WFWPIOFFICESFORUNRELATIONS

WINTER2022|EDITION46

WFWPI OFFICES FOR UN RELATIONS NEWSLETTER

IN THIS ISSUE

Feature Article HRC Biannual Panel

Peace “No Peace Without Women” Creating Conditions for Peace and Development

Human Rights HRC : Annual Discussion on Gender

The President and Mandate of the NGO Committee on Peace- UNO in Vienna

Peace Leadership “The UN Dream" Activate 2022 Youth Peace Conference Young Leaders Retreat

HRC Biannual Panel on the Right to Development. - Right to Development, a Transformative Vision 35 years on

by Carolyn Handschin

Decades after its ratification, and on the foundation of two global development campaigns (MDGS and SDGS), 25 mentions in international agreements, the “Right to Development” as a veritable human right and, correspondingly, a duty, remains easily dismissed. WFWPI has been engaged in the ongoing debates at the Human Rights Council's Expert Mechanism on the Right to Development and the Working Group on the Right to Development over the past two years concerning the responsibilities of governments for “development,” what that means and the necessary role of civil society in operationalizing it. At its 51st Session, the Human Rights Council marked the 35th anniversary of the UN Declaration on the Right to Development, providing an opportunity to reflect upon its vision and implementation. As stated, governments have both the right and the duty to create national development policies that “aim at the constant improvement of the well-being of the entire population on the basis of their active, free and meaningful participation in development and in the fair distribution of its benefits.”

THE JOURNAL WOMEN'SFEDERATIONFORWORLDPEACEINTERNATIONAL

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Vision

Women working together to realize one global family rooted in a culture of sustainable peace.

Mission

Empowering women as peacebuilders and leaders in the family to transform the community, nation and world. Through education, advocacy, partnership, reconciliation and humanitarian service, WFWPI aims to create an environment of peace and well-being for future generations and people of all races, cultures and religious creeds.

UN NEWSLETTER TEAM

Publisher Julia H. Moon

Editor in Chief Carolyn Handschin

Editorial Directors Srruthi Lekha Raaja Elango Grace Kisile

This newsletter is published by Women's Federation for World Peace International Office of UN Relations 4 West 43rd Street New York, NY 10036, USA

NEW YORK: unoffice@wfwp.org GENEVA: c.handschin@wfwp.org VIENNA: m.riehl@wfwp.org WWW.WFWP.ORG

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HRC Biannual Panel on the Right to Development (Cont'd)

The theme of the commemorative panel was how to further “operationalize” and harness this right for cooperation, international solidarity, social and environmental justice and good governance for present and future generations. The presentations were enlightening. The panel was convened by HE Federico Villegas, the President of the Human Rights Council. In her opening remarks, Ms. Nada Al-Nashif, the Acting High Commissioner, explained that the 1986 Declaration on the Right to Development was aimed at the constant improvement of all individuals in areas of economic, cultural and social rights. She also explained that the intention was to evaluate these areas beyond its measurement in gross domestic product (GDP) alone and that it was rooted in international cooperation. Her office, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), works to mainstream the Right to Development, understanding that it must be given the same prominence as other rights.

Mr. Martin Chungong, Secretary General of the Inter-Parliamentary Union, reminded all in his remarks of the severe damage to emerging economies and inequalities in this time of recovery from COVID-19. He explained that parliamentarians can be drivers in legislative, budgetary and implementation roles. Best practices in Paraguay and Rwanda have made important impact and are being replicated, respectively, through tracking of data of SDG commitments and budgeting for adolescent health as a response to alarming rates of school drop-outs. Mr. Saad Alfarargi, the Special Rapporteur on the Right to Development, was the last to give remarks, asking for critical reflection about the way we approach economic recovery, to “build back better” and “leave no one behind.” He advised that we now take stock of our progress adhering to the principles of the Right to Development.

The panel on the “Right to Development as a Transformative Vision 35 Years On” had four speakers. Ms. Sakiko Fukuda, Vice Chair of the Committee for Development Policy, spoke of the gender disparities, unpaid work and domestic violence during the pandemic and the dramatic reversal of decades of progress, with wealth allocation becoming ever more unbalanced. This should be looked at through the lens of the Right to Development. Mr. Mihir Kanade, Chair of the Expert Mechanism on Right to Development, Head of the Department of International Law and Director of the Human Rights Center at the University of Peace, implored that we take stock of policies. He insightfully proceeded to look at what he called the "five myths" of the Right to Development, beginning with its definition. Development will not work as a charity, it is a duty, best done with a charitable attitude. Without a treaty or convention, there will be “business as usual.” We must move beyond rhetoric.

“We may share the same sun, but not the same roofs” were the opening thoughts from Ms. Attiya Waris, the Independent Expert on the Effects of Foreign Debt on the full Enjoyment of Human Rights. There is a need to dramatically rethink the global financial architecture for a fairer distribution of wealth, and alleviation of poverty. Ms Attiya Waris noted that human rights and development are inextricably intertwined, linking rights and resources. She continued that there must be more transparent and informed participation, resource access and redistribution, especially with a view to the least developed countries. The final panelist, Mr. Orduhkan Gahramanzade, Designated Chairperson of the Non-Aligned Movement Youth Organization (NAM), brought a report of their 18th Summit. He advocated for the engagement of youth at a more serious level. New approaches must be considered, granting the younger generation a platform and support for more substantive contributions, not just token roles. "Be assured, if involved, they will come up with informative, effective and smart youth-oriented solutions," he said.

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“No Peace Without Women”, “What are Women bringing to Peace Processes, Conflict Prevention and Human Security?” By Renate Amesbauer & Mary Hinterleitner

This conference brought together most remarkable women under a very timely theme. The event was opened by Mrs. Carolyn Handschin, calling upon all to reject the view that violence is an inevitable outcome of acutely deteriorating relations. Despite a rather disheartening situation in the world today, women have an opportunity and responsibility to step up with their rich experience and wisdom in conflict prevention and preventive diplomacy. She stated that she personally learned many lessons in neutralizing triggers of conflict, training at home with her large family! Among the speakers of the opening panel was Prof. Julia Moon. Dr. Moon referred to the inspiring example of the late Queen Elizabeth II, who has been admired by millions for her steadfastness in values and discipline, even in very difficult circumstances. Dr. Julia Moon spoke of Dr. Hak Ja Han Moon and the late Rev. Dr. Sun Myung Moon, her beloved parents-in-law. They together founded WFWP in 1992 to encourage women to develop leadership qualities and skills in the quest for sustainable peace, recognizing that their experience as mothers and daughters, sisters and wives prepare them well. Dr. Julia Moon also encouraged participants to take responsibility for their lives, avoid blaming others, and find true freedom. She reminded the audience of the motto "Peace begins with me," so simple, yet not so simple to realize.

Ms Olga Algayerova, Executive Secretary of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe, described various platforms created to enable women to take substantial leadership and negotiation roles, which should serve as a guide to support governments and build strong partnerships. Referring to the economic situation, she elaborated on the vast regional differences, where some countries are dealing with existential uncertainties: turmoil due to conflict and post conflict situations. She emphasized the importance of communicating beyond political and other differences and sharing lessons learned. Ms. Adriana Quñones, Director of UN Women's Liaison Office in Geneva, highlighted multiple global crises, including food insecurity, climate change and conflict, all of which have increased in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. By the end of 2020 the number of forcibly displaced persons had more than doubled since 2010. Twenty-two years ago, the Security Council approved Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security (WPS). The WPS Agenda was then established with the aim of increasing women’s participation in decision-making and peace-building. It also strives to ensure protection of girls and women in conflict-ridden zones and prevent sexual and gender-based violence in addition to implementing relief and recovery measures. Mrs. Quinones was the first to suggest increasing WPS funding while reducing military spending. She indicated that gender equality projects have a positive impact and yield a high return in peace dividends, while military spending in post-conflict settings put peace at risk.

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Session One: Creating Conditions for Peace and Development

The MC of this session, Ms. Senida Mesi, Deputy Prime Minister of Albania, noted in her opening that, “As a development economist I always thought that we needed a culture of peace and to solve conflicts in order to really invest in health and education and to have sustainable growth.” It is not always seen that way. Dr. Sakena Yacoobi, Founder and Executive Director of the Afghan Institute of Learning (AIL), believes that health, prosperity and peace in any nation depends on good schooling. Having 31 years experience of providing education, Dr. Yacoobi has seen wonderful leaders emerge from her schools. However, currently she is faced with oppression and must return to almost zero. Yet she never gives up. Currently, the AIL, which owns a TV channel in Afghanistan, has launched a new curriculum that can be watched by the children via TV directly in their homes or a community centre. Dr. Yacoobi also stated, that for her country to move forward, the challenges within its own society need to be overcome. She praised Afghan women, as they have persevered and stood together even in the most difficult of circumstances!

Dr. Ingeborg Breines, former Director of the UNESCO Culture of Peace Program and current Senior Advisor to the Permanent Secretariat of the Nobel Peace Prize, Norway, called on women to use their creativity and capacity to care to help build a peaceful, non-violent society, like great women have done before! She made reference to Bertha von Suttner in her famous anti-war-book, Lay down your Arms! , stating "We have to develop an active disgust for War," as well as Eleanor Roosevelt, who said: “Nobody won the last war; nobody will win the next … Wars should end in the dustbin of history." She also referenced the enormous military budget that would otherwise cover the costs of years of quality education for all children worldwide! Dr. Breines concluded that learning to live peacefully together is the most important pedagogical and political challenge for us all. Mr. Marcus Lenzen , Senior Advisor and Deputy Chief at the United Nations Peacebuilding Fund since 2017, confirmed the points made by the preceding speakers. He explained that he always pushes that more of the budget for peace-building projects fund projects that include women and are led by women, as they are more likely to have sustainable success. He added that empowering women is just as important as encouraging men to change their attitudes.

Ms. Therese Comodini Cachia, Member of the European Parliament (2014-2017) and human rights lawyer in Malta, followed. According to her view, when the international community at the UN seeks the commitment of politicians to work towards peace, conflict-prevention and human security, it does so in the belief that the population of every territory is part of the global family. Assuming that all people, irrespective of race, ethnicity, sex or religion, are part of one population, she argued that when one, as part of a national collective, makes the wrong decision, it affects everyone as part of the global collective. She also named the two most important “watchdogs” of human rights: journalism and activism! She warned that they are being endangered rather than being enabled. In conclusion, Ms. Comodini called for the absolute freedom of journalism as a precondition for a free and just world, which should include gender equality.

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ANNUAL DISCUSSION ON INTEGRATION OF A GENDER PERSPECTIVE (HRC res. 6/30) By Pearlyn Ho Pei Zhen, HR Intern, UN Office Geneva

September 12 marked the opening of the 51st Regular Session of the Human Rights Council, where I had the privilege of observing several sessions virtually. In particular, the panel discussion at the 23rd meeting was part of an annual discussion on the integration of a gender perspective, with focus of the theme being, “Overcoming gender-based barriers to freedom of opinion and expression.” The panel started with an opening statement by Ms. Peggy Hicks, Director of the Thematic Engagement, Special Procedures and Right to Development Division, Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, where she stated that “Freedom of expression and opinion is the foundation of every free and democratic society. It is essential for the promotion and protection of every human right.” This sentiment was echoed among the panelists and speakers throughout the session, with many identifying the critical role that women play in fighting for gender equality, and driving the conversations on complex issues such as climate change.

A common theme that struck me throughout the meeting is the extent by which women are continually silenced in their freedom of expression, even amidst an increase in women's participation on online and offline movements, such as with the “Me Too” movement. Understandably, more can be done in encouraging women participation and there would be negative consequences on women’s involvement, but I was not aware of how far-reaching and extensive these consequences were until attending the session, with these impacts being aptly described by Ms. Hicks as “an epidemic of sexual and gender-based violence against women and girls.”

Across the various panelists and speakers, many outlined the correlation between the root causes of gender inequality; such as harmful gender and patriarchal stereotypes, negative social norms and systemic racism to the degradation of women's freedom of expression. Incidents where women are silenced with the ultimate aim of excluding them from equal participation in private and public spaces are becoming more commonplace, especially with the increasing dependence on online platforms such as social media, with reports highlighting the combined rise in online violence of women and their corresponding offline attacks in connection to these online violence cases.

Ms. Irene Khan, Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression, pointed out the three challenges hindering the move towards freedom of opinion and expression. The first was the pervasive nature of gender censorship where women’s voices are suppressed, controlled and punished online and offline, explicitly through laws, policies and discriminatory practices by states, as well as implicitly through social attitudes, cultural and religious norms and patriarchal values. She outlined how the state and society are complicit in the promotion of gender censorship and the increasing urgency for governments to abolish laws and practices of gender censorship, as well as to lead the charge in dismantling the structural and systemic roots of gender discrimination.

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The second challenge emphasized the disproportionate price that women and girls have to pay when speaking out on their ideas, with many means being employed to exclude women from equal participation in private and public spaces while also undermining their ability to obtain information and speak out about or disseminate their ideas. One such example would be the prevalence of sexual and gender-based violence used as a weapon to silence and discredit women and their ideas across multiple industries - from politicians, leaders, civil society, community workers and human rights activists, to name a few. Amidst the rise of the digital space, there have been an increasing number of attacks on women in these platforms through gender- based violence or targeted hate speech with the intention of undermining their freedom of expression and more importantly, their rights as women and human beings. There is an increasing need for all stakeholders to be a part of this conversation, with non-state actors and social media platforms being identified as needing to implement stricter regulations in order to enforce and make digital spaces safe and accessible to women. Some solutions recommended throughout the session include having gender sensitive interpretation towards the right of freedom of expression and opinion, and implementation of clear and internationally accepted standards on what constitutes online gender-based violence to serve as a benchmark for these platforms.

Lastly, Ms. Khan touched on the issue of unequal access to information on the internet, with the issue affecting the right to information for women's freedom of expression. Together with non-state actors, governments have to look into the implementation of safeguards and promotion of women's access to information, eventually having a spill-over effect onto other aspects of improving overall well-being of women, such as the improvement of digital literacy and education in the longer term.

Throughout the session, the common struggle was the continual existence of gender stereotypes and patriarchal structures in perpetuating gender inequality and confining women to lesser and more submissive roles. Longer-term solutions to tackle these stereotypes brought up in the session include the adoption of special measures for improving social protection and the integration of gender equality in education. Overall, my experience of attending this session has served to further educate me in the current landscape and the challenges preventing the advancement towards gender equality, and how the solutions implemented in overcoming gender-based barriers are vital components in the overall human rights of women and girls globally. Additionally, it gave me a glimpse of the current transition that governments and various stakeholders alike have to engage and cooperate across sectors - whether it’s local government and international organizations or non-state actors, everyone has a role to play in the combined fight towards the promotion of women’s rights and ensuring that we are continually moving a step forward into the future of equality for all.

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The President and Mandate of the NGO Committee on Peace - UN Office in Vienna By Carolyn Handschin

UN NGO Committee on Peace in Vienna is a forum of UN accredited NGOS working for peace, security and disarmament ​in the area of​ nuclear proliferation and weapon​ s​. ​It is composed of​ nearly 35 NGOS​. ​Dr. Maria Riehl has been a member of the group representi​ng​ WFWPI​ since 1998. For some years the Director of UN Offices has been encouraging UN Representatives with long service and accumulated expertise, to put themselves forward as leaders in executive positions in the UN fora. ​This year in March 2022, Dr. Maria Riehl, Director of the WFWPI Office for UN Relations in Vienna, a medical doctor and formerly Vice Chair of the Committee, was elected Chairperson for a two- year term. In both Geneva and Vienna, WFWPI has been engaged in disarmament and peace issues through UN NGO Committees, Working Groups and Task Forces over decades. The Committee on Peace in Vienna is highly specialized​ and prominent with its frame of reference including the mandate of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) based at the UN Office in Vienna.

​The function of the NGO Committee is to engage civil society in information sharing, and create a platform for advocacy and partnership opportunities on issues that can be seen as narrow and specialized. The committee invit​es experts for debates, appraises interdisciplinary scientific research projects, reviews ​peace education programs and writes letters to governments on UN agenda items to encourage good results on peaceful cooperation, spanning from local to geopolitical relations. In focus currently is the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) worldwide, a recent landmark agreement to ban nuclear weapons (develop, test, produce, acquire, threaten or use) toward their total elimination. At times, ​g​ood ​practice ​projects and activities of NGOS ​are highlighted by the Committee. WFWPI had the opportunity to introduce its signature program, the "Bridge of Peace," as a very practical tool for reconciliation and peaceful cooperation between former enemy countries and groups at one prominent meeting. Special focus during the current term are interfaith cooperation in conflict prevention and resolution, humanitarian and non-violent communication, development of cooperation between enemy nations, resocialization after prison and crime prevention.

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“The UN Dream: Creating an environment where girls can be girls, not brides” By Anaya Moez Galibdin, Intern, UN Office New York

The United Nations Day is held annually on October 24 to celebrate the ratification of the UN Charter in 1945. It also offers the opportunity to reaffirm the purposes and principles at the core of the United Nations' foundation, as well as to amplify the common agenda which has been guiding global governance and cooperation. Over the last 77 years, the United Nations has been committed to achieving sustainable development throughout all nations. Yet myriads of global economic, health, social and existential issues constantly threaten the possibility of achieving such goals and of losing sight on important issues, such as the violence that is regularly inflicted against girls.

Every day, 39 thousand girls under the age of 18 are married globally. This equates to approximately 14 million girls annually. Child marriages are caused by numerous factors, including gender inequality, poverty, displacement, social and cultural norms, conflict, and lack of education. Recent studies also find that climate change and other environmental disasters are exacerbating the problem. Child marriages expose children to multiple forms of abuse, such as intimate partner violence, sexual assault, and female genital mutilation. It also endangers their mental and physical well-being and denies them of their independence and fundamental rights to liberty and security.

This year, to commemorate the 77th Anniversary of when the UN Charter came into force and the 30th Anniversary of the founding of Women's Federation for World Peace International (WFWPI), WFWP UN Relations Office in New York and WFWP Africa co-organized a Virtual Forum on the theme of child brides, titled "The UN Dream: Creating an environment where girls can be girls, not brides'.' The event was held on Friday, October 28.

This forum was created to bring together various members of civil society to find impactful and sustainable solutions to address the problems of child marriage. Since violence against girls cannot be resolved without addressing the effects of climate change and other environmental crises, WFWPI strived to use this forum as a platform to discuss the importance of integrating the issue of child marriages into environmental adaptation initiatives. It was also our hope to recognize the achievements of young leaders who are inspiring transformation in their communities through championing issues of girls' rights and the environment.

In the Opening Remarks, Mrs Carolyn Handschin, President of the NGO Committee on the Status of Women at the United Nations in Geneva and the International Vice President of WFWPI, acknowledged the role that traditions have in the issue of child marriages. However, she was quick to remind us that respect is needed "in the way that we speak about this and in the way that we try to influence this." She also discussed that child marriages require multidimensional solutions. For that purpose, different entities in society need to unite and work together, "with the attitude not just to accuse and push the other into the corner, but to say that 'we are with you and we want to partner with you for this change, maybe we can do better together.'"

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Next, Dr. Rima Salah, Chairperson of Early Childhood Peace Consortium and Former Assistant Secretary- General of the United Nations, stressed the need to continue making progress towards gender equality because, "unfortunately, progress has been only true for some, leaving millions of women and girls behind and their rights denied because of who they are, where they live, and the opportunities they don't have." She finished her speech by discussing the importance of investing in early childhood development since it is a powerful tool to "empower parents, families and communities to interrupt cycles of poverty, deprivation, inequality, and including gender inequality."

The second keynote speaker was Mme Therese Tommo, President of the UN African Mothers Association. By using Cameroon as a case study, Mme Tommo listed some common causes of child marriages, which include: low level of education for girls, poverty, competition among men for the "best" girls, and religious beliefs. However, she was hopeful about the future. As she pointed out, "the phenomenon is decreasing nowadays since society at large, social and non-governmental organizations, and the UN are joining hands together to work closely to eradicate the shameful act." The United Nations African Mothers Association is one such organization that is working towards ending child marriages. It is doing so by investing in education and health for women and children in Africa.

After the wonderful speeches from the keynote speakers, WFWPI proceeded to announce the Global Women Peace Ambassador Awards. Global Women Peace Ambassadors are peace leaders representing the religious, racial, and ethnic diversity of the human family, and all disciplines of human endeavor. They stand on the common ground of shared values and are committed to the path of promoting reconciliation, overcoming barriers, and building peace.

This year, three young ladies from Africa were the recipients of this award for their outstanding accomplishments. The first awardee was Ms. Teddy Aine, a journalist by profession and the Deputy CEO of Gloria Media House. Her work has included using photography to generate climate awareness on social media platforms. The second awardee was Ms. Mariama Djambony Badji, who is a civil engineer and the co- founder and CEO of DNA SARL, a construction company that offers living environments respecting nature. She is a Laureate of the Sahel Innovative Challenge 2021, and is one of the UN Development Programme's champions as a Young Leader for the SDGS, class of 2020. Finally, Ms Serah Wanjiku Njuguna, a 4th year student pursuing a Bachelor's Degree of Science in Strategic Management at Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, was the third awardee. She is a representative in the Kenya Inter-University Student Association and Chairperson of JKUAT Environmental Management Association.

Miss Sera Njuguma Kenya

Miss Mariama Badj Senegal

Miss Teddy Aine Uganda

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A panel discussion followed the award ceremony. The panel was moderated by Ms. Musu Bakoto Sawo, who is a human rights defender and lawyer with over 20 years of experience in advocating for the rights of women and children. The discussion was led by Dr. Sakena Yacoobi, the Founder and Executive Director of the Afghan Institute of Learning, and a Laureate of the SunHak Peace Prize; Ms. Fatima Gomez, who is a volunteer for Think Young Woman, a non-profit organization focused on realizing the rights of girls and women; and the three awardees of Global Women Peace Ambassador Awards.

The panel discussion was guided by questions regarding the role of different entities in society in the eradication of child marriages. For example, a question that was asked included: "What are the steps that civil society organizations can take to promote education, which is often hampered by child marriages?" Dr. Yacoobi shared her personal experiences with using education as a tool to combat child marriages over the past 30 years, and how it was effective in changing people's mindsets.

When asked how young people can serve as catalysts to end child marriages, Ms. Badji expressed that "young people must be the springboard" between the older and newer generations. Additionally, she discussed how important it is for young people to serve as inspiration for newer generations. This is especially true for female role models, who can serve to "show the parents the different possibilities for girls if they are allowed to continue their education." Ms. Aine made an important point about how young people can and should leverage social media as a way to give a voice to people who don't have a platform, especially on the topic of climate change. Similarly, Ms. Njuguna commented on how young people should be more involved in the fight against child marriages by spreading awareness that "young girls should be in schools, not getting married."

Ms. Gomez emphasized the importance of having dialogues with parents and community leaders to eradicate child marriages. She says that dialogues will make them understand that "child marriage is not the solution to teenage pregnancy, child marriage is not the solution to end their predicament in poverty." It is especially important for young girls to be the ones having these conversations with their parents and community leaders.

Lastly, Closing Remarks were made by Dr. Susan Kone, International Vice President of WFWP Africa. She once again highlighted that there are many girls affected by the phenomenon of child marriages, especially in Africa, which prevents them from growing their potential. She concluded the event by calling for everyone's participation in addressing climate change and child marriages, because it's only through partnership that we can "change the plight of our young women who are deeply affected by the very effects of climate change and give them a new lease of life and livelihoods." PAGE 11

ACTIVATE 2022 LEADERSHIP TRAINING By Merly Barlaan

The WFWPI Office for UN Relations in New York, in conjunction with Global Development Enterprise / NGO Academy, designed a 3-month virtual leadership training program which took place from August 19 - November 15, 2022. The project was managed by Musu Bakoto Sawo, an intern for the WFWPI Office for UN Relations in NY currently pursuing an MA in Global Affairs at the University of Notre Dame. The aim was to equip WFWP leaders with a forward-looking approach to identify opportunities for growth, effectively implement and manage sustainable and impactful projects. A total of 10 participants from five countries joined the Activate 2022 Leadership Training.

Activate 2022 provided a holistic, impact-driven, and practical leadership training for WFWPI’s visionary and peace-loving young leaders. Using a platform called Heartbeat, participants attended classes and engaged in interactive discussions, bonded and learned together. Through lectures, one-on-one coaching and practical applications, the Activate program aimed to unlock and unleash the participants’ creative and productive potential, equip them to provide practical solutions for the needs of their communities, train them to collaborate with stakeholders and policy makers, make a positive impact in their communities and contribute to the achievement of the UN SDGS, especially in the areas of peace-building, women empowerment and climate action. The coaches and lecturers of the program were Dr. Karen Smith, Director of Global Development Enterprise/ NGO Academy, Archt. Yani Dutta, Founder of The Regenesis Project and Mrs. Merly Barlaan, Director of the WFWPI Office for UN Relations in NY.

Concentration and Scope of Program This training program focused on three concentrations: Soft-power Leadership, Project Management, and advocacy; Grant writing and Fundraising; Permaculture principles, theory, and practice.

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The leadership capacity of the participants was built through the following roadmap: 1.1 Three 3-day Intensives Each intensive was designed to help the participants master one aspect of becoming an inspirational and effective leader, making an impact in people's lives. The first three day intensive, “Innovation Mastery Intensive,” combined the cultivation of core leadership skills and the building out of a minimum viable project (MVP) of the participants, for the WFWP UN Dream Initiative. The goal was that in three days, participants would experience powerful systems for engaging in and shaping change, while developing their MVP as the rallying point for change, learning, and influence.

The second 3-day intensive, “Influence Mastery Intensive,” prepared participants to develop their public communications and engagement roadmap with a focus on policy, permaculture or funding partners. This focus on stakeholder influence and impact would have the 6-week objective of measurable progress in the arena of policy, permaculture impact or funding procurement. The third 3-day intensive, “Impact Mastery Intensive,” honed the practical skills and practices of “measure, monitor, and report,” essential to leading from self-knowledge and creativity to build teams and organizations with a culture of innovation and heart.

1.2 Two 6-week Sprints This included six weeks of implementation of each participants’ projects as well as group coaching calls every week and one-on-one professional development training on permaculture, policy development and advocacy, and grant writing and fundraising. The 12 weeks of implementation sprints kept everyone on track and ensured that participants were getting the most out of Activate 2022, achieving their intended results.

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Youth Peace Conference 2022 : Korean Peace Accord By Srruthi Lekha Raaja Elango

The WFWPI Office for UN Relations in Geneva organized the WFWP Youth Peace Conference - Korean Peace Accord, on August 19-20, 2022, with various special sessions during the conference. This included interactive sessions with experts on the issues of concern, diplomacy, peace building measures, etc. The first session of the conference began on August 19 at 7:00 am CET, which welcomed all the participants and engaged in a brief introduction to the conference, the history of Women’s Federation for World Peace International and the issues of the conflict in general. Mrs. Carolyn Handschin, Director of the WFWPI Offices for UN Relations and the President of NGO CSW Geneva, welcomed everybody and insisted on the importance of the leadership of young people in peace-making and peace-building and of providing opportunities to practice these skills.

Next, the chair of the simulated youth commission, Mr. Harsha Surya Rahul Sathiyamurthy, welcomed the whole committee and briefed the young delegates on the procedures, rules and agenda of the conference, helping them better understand and engage in the process. There were many questions and concerns which consumed almost an hour of the conference. However, the delegates had learned to apply the formal procedures and were very eager to begin the debates. The chair began the formal debates through a formal roll call, among which nearly twenty delegations responded “present and voting.” Through the debate, the committee discussed matters such as disarmament and de-escalating the political tensions in the region and with their allies; the issues of security dilemma, the threat of nuclear weapons, human rights violations and freedom of access to basic services, women’s rights and role of women and youth in peacemaking. Further, the debates were provided expert advice by the President of UPF Germany and the President of UPF Switzerland with their years' long experience in the field of peace-building, highlighting their journey of advocating for peace in the Korean Peninsula. Projects, solutions and important concerns were addressed while engaging in a very fruitful discussion with the young delegates.

The conference then concluded with the unanimous adoption of the Peace Accord. Mrs. Carolyn Handschin thanked everybody for their meticulous work and complete support to make this conference a success. Ms. Srruthi Lekha Raaja Elango, project coordinator of the YPC, expressed her heartfelt thanks and invited everybody to continue working with the office on future initiatives. PAGE 14

WFWPI Young Leaders Retreat By Mako Mori & Grace Kisile

After a two year hiatus of in-person gatherings, the WFWPI Office for UN Relations in New York held an international Young Leaders Retreat in Barrytown, New York, from August 4 to 8. The purpose of the retreat was to create a space in which young socially minded women come together to discover and commit their passions for the sake of world peace, centered on WFWPI’s feminine leadership paradigm, under the theme of "Spread Your Wings: Using your gift to transform the world.” A total of 15 young women from 11 different countries traveled across the world to participate in this impactful program.

On the arrival day, participants flew into New York City and were transported up to the beautiful Hudson Valley in upstate New York. After dinner, the ladies were welcomed by Mrs. Merly Barlaan, Deputy Director of the WFWPI Office for UN Relations in New York, who joined the retreat virtually. Next, Mrs. Alexa Ward, former Deputy Director of the WFWPI Office for UN Relations in New York, greeted each participant with a shaking of hands because “we are all one family.” Mrs. Ward gave historical background about the Massena House, which was the summer home visited by former President Theodore Roosevelt in his youth.

The first full day focused on the theme: “Becoming Women this World Needs.” As women leaders, we may often have different and necessary perspectives and qualities from our male colleagues and friends. The intention of this day therefore was to explore how we as women can grow to be leaders that live for the sake of the world, by becoming women who meet these needs. The first session, “Envisioning a World and Person of Peace,” Grace Kisile, Administrator of WFWPI in NY, had participants get clear on what and who makes up a peaceful world. In the next session, “Challenges of Becoming True Women Leaders,” Katarina Connery, Vice President of WFWP USA, dug into the historical gender inequities that continue to leave scars on women’s emotions and concepts and called participants to transcend these challenges by recognizing their true value and unlock their capacities for compassion and healing. In the final session of the day, “Becoming Women Leaders,” Mako Mori, Public Relations and Media Coordinator of WFWPI NY, challenged the participants to embody the quote from Ghandi to “be the change you wish to see in the world,” and grounded this in her personal experience of doing just that. The day was rounded out with guided meditations, grounding times and a Spa Night.

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The third day on the theme “Creation and Co-creativity” started early in order to drive up to Kaaterskill Falls, a popular hiking destination in New York! After two full days of learning and planning and working, this was an opportunity to experience the healing and cleansing power of immersing oneself in nature. After lunch, the retreat officially culminated with a concluding session. The participants watched a slideshow presentation with photos from the past three days together. Shortly after, Grace and Mako expressed their heartfelt gratitude to the young women leaders who traveled from far away to be able to join the retreat. Coming back to the energy of the city, the next and final day was an optional opportunity to tour the UN Headquarters in New York. The tour took us down the halls where important representatives have walked, major declarations were made and history was shaped. We gained a deeper insight into the UN’s origin, history and current role on the global scale.

Many of the participants had never been to the UN and so they were no doubt excited to learn about its history and impact. Coming from the previous three days of the retreat, the participants were also prepared to experience the UN from a perspective where they could begin to see opportunities for connecting to the work of the UN in executing their own projects. The day ended with a special lunch with the Senior Vice President, Dr. Sun Jin Moon, and her husband, Dr. In Sup Park, who were encouraged and amazed by the diversity, passion and heart of the group of young women. The women left the city connected to themselves and to one another, supported in their passions and inspired to contribute to their communities through their passions and skills.

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