Regional Conference and training on UNSCR 1325 and women’sparticipation in peace and security

The South Caucasus Regional Conference and training on UN Security Council Resolution 1325 and women’s participation in peace and security took place in Georgia on 5-9 August, 2013.

For the identification of the potential members of the Network, the special Application Form was developed. In Georgia the application forms were sent to number of universities and 4 best candidates were selected respectively. In Armenia the application forms were disseminated by local partner NGOs and in Azerbaijan over 15 local youth and women’s NGOs were contacted with the request to help identify adequate candidates; popular Azerbaijani Women’s NGO ‘Clean World’ - Women Aid Public Union of Azerbaijan” was contacted to help select the candidates.

12 young students from Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia participated in the conference and training session. The first day was dedicated to the introduction of the conference goals and objectives, also to the World Peace Day - In 5-6 August the World commemorates the anniversary of bombing Hiroshima and Nagasaki (5 August in US and on 6 August in Japan) and celebrates the Global Bell Ringing for Peace and a World without War. The Conference participants joined this event with candle lighting ceremony and bell ringing. A short video was filmed and distributed the second day in the social network (http://universalpeaceday.tumblr.com/post/58261284065/peace-bells-ring-in-georgia-eastern-europe ).

The second and the third days were dedicated to the introduction to women’s rights issues, UNSCRs on women, peace and security, peace journalism and social networks for building connections and peace. The fourth day was dedicated to the project planning and networking concept, project objectives and perspectives.

The Conference had several outputs: 1.The participants got familiar with gender equality issues and women’s human rights and women’s participation in peace and security aspects; UNSCR on 1325 and its follow up resolutions; Country strategies and National Action Plans to implement the UNSCRs on women, peace and security; on peace journalism and social media activities. 2. The South Caucasus Young Women Experts Network for Peace and Security was established and further activity plan was outlined; 3. YouthPeaceSecurity Blog was activated and FB page created to set up a platform for information sharing, learning and networking.