International Conference of Regional Women’s Lobby in Thessaloniki, on 8 December 2021*
Press Release: Women demand 50% quota in governments and formal peace processes – at the International Conference of Regional Women’s Lobby in Thessaloniki, on 8 December 2021
The international conference “NEVER MORE URGENT: Investing in Women’s Leadership in Politics and Peacebuilding” was held in Thessaloniki, Greece, organized by the Regional Women’s Lobby in Southeast Europe (RWLSEE) and UN Women, with the support of the Government of Sweden. The conference was dedicated to the 21st anniversary of UN Resolution 1325 and the promotion of the WPS-HA Generation Equality Compact, of which RWLSEE is a signatory.
The International Conference provided a platform for discussion and exchange of ideas among a wide range of prominent women leaders from countries in the Western Balkans region and around the world, with experience in policymaking and peace negotiation. The conference focused on ways to overcome existing barriers to achieving full and meaningful participation of women in politics, governance, and formal peace processes, where women have sufficient knowledge and experience to contribute to the building of lasting peace, governance democratic and sustainable development in the region and beyond.
The main conclusion and the main call of the conference participants was that “Women demand a 50% quota in the government and peace negotiating tables”, as a loud and unanimous call emphasizing that this issue must be resolved because it is urgent as never before.
This year, the conference also contributes to the Generation Equality Forum, the Compact for Women’s Peace and Security and Humanitarian Action (WPS-HA) which was launched and aims to reshape peace and security and humanitarian action processes to systematically involve women and girls in decisions that affect their lives. This Compact is a guide to ensure that women and girls are globally protected in accordance with Resolution 1325.
The conference addressed important topics for peace and security in the region from a women’s perspective, including concerns about fragile peace and the negative effects of the pandemic on women’s participation in peace and security processes will be addressed in relation to the women’s peace agenda. and security, given their interaction and the need to shift the paradigm of peacebuilding and peacebuilding to include women as a strategic force for the change we need. The conference examined the conditions for creating an inclusive gender peace by emphasizing the urgency of gender equality at the tables where peace and the future are decided. It aims to raise international and national awareness that it is urgent as never before to invest in empowering women’s leadership and gender equality in politics and decision-making, in government and in formal peace processes, for a much-needed change to help building a just, peaceful and sustainable future in the Western Balkans and beyond.
The international conference began with inspiring speeches by Edita Tahiri, former Deputy Prime Minister of Kosovo and Chair of RWLSEE; Alia-El Yassir, Regional Director for UN Women, Europe and Central Asia, Karin Hernmarck Ahliny, Ambassador of Sweden to Kosovo and Ulrika Richardson, United Nations Development Program in Kosovo.
Edita Tahiri, chair of RWLSEE, in her opening speech, greeted all participants in the international conference, expressing happiness for meeting again in the country, after a break conditioned by pandemic restrictions. She particularly greeted Alia El-Yassir, UN Women Regional Director, whose continued leadership and support have been a source of inspiration and encouragement for the Women’s Regional Lobby and its successes. Tahiri welcomed and expressed high appreciation to Ellen Swedenmark and the Government of Sweden for their continued support and funding for the Regional Women’s Lobby. She further stressed that RWLSEE’s strategic partnership with UN Women and the Government of Sweden have enabled us to reach this point, in our joint efforts to shorten the path to gender equality and shape an inclusive gender future. She also welcomed the well-known peace negotiations from the world and the region and the international experts who were part of this important conference and for their contribution towards the common goal. “The time has come for gender power sharing and we will continue our common struggle until women are equal at the decision-making tables. It is now clear and widely recognized that women’s power is a strategic asset that can no longer be ignored. We must do whatever it takes for 2030 to make our ideals of equality, inclusiveness and sustainability a reality. If we wait another century for this to happen, it means that we as women have failed. Therefore, let us do the best for the realization of our dream “, said Edita Tahiri. She especially congratulated all the members of the Lobby and the team for the 15 successful years she is marking this year and said that the work will never stop until our equal inclusive ideals are achieved. and build a sustainable future.
Alia El-Yassir, UN Regional Director for Europe and Central Asia, recalled the importance of UNSC Resolution 1325, a historic resolution linking gender equality and the maintenance of international peace and security, which for the first-time recognized women’s participation as key to conflict resolution and peacekeeping. She stressed that women’s rights organizations, such as the Regional Women’s Lobby, are the true guardians of the Women’s Peace and Security Agenda and are essential to its functioning. “The evidence is clear: having women at the peace table generates more, strengthens accountability for implementation, and also makes peace more sustainable because, with their contribution, agreements go beyond the realm of power to the realities of the people.” Finally, El-Yassir praised the RWLSEE’s work to influence significant changes in favor of women’s political empowerment in decision-making and peacebuilding throughout the region, to contribute to the tracing of the peace process between women politicians and parliamentarians by Kosovo and Serbia in support of the Brussels Dialogue. Finally, she encouraged women and RWLSEE to reinforce WPS-related messages and to continue its efforts in promoting goals by encouraging and protection of women’s rights and gender equality and work together with intergenerational leaders as agents of change for a better future for all.
Ulrika Richardson, UN Development Coordinator in Kosovo, congratulated the Regional Women’s Lobby on such an important event in the 21st anniversary of Resolution 1325 for bringing women from the region and across the region to discuss peacekeeping and the future of peace, which is of high importance and strengthens the main goals of women’s participation in the negotiating tables. She said the RWLSEE is a great example of regional co-operation between women working in a post-conflict environment for peacebuilding, reconciliation and gender equality, and that the strength held by the Regional Women’s Lobby can really be put to a more peaceful environment, safe and favorable in the region. She concluded her speech by adding that the UN is ready and will continue to be a close partner to support RWSLEE in the future.
Karin Hernmarck Ahliny, Sweden’s Ambassador to Kosovo, began her introductory speech by recalling the three essential Rs of women at the negotiating table: rights, resources, and representation. She said that rights and resources are something that women have, but they lack representation because of men’s decisions and ideologies, which is why only a limited number of women sit at the table. She also stressed the need to have women at the negotiating table and that this is only achieved when women persuade men to give up their seats and leave them to women. “This is the treatment of women as an equal part of society, not as the best result, but as a right thing.” Finally, she said, she is convinced that women participating in this International Conference will push this agenda forward.
The conference continued with the discussions of the first panel focused on the topic “Inclusive Gender Peace Processes: Why is it essential for women to be at the table?” in which women peace negotiators from around the world and the Balkans spoke, as well as experts on the world agenda for women, peace and security. Among the speakers were: Shadia Marhaban, Acheh Peace Agreement Negotiator, Ulrika Richardson, UN Resident Coordinator in Kosovo, Mavic Belezza, Network Executive Director, Network Christine Bell, Professor of Constitutional Law and Expert on Gender Responsive Peace Agreements, Jennifer Bradshaw, International Expert on the WPS Agenda and Women in Peace Processes, Flora Macula, International Gender Expert and UN Women Leaders at , Sonja Biserko, Director of the Helsinki Committee from Serbia, Edita Tahiri, Negotiator of the Rambouillet Peace Agreement and Chief Negotiator in the Brussels Dialogue, and Vesna Ozbolt Skare, Chief Negotiator of the Erdut Agreement in Croatia.
The conference continued with two other panels of intensive discussion on the urgency of women’s leadership in politics, decision-making, and peacebuilding and in political parties, attended by: Eglantina Gjermeni, Vlora Tuzi-Nushi, Memnuna Zvizdic, Irina Pockova Natasha Mihajlovic, Nada Drobnjak, Luljeta Vuniqi, Arjeta Rexhaj, Mesila Doda, Dalida Demirovic, Savka Todorovska, Olena Papuga, Ljubomirka Asovic and Tamara Vukicevic. The last panel on gender equality in disarray included a discussion between journalists where the speakers were: Nada Teshanovic, Xhevahire Izmaku, Vera Didanovic, Mirjana Davidovska and Zeljka Zvicer.
The International Conference brought together women leaders in politics, civil society, MPs, government representatives, world-renowned women peace negotiators, international WPS experts and gender equality advocates, women from the media and the RWLSEE steering committee, and all members from seven countries. of the Western Balkans. The Conference was attended by: Alia El-Yassir, Director of UNWomen for Europe and Central Asia, Chair of the RWLSEE Lobby: Edita Tahiri, Ambassador of Sweden to Kosovo, Karin Hernmarck Ahliny, Ulrika Richardson, UN Resident Coordinator in Kosovo, Vlora Tuzi Nushi , UN Women for Kosovo, Members of the Lobby Steering Committee: Eglantina Gjermeni, Nada Drobnjak, Sonja Biserko, Irina Pockova; RWLSEE members from Albania: Mesila Doda, from Bosnia and Herzegovina: Nada Tesanovic, Nada Golubovic, from Croatia Tamara Vukicevic, from Kosovo: Time Kadriaj, Hykmete Bajrami, Luljeta Vuniqi, Xhevahire Izmaku and Arjeta Rexha, from Montenegro: Lovic , from Northern Macedonia: Savka Todorovska, women politicians and MPs from Serbia: Natasa Mihajlovic, Olena Papuga and Katarina Strbac, from Bosnia and Herzegovina: Dalida Demirovic, civil society representatives, Edlira Cepani and Elona Gjebrea media representatives: Vera Didanovic, Mirjana Davidovska, Zeljka Switzerland. RWLSEE Coordinator Diana Cekaj-Berisha and Executive Assistant Nita Bakalli-Istrefi also participated in the Conference.