

• The event will start with the welcome remarks of the JWF followed by the Keynote Remarks. 
• Following the opening session, each panelist will have 10 minutes of a speaking time. When all experts conclude their interventions, the floor will be opened by moderator for reflections and questions from the audience. 
• The session`s recording will later be shared at JWF`s YouTube Channel. Proceedings of all speakers will be disseminated with the relevant UN agencies, Permanent Missions and JWF`s global civil society network in more than 27 countries.

Organizer: Journalists and Writers Foundation | www.jwf.org  

The Journalists and Writers Foundation (JWF) is an international civil society organization dedicated to the culture of peace, human rights and sustainable development. The JWF promotes diversity and inclusion by creating forums for intellectual and social engagement, generates and shares knowledge with stakeholders, builds partnerships worldwide and develops policy recommendations for positive social change. The JWF is based in New York and affiliated with the United Nations Department of Global Communications.

* JWF is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization registered in New York State.

* JWF is associated with the United Nations Department of Global Communications.