Month: April 2018
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Month: April 2018

Girl Ambassadors for Peace: Youth represent promise, not peril!

This week we are celebrating the power of youth working together for a more peaceful and sustainable future. As the Secretary General’s Youth Envoy, Jayathma Wickramanayake, from Sri Lanka has declared at the first-ever UN Security Council Open Debate on Youth, Peace and Security on April 23rd, UNSCR 2250 “recognizes that young people drive change but they are not in the driver seat and I call for giving them the license to help steer our common future.” The Girl Ambassadors for Peace from Poso, Central Sulawesi, Indonesia pictured here are examples of young people claiming their role as peacebuilders and as inspirational leaders in the fight against violent extremism. Youth represent promise, not peril!
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Cette semaine, nous célébrons le pouvoir de la jeunesse pour agir ensemble pour un avenir plus pacifique et durable. Comme l’a déclaré Jayathma Wickramanayake, Envoyée du Secrétaire général pour la jeunesse originaire du Sri Lanka, lors du premier débat public du Conseil de sécurité des Nations Unies sur la Jeunesse, la paix et la sécurité le 23 avril, la Résolution2250 « reconnaît que les jeunes sont les moteurs du changement mais ne sont pas assis à la place du conducteur et j’appel à leur donner le « permis » pour les aider à conduire notre futur commun ». Les Filles ambassadrices pour la paix de Poso en Indonésie sur la photo sont l’exemple-même de jeunes revendiquant leur rôles en tant qu’artisans de la paix et activistes contre l’extrémisme violent. La jeunesse représente une promesse, non un danger !
Last update: April 25, 2018

Girl Ambassadors support and promote feminine hygiene in DRC

The Girl Ambassadors for Peace not only learn advocacy skills that will help them fight against the discrimination of women, but they also learn practical skills to elevate them socio-economically. Sylvie Katchunga from South Kivu, DRC explains she has learnt how to make feminine hygiene products, allowing her to make a living while supporting women’s health in her community.

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Les Filles ambassadrices pour la paix non seulement apprennent des compétences de plaidoyer qui les aideront à lutter contre la discrimination des femmes, mais elles apprennent aussi des compétences pratiques pour les élever sur le plan socio-économique. Sylvie Katchunga du Sud-Kivu, RDC explique qu’elle a appris à fabriquer des produits hygiéniques pour les femmes, lui permettant de gagner sa vie tout en soutenant la santé des femmes dans sa communauté.
Last update: April 18, 2018

South Sudan Girl Ambassadors work towards ending sexual gender-based violence while in Uganda refugee camp

Up to 65% of women and girls in South Sudan experience physical and/or sexual violence in their lifetime. Now in refugee camps in Uganda, GNWP’s Girl Ambassadors for Peace continue their fight to support victims of sexual gender-based violence. Mariam Shenshen, originally from Eastern Equatoria, helps victims of sexual violence to report rape cases in the camp. “My biggest challenge as a Girl Ambassador is seeing authorities refusing to help a rape victim who needs help,” says Mariam. By investing in young women’s security and empowerment, we are investing in a peaceful South Sudan.

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Jusqu’à 65% des femmes et des filles du Soudan du Sud sont victimes de violences physiques et/ou sexuelles dans leur vie. À présent dans un camp de réfugiés en Ouganda, les Filles ambassadrices pour la paix de GNWP continuent leur combat pour soutenir les victimes de violences sexuelles. Mariam Shenshen, originaire de l’Équatoria-Oriental, aide les victimes de violences sexuelles à signaler les cas de viol dans le camp. « Mon plus grand défi en tant que Fille ambassadrice est de voir les autorités refuser d’aider une victime de viol qui a besoin d’aide », dit Mariam. En investissant dans la sécurité et l’autonomisation des jeunes femmes, nous investissons dans un Soudan du Sud pacifique.

 

Last update: April 11, 2018

Calling the International Community Post-OECD 2018 Global Forum on Development

Calling the International Community Post-OECD 2018 Global Forum on Development

April 10, 2018 by Katrina Leclerc*

On April 5th, 2018, the Global Network of Women Peacebuilders’ Girl Ambassador for Peace, Noella Muhamiriza, traveled to Paris, France for the 2018 Global Forum on Development hosted by the OECD.

“Words cannot describe the amount of excitement I felt on the morning of April 5th while getting ready for the big forum. It was a mix of nerves, but also excitement as I was ready to go speak and carry the voices of thousands of girls who I represent,” says Noella.

Alongside Her Excellency First Lady of Afghanistan Rula Ghani, Her Royal Highness Princess Abze Djigma of Burkina Faso, Ms. Carin Jämtin, Director General of Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency, and Ms. Kawinzi Muiu, Director for Gender of UN World Food Programme, Noella shared her experiences about young women’s participation in peacebuilding in conflict-affected areas.

Noella reflects: “I was the youngest member of the panel, which is very essential because representation is key. We need participants from youth and other age brackets at the same table to learn but also to be inspired from one another, especially in a forum like this which focuses on the role of women and youth in bringing about global change.”

Noella had three clear calls-to-action for members of the international community:

1. Funding: Funding for peace needs to be sustainable and long-term. Programs for young women peacebuilders cannot be funded simply as projects;

2. Education: We need to invest in peace and gender-sensitive education for men and boys. Gender mainstreaming in school curricula is crucial for the Women, Peace and Security Agenda; and,

3. Local Contexts: Peacebuilding curricula and initiatives need to be translated into local languages. We need local actors to implement and translate the work on the ground.

She adds, “I also had a chance to record an interview with Radio France Internationale and I’m hoping it will reach many young people – because stories matter. My social media accounts were flooded by young people expressing their joy as they felt represented by my presence at this Forum.”

GNWP is proud to enhance young women’s voices and offer them a platform through its Girl Ambassadors for Peace program. We strongly believe in the presence of young women in decision-making and policy-making spaces; they are indeed not the leaders of tomorrow but the leaders of today. Empowerment and capacity-building of young women in conflict-affected areas is essential to conflict prevention and inclusive peacebuilding and the promotion of human rights across the globe.

“I am so thankful for this opportunity to represent GNWP’s Girl Ambassadors for Peace in this global arena. I am already planning how to share my experience with young women in the coming weeks.”

Noella is one of the 200+ participants of the Girl Ambassadors for Peace program, GNWP’s program consist of 1) Literacy and numeracy; 2) Leadership; 3) Capacity-Building; 4) Use of Media and Theater for Peace; and, 5) Economic Empowerment. Currently, the program is operational in South-Kivu and North-Kivu, DRC, in South Sudan and Rhino Camp in West Nile, Uganda, in Lamongan and Poso, East Java, Indonesia, and starting soon in Cox’s Bazar and Chittagong, Bangladesh.

Want to hear Noella’s presentation? It is available online at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=74Aw6ptNbtI

 

*Katrina Leclerc is GNWP’s Girl Ambassadors for Peace Program Coordinator, for more information about the program please contact: katrina@gnwp.org

 

Girl Ambassador for Peace presents at 2018 OECD Global Forum on Development

Girl Ambassador for Peace presents at OECD Global Forum on Development

April 5, 2018 by Katrina Leclerc*

Noella Muhamirizia, Girl Ambassador for Peace from South-Kivu, DRC is representing the Global Network of Women Peacebuilders (GNWP) at the OECD Global Forum on Development in France on April 5, 2018. Noella will be presenting on the Girl Ambassadors for Peace, gender equality, and women’s empowerment in conflict-affected areas – alongside the First lady of Afghanistan and UN Food Programme’s Director on Gender.

Noella is one of the 200+ participants of the Girl Ambassadors for Peace program, GNWP’s three-tiered program based on 1) Literacy and numeracy; 2) Leadership; 3) Capacity-Building. Currently, the program is operational in South-Kivu and North-Kivu, DRC, in South Sudan and Rhino Camp in West Nile, Uganda, in Lamongan and Poso, Indonesia, and starting soon in Cox’s Bazar and Chittagong, Bangladesh.

Noella emphasizes the need for female leadership and role models for young women: “If you ask any little girl in the Democratic Republic of Congo what they want to be when they grow up, the majority will respond: I want to be the president. However, somewhere between that moment and growing up, with the lack of female role models in society, suddenly, these dreams seem unrealistic. The truth is, if you show me a young girl who has seen women participating in peace processes or in decision-making, I will, in turn, show you that same girl who is as a leader five years later.”

Noella and GNWP are excited about her involvement at the OECD Global Forum on Development, with thanks to the OECD for making space at the table for young women peacebuilders. Ultimately, Noella’s message is clear: A seat at the table – that is where young women belong.

GNWP identifies and creates opportunities for young women to participate in policy and decision-making at all levels particularly on matters of peace and security.

Want to tune in and hear Noella speak at the Forum? It will be LIVE here: https://oecdtv.webtv-solution.com/4724/or/Global-Forum-on-Development-2018-Plenary-Room.html

 

*Katrina Leclerc is GNWP’s Girl Ambassadors for Peace Program Coordinator, for more information about the program please contact: katrina@gnwp.org