Page 21 - IB AUG 2017

Women

In the pursuit of
gender inclusive peace

By Sian Rolls intergovernmental organisations. They
are responsible for the policies that our
A PACIFIC network of peacebuilders com- governments agree to and adopt in our
mitted to progressing commitments to countries.”
gender inclusive conflict prevention and In the Pacific region, femLINKpacific as
human security plans to continue more the Pacific Regional Secretariat for GPPAC
than a decade of work by celebrate the that works in collaboration with the World
knowledge and strength of their leaders Association of Christian Communications
of the network and the role they play in (WACC) Pacific, across the 22 Pacific
empowering young women: Delegates to the GPPAC. Photo: Supplied Island countries and territories linking
“It’s been ten years since we’ve been peacebuilders in Fiji, Papua New Guinea,
working together as part of our first ‘1325’ as the ‘1325’ network. The ‘Pasifika Peace Solomon Islands, Vanuatu and Tonga – all
network that started in late 2006 and Talanoa’ marked the end of GPPAC Pa- of whom bring expertise to enable traction
formalised in 2007,” shared Sharon Bhag- cific’s three -day CSO Forum and regional at the community level in relation to peace
wan Rolls, Executive Producer-Director steering group meeting held in early July. education, which is inclusive of human
of femLINKpacific and the Chair of the The network also used the opportunity rights training.
Global Partnership for the Prevention of to set recommendations to further prog- “There are a lot of important networks
Armed Conflict (GPPAC). “It’s a decade of ress including: so… we bring them together and empower
peacebuilding practice in the Pacific pro- • reiterating the need to resource peace- our communities to collect data and then
gressing 1325. It’s a good time to reaffirm building networks, like GPPAC Pacific; analyse and present it to the different
our collaboration and strategise for the • building on the network’s capacity in agencies so that they may be held account-
next decade.” areas such as early warning, track II able so that governments may also be
During the network’s annual Pasifika diplomacy, policy analysis, advocacy and held accountable,” said Florence Swamy,
Peace Talanoa event, organised as part of media outreach; Executive Director of Pacific Centre for
the Gender Inclusive Conflict Prevention • and calling on regional intergovernmen- Peacebuilding (PCP). “For us, as PCP, a
and Human Security project support by tal organisations (RIGOs), government platform like this is quite important in
the Pacific Islands Forum Non State Ac- officials and the United Nations to develop our own community peacebuilding work.
tors programme funded by the European a regional mechanism which will increase (It is providing) the access and the differ-
Union. Regional Cooperation and engagement ent avenues to speak with the different
GPPAC Pacific works to foster collabo- between RIGOS and CSOs working on communities.”
ration on gender, preventative action and conflict prevention and peacebuilding. In addition, throughout the decade of
human security in peace and security Despite the adoption of the Regional collaboration, the GPPAC Pacific network
forums in the Pacific region including in Action Plan on Women, Peace and Secu- actively invested not just in its peacebuild-
humanitarian contexts and to network rity (RAP-WPS) by Pacific Island Forum ing approach, but an intergenerational
and develop a gender inclusive regional leaders marked a milestone in advancing way of working – committed to the par-
early warning and early response (EWER) gender inclusive conflict prevention and ticipation and inclusion of young women
framework with human security and pro- human security, its implementation was in all their diversities. “We must prepare
tection indicators to prevent the resurgence not resourced – this is a lesson learned that young women and equip them with skills,
of conflicts. “Conflict experienced in Bou- GPPAC Pacific focal points in the Solomon knowledge and confidence,” stressed Van-
gainville hit women and children the hard- Islands want to see not repeated with the essa Heleta of the Talitha Project and new
est,” shared Agnes Titus of the Nazareth region’s first National Action Plan (NAP) Chairperson of the GPPAC Pacific Regional
Centre for Peace and Rehabilitation. “But on Women, Peace and Security. Steering Group (RSG). “Young women can
they weren’t at the peace table. We need “We need to have everyone saying that speak – they have a brain and a mouth!
to ensure that women participate because achieving gender equality is their busi- We must prepare them for life. It’s not just
it is their participation that will prevent the ness,” outlined Anne Pakoa of Vanuatu about empowering them – we must help
resurgence of violence.” Young Women For Change. them so they can impact their society. So,
In addition, by enhancing conflict “The resourcing of the National Action we need to work with their families and
analysis and communication systems, the Plan is very important,” added Josephine the leaders around them as well. We talk
network is contributing to a resilient and Teakeni of Vois Blong Mere Solomons. “At to them around the kava bowl and talanoa,
inclusive regional peacebuilding archi- the national level now, everyone must be bringing the real life examples to that they
tecture with an emphasis on progressing watching our development processes like understand the issues.”
commitments by Pacific Forum Leaders. the National Budget to make sure that it GPPAC Pacific will continue to undertake
The GPPAC Pacific network partners supports the implementation of the NAP. its activities with a focus on enhancing
want to see a real investment in the shift We are doing the work on the ground women and young women’s participation
from a reactive to a preventative approach, – creating the spaces including through in decision making and amplifying their
building on the collective gains and lessons peace vigils. But we also need space as civil voices in regional intergovernmental pro-
learnt over the years since first organising society to be heard including by regional cesses and media networks.

Islands Business, August 2017 21