The Women’s Leadership, Global Engagement VOLUME 1II, ISSUE II Fourth Annual UN Briefings and Luncheon US Alternate Representative for Special Political Affairs to the UN Delivers Keynote Address New York, NY – On May 1, 2009, the and cited a recent example of the US Women’s Foreign Policy Group hosted Mission’s success in rallying the Security its fourth annual UN Briefings and Council to unanimously condemn North Luncheon focusing on World Crises and Korea's launch of a rocket using ballistic the UN: from Sudan to the Democratic missile technology, which violated Security Republic of Congo to Afghanistan. The Council prohibitions. conference drew over 100 participants (3) A strong global leadership on climate from corporations, non-profits, change. On this point, Ambassador foundations, international organizations, DiCarlo noted that the General Assembly B. Lynn Pascoe Ambassador the media, and the diplomatic will also focus efforts toward a global Rosemary DiCarlo community. warming agreement by the end of this year Ambassador Rosemary DiCarlo, US Alternate Representative and expressed gratitude that Secretary- for Special Political Affairs to the UN, delivered the keynote General Ban Ki-moon is a strong advocate address, US Priorities at the UN, at the luncheon. The on this issue. conference also featured briefings by Eva Busza, Principal (4) A commitment to increasing the UN's Officer for the Strategic Planning Unit, Office of the Secretary capacity for peacekeeping missions. General, on The UN Secretary General's Top Priorities and Ambassador DiCarlo explained how Challenges; Radhika Coomaraswamy, Under-Secretary- increased peacekeeping missions can be Radhika General, Special Representative for Children and Armed an effective tool in managing conflicts Coomaraswamy Conflict, on Protecting Children in Armed Conflict; B. Lynn "whose spread could threaten US national Pascoe, Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs, on Major security interests and values." She said Political Crises Facing the UN; and Joanne Sandler, Deputy that at one-eighth the cost of a US troop Executive Director of UNIFEM, on Ending Violence against deployment, using the UN’s “blue helmets” Women in Conflict Zones. is a good deal for the American taxpayer. In her remarks, Ambassador DiCarlo outlined four key However, with these operations growing in priorities for the US that demonstrate a revitalized US leadership size and complexity, she explained that and cooperation at the UN. (1) A commitment to being "at the the UN needs a revamped strategy and center" of the UN efforts to reduce poverty, fight disease, and improved capacity to better provide for Joanne Sandler promote sustainable economic development. She pointed out peacekeeping missions. that the new US Administration's first proposed budget "puts us Ambassador DiCarlo also discussed on a path to double foreign assistance" and noted that the US maritime piracy off the coast of Somalia shares the UN’s Millennium Development Goals. Though the and the US’s role in the recent UN and Ambassador acknowledged the current work of UN agencies to NATO provisions to escort humanitarian meet the Goals, she said that additional funding will be needed vessels and to intercept, arrest, and to fully realize them. prosecute pirates. Additionally, she (2) A focus on ridding the world of nuclear weapons. addressed the situations in Haiti, Kenya, Ambassador DiCarlo noted the international goal of securing all Sri Lanka, and the Sudan, as well as Eva Busza vulnerable nuclear material around the world within four years swine flu and the global economic crisis. Visit www.wfpg.org for pictures and transcripts of this and other WFPG events. PAGE 2 U N WFPG Board Chair WFPG Board Member Peggy Kerry of the US Mission to the UN Maxine Isaacs Gillian Sorensen during morning briefings B R I E Ambassador Rosemary DiCarlo, Maxine Isaacs, and Melinda Blinken Keynote Luncheon Speaker Ambassador Rosemary DiCarlo F I N G Joanne Sandler of UNIFEM and Patricia Ellis and Radhika Coomaraswamy, Under-Secretary-General, S Sheila Sisulu of the World Food Programme Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict WFPG Board Member Donna Constantinople and Columbia WFPG Board Members and Ambassador Rosemary DiCarlo University student Yata Kande asking questions during Q&A WOMEN’S FOREIGN POLICY GROUP PAGE 3 (cont. from page 1) Eva Busza, Principal Officer, Strategic Planning Unit, Joanne Sandler, the Deputy Executive Director of UNIFEM, Executive Office of the Secretary-General, discussed the spoke about ending violence against women in conflict zones. She progress that has been made on the three priorities the lamented the international community's failure to stand by women Secretary-General set in 2007: (1) to deliver results to people victims of violence. She explained that the reluctance of member most in need, (2) to address new global challenges by securing states to help often comes from concern about imposing Western “global goods,” and (3) to strengthen the UN by increasing values, but may also result from preference given to other political accountability. Ms. Busza added that the recent economic priorities. crisis has made staying on top of these priorities an even more Ms. Sandler discussed four key challenges that must be important task. overcome in order to fulfill Security Council Resolutions 1325 and To deliver results to people most in need, there must be 1820 on post-conflict situations: (1) ending impunity for rape in increased investment in food production and a renewed focus peace negotiations; (2) implementing 1820 with standard operating on maternal and infant health – an area where the Secretary- procedures to prevent widespread and systematic sexual violence General feels the UN can make rapid progress. In addition, Ms. in conflict situations (to this end, she noted that the recently formed Busza explained that “delivering results” means bolstering the UN Action against Sexual Violence in Conflict brings together UN's capacities for conflict prevention and peace-building, the various UN entities to develop the first-ever comprehensive need for which has caused the UN's civilian, military, and strategy to combat sexual violence); (3) implementing monitoring police personnel to increase from 20,000 to over 110,000 in mechanisms to take the place of the current provisions under 1325, the past ten years. She also noted that the UN is working with which are “woefully inadequate" compared to the robust monitoring member states to improve risk reduction mechanisms that mechanisms of Security Council Resolution 1612 on children in address humanitarian needs in times of disaster or conflict. armed conflict; (4) supporting women’s leadership "in spearheading change," which includes implementing justice processes for Ms. Busza explained that what makes the current challenges women, such as truth commissions, and providing “safe spaces” to different is not that they have not existed before, but that as women in post-conflict societies. Ms. Sandler also mentioned the matters of “global goods” they are not restricted to particular need to increase resources for advocacy from high-level leadership member states and require solutions of great depth, scope, such as UNIFEM's "Say No to Violence" campaign, led by celebrity and cooperation. For example, the problems presented by spokeswoman Nicole Kidman. climate change, swine flu, and nuclear non-proliferation all necessitate intensive global collaboration. Radhika Coomaraswamy, Under-Secretary-General, Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict, spoke on B. Lynn Pascoe, Under-Secretary-General for Political protecting children in armed conflict and the progress that has been Affairs, discussed recent developments in the UN’s made regarding child soldiers. This includes the shift towards peacekeeping and peace-building efforts. He explained that dealing directly with the leadership of groups that use child soldiers the UN Department of Political Affairs, recognizing the need to and putting the groups on the "list of shame" included in the Annual increase its ability to respond rapidly and effectively, has put in Report on Children and Armed Conflict presented to the Security place expert teams that are prepared to assist in crisis Council. She also explained that the international community has prevention. When a crisis arises, the organization aims to "get begun to bring criminal charges against these leaders and pointed somebody out on the ground within a few days or a week at to the current case at the International Criminal Court against the maximum." In addition, the UN's political unit aims to be Thomas Lubanga who is being charged with committing three war more active in resolving conflicts by collaborating with other crimes: conscripting children under the age of 15 into armed UN units and outside groups. Mr. Pascoe also spoke of a new groups; enlisting children into armed groups, and using children to UN website, peacemaker.unlb.org, that is a repository of peace participate actively in armed conflict. agreements and best practices in mediation and negotiation, as well as UN efforts to determine how to most effectively help Additionally, Ms. Coomaraswamy stated that her office and field countries transition from crisis to self-sufficiency. teams have been empowered by the Security Council to enter into negotiations with parties that use children, enabling the UN to Mr. Pascoe said he believes that the UN has "been a little too identify, release,