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Rabat – ConnectinGroup International organized on Friday a conference under the theme “Women, Peace and Security,” with the aim of reaffirming the key role of women in the prevention and resolution of conflicts, peacekeeping, and peace negotiations.
Organized in partnership with the German political foundation Friedrich Naumann, the event took place in Morocco’s capital Rabat, with the participation of representatives of the Moroccan civil society as well as experts.
The conference commemorated the 22nd anniversary of Resolution 1325 on women, peace, and security, which the United Nations Security Council adopted in October 2000.
President of ConnectinGroup International Nouzha Bouchareb and Director of the Friedrich Naumann Foundation’s office in Morocco Sebastian Vagt
The resolution addressed the negative impact that war and armed conflicts have on women and girls, and highlighted the centrality of gender equality and women’s empowerment to achieve peace, security, and sustainable development.
Morocco’s National Action Plan
The event was an opportunity for the participants to stress the urgent need for women’s full involvement and equal participation in maintaining and promoting peace and security. The speakers also touched on Morocco’s National Action Plan (NAP) in regard to Resolution 1325.
President of the International Center of Diplomacy Karima Rhanem said that the event served as a session of consultation between the Moroccan civil society to provide “concrete” propositions and recommendations. She also highlighted the importance of engaging women and youth in peacemaking.
President of the International Center of Diplomacy Karima Rhanem
President of ConnectinGroup International Nouzha Bouchareb told Morocco World News that the conference served as a “platform of consultation” for associations to work toward developing a “plan of action” for Morocco regarding the implementation of Resolution 1325.
The plan of action will mainly focus on the “positioning of women in decision-making” in security and peace, as well as gender equality, Bouchareb added.
She highlighted that ConnectinGroup International seeks to position itself as a “change maker” and ensure the full involvement of women in decision-making.
Bouchareb emphasized that women are an integral part of the development of Morocco, adding that they need to be an “indispensable actor” in ensuring peace and security.
President of ConnectinGroup International Nouzha Bouchareb
In addition, President of the Africa’s Women Forum Naima Korchi presented the pillars of Morocco’s National Action Plan. She highlighted the importance of capacity building to empower women in peace and security, as well as increase their participation as mediators in the negotiation process of conflict resolution.
Korchi also touched on her experience with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in the Moroccan southern city of Laayoune, commending the efforts deployed by Morocco to include women in peace and security policies.
President of African Women’s Forum Naima Korchi
Women’s role in peacemaking
Speaking at the conference, Director of the Friedrich Naumann Foundation’s office in Morocco Sebastian Vagt highlighted women’s key role and contributions in terms of peacebuilding.
“Being a former military officer myself, I can tell that women contribute a lot to peacebuilding, but also to the armed forces,” he said, highlighting that women make up half of the population in terms of resources, knowledge, and capacities.
Vagt stressed that “women play an essential role in making our societies more peaceful, but also our militaries more effective.”
Director of the Friedrich Naumann Foundation’s office in Morocco Sebastian Vagt
The Friedrich Naumann Foundation works alongside its partners in Morocco on a wide range of issues, including promoting democracy, entrepreneurship, as well as female leadership.
“We don’t do this because we like women better than men, we do not even do this for the women to succeed… we do this because we are convinced that more diverse organizations that make up and govern society are more effective, resilient, and inclusive,” Vagt told MWN.
Bouchareb echoed Vagt’s remarks and highlighted the importance of ensuring “female representation in situations of peace and security.”
Impact of war on women
The speakers also stressed the importance of ensuring the security and protection of women from gender-based violence in situations of conflict and war, including rape and other forms of sexual violence.
President of the Women for Peace and Mediation association Zoubida Moumjid touched on the impact of conflicts on women, arguing that women and girls are disproportionately affected by wars.
President of the Women for Peace and Mediation association Zoubida Moumjid
“Civilians, especially women, are the most affected by modern conflicts,” Moumjid said, giving the example of civil wars that ravaged the Democratic Republic of Congo in the 90s as well as its effects on women.
Bouchareb highlighted the struggles of women at the Tindouf camps and the serious violation of human rights that they suffer. She called for concrete recommendations in this regard, with the aim of improving the conditions of women in the Tindouf camps.
In addition, Bouchareb outlined the impacts of global crises on women and girls, giving the example of the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as climate change.
Project Manager at UN Women in Morocco Aymane Saidi delivered a presentation explaining the four pillars that underline the Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) Agenda, including “Participation, Protection, Prevention, and Relief and Recovery.”
Saidi also touched on the WPS national action plans in countries from across the world, noting that Morocco is at its first-generation NAP.
Project Manager at UN Women in Morocco Aymane Saidi
