The United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute (UNICRI) is pleased to announce a side-event during the 68th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW68). This event will address "The Prevention of Violent Extremism in the Sahel and Meaningful Consultations on Gender." The side-event is organized in cooperation with the Permanent Mission of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania to the UN, the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Korea to the UN, the Counter Terrorism Executive Directorate (CTED), and UN Women. The event will be held in person.
The event aims to share key findings from UNICRI's latest publication, "Voices of Resilience: A Gender Needs Analysis on Preventing Violent Extremism in the Sahel." This report provides insights into the perceptions and experiences of communities in Mali, Mauritania, and Niger. The discussion will contextualize these findings within the broader landscape of gender and prevention of violent extremism initiatives in West Africa and the Sahel.
The expert-led discussion will focus on developing context-specific prevention initiatives, exploring guiding principles for future gender-responsive P/CVE interventions. This includes considerations of cross-cutting needs and priorities.
Opening Remarks:
Moderated by: Mr. Odhran James McCarthy, Liaison Officer, UNICRI New York Office
- H.E. Ambassador Sidi Mohamed Laghdaf, Permanent Representative of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania to the UN
- H.E. Ambassador Sangjin Kim, Deputy Permanent Representative of the Republic of Korea to the UN
- Ms. Natalia Gherman, Executive Director of the Counter-Terrorism Executive Directorate (CTED)
- Ms. Nyaradzayi Gumbonzvanda, Deputy Executive Director for Normative Support, UN System Coordination, and Programme Results of UN Women (TBC)
- Mr. Christophe Monier, Director of the Business Transformation and Accountability Division in the Department of Management Strategy, Policy and Compliance and the Secretary-General›s Representative on the Board of Trustees of the United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute (UNICRI)
Panel Discussion:
Moderated by: Mr. Odhran James McCarthy, Liaison Officer, UNICRI New York Office
- Dr Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi, Founding Director of the Women Advocates Research and Documentation Center (WARDC)
- Ms. Helena Sterwe, Team Leader of Conflict Prevention and Peacebuilding at UNDP
- Ms. Lila Pieters, the UN Resident Coordinator in Mauritania
- Ms. Esther Omam, Executive Director of Reach Out Cameroon
UN Framework Highlights:
The impact of conflict, violence, and insecurity on women and girls has long been explored within the United Nations system. Resolutions such as 1325 on Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) address the unique challenges faced by women and girls in conflict zones. Since 2015, WPS resolutions have increasingly integrated a gender perspective in preventing and countering violent extremism, including resolutions 2242 (2015), 2467 (2019), and 2493 (2019). CTED, in response to Security Council requests, integrates gender issues into its counter-terrorism activities. The UN Plan of Action for the Prevention of Violent Extremism emphasizes gender equality and recognizes the role of women in countering terrorism. The Eighth Review of the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy reaffirms a gender-responsive approach to preventing and combating terrorism.
Join us for this impactful event at Conference Room D, UNHQ, New York, on Tuesday, 19 March 2024, from 3:00 to 4:15 pm.
To access the agenda and register, please click here.
