Background
What is Women, Peace and Security?
The passing of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 or as it is commonly known, the “Women, Peace and Security Agenda” (WPS), was a major milestone in the pursuit of feminist peace. As the first resolution to explicitly acknowledge the unique needs, perspectives and agency of women in situations of conflict and peacebuilding, the agenda provides an important framework for gender justice and inclusion. However, despite its transformative potential, the WPS agenda still faces significant challenges. Gendered inequality, militarised masculinities and exclusionary power structures inhibit the sustainable prevention of violent conflict, inclusive participation in peacebuilding, the protection of all civilians, and gender-sensitive relief and recovery. At CFFP, we are committed to ensuring that the agenda’s verbal commitments translate into action. We work in collaboration with governments and other civil society organisations to advance an effective, intersectional implementation of 1325 in order to build truly inclusive and sustainable peace.
Key Activities
Bündnis 1325
CFFP is a proud member of the loose coalition BÜNDIS 1325, which brings together a wide range of different German civil society organisations working to promote women’s rights, advance the WPS agenda, and push for feminist changes to German foreign and security policies.
Gender Action for Peace and Security (GAPS)
CFFP is a proud member of GAPS, a network of development, human rights, humanitarian and peacebuilding NGOs. Together we promote, facilitate, and monitor the meaningful inclusion of gender in all aspects of UK policy and practice on peace and security.
US Civil Society Working Group on Women, Peace and Security
We are very excited to announce that we have joined the US Civil Society Working Group on Women, Peace and Security (U.S. CSWG), a non-partisan network of over 50 civil society organisations with expertise on the impacts of conflict on women and their participation in peacebuilding.
LGBTQI* in Women, Peace and Security
In partnership with the Berghof Foundation, CFFP will be launching a project that seeks to advance a more effective and inclusive implementation of the Women, Peace and Security Agenda by identifying opportunities to better account for the needs and perspectives of LGBTQI* communities. Keep an eye on this page for updates about this work!
Resources
Briefing: The ‘Women, Peace and Security’ Agenda: Implementation Matters
CFFP published this policy brief along with 17 other German NGOs ahead of the Third National Action Plans on the implementation of UN Security Council resolution 1325 on Women, Peace, and Security.
Resource Page: 20 Years of Women, Peace and Security
The Women, Peace and Security Agenda turned 20! In order to mark the occasion, we compiled a collection of essential resources.
Events
Survival and Activism under Occupation
Along with ICAN and the LSE Centre for Women, Peace and Security, CFFP co-hosted the fifth session of the Coming of Age of the Women, Peace and Security Agenda webinar series. With a focus on Myanmar and Palestine, Sanam Naraghi Anderlini MBE was in conversation with Agnes Callamard, Secretary General at Amnesty International and formerly the UN Special Rapporteur on Extrajudicial, Summary or Arbitrary Killings; May Sabe Phyu, Director of the Gender Equality Network; and Lucy Talgieh, Palestinian Council member and peacebuilder from Wi'am: The Palestinian Conflict Transformation Center.
Predatory States and Ungoverned Spaces: Who Assumes the Responsibility to Protect?
Along with ICAN and the LSE Centre for Women, Peace and Security, CFFP co-hosted the fourth session of the "Coming of Age of the Women, Peace and Security Agenda" series, which focused on the escalating violence and ongoing kidnappings of women and girls in Nigeria, and the continued targeting of civilians in Yemen.
Elite Bargains and Political Expediency: Sacrificing Women’s Lives in the Name of Security
Along with ICAN and the LSE Centre for Women, Peace and Security, CFFP co-hosted the third session of the Coming of Age of the Women, Peace and Security Agenda webinar series. In this discussion, we discussed what happens when the diplomats and politicians forge hasty elite bargains, leaving local communities and peacekeepers at the frontlines to face the consequences of their deals. The discussion reflected on the gap between the rhetoric of inclusion and increased calls for the recognition and protection of peacebuilders and the reality of power politics, where ultimately the 'deal' leads not to peace but to perpetual violence.
Talking to Extremists: Gender, Power and Belonging
Along with ICAN and the LSE Centre for Women, Peace and Security, CFFP hosted the second event of the "Coming of Age of Women Peace and Security, In Conversation" series. During “Talking to Extremists: Gender, Power, and Belonging” Sanam Naraghi Anderlini MBE speaks with Shannon Foley Martinez, Deeyah Khan and Mossarat Qadeem about their experience of talking to extremists.
As polarised echo chambers are exacerbating the divisions and entrenching extremes, the parallels between acts of domestic terrorism, such as the January 6th insurrection against the US Capitol in Washington, DC, and violent extremist movements in other parts of the world are evident. The radicalisation of individuals - men and women - is a complex process. Drawing people away from violent extremism is equally complex with a need to understand not only the political, cultural, psycho-social and emotional factors at play but also the centrality of gender ideology and roles.