WPS FDG Book Launch and Reception October 29, 2014 at UN Women
November 21, 2014, New York, USA –GNWP members attended the WPS FDG Book Launch and Reception on October 29, 2014 at UN Women headquarters. The GNWP and Cordaid publication – Financing for the Implementation of National Action Plans on UNSCR 1325: Critical for Advancing Women’s Human Rights, Peace and Security, addresses lack of funding. It examines financing for 42 NAPs and offers case studies from Burundi, Chile, Nepal, the Netherlands, Philippines and Sierra Leone.
Sarah Douglas of UN Women introduced Ms. Lakshmi Puri, Assistant Secretary-General of the United Nations and Deputy Executive Director of UN Women; Ms. Radhika Coomaraswamy; Ms. Akinyi Walender, Director of Women Leadership at Cordaid; and Mr. Christian Ngendahimana of Fontaine-ISOKO, who all addressed the crowd before the festivities began.
All Speakers acknowledged the lack of funding and the need to increase women’s participation in the peace process. Ms. Puri said that she “is alarmed at the lack of funding for NAPs” and noted that women should not be an afterthought post conflict. Christian Ngendahimana discussed placing more of an emphasis on WPS. He further explained that problems exist with strategies for implementation, and that countries require outside support.
Ms. Radhika Coomaraswamy, lead author of the 2015 Women Peace and Security Global Study, discussed financing. She said that the independent women’s movement was once well funded but it is different today. She believes that dedicated funding is necessary for successful implementation.
After short addresses, the reception began…