United Nations Regional Centre for Peace, Disarmament, Development in Latin America, Caribbean to Host Inaugural Women and Security Symposium

NEW YORK, 11 December (Office for Disarmament Affairs) — The United Nations Regional Centre for Peace, Disarmament and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean is organizing the first “Symposium on Women and Security” from 12 to 13 December in Lima.

Expected to bring together more than 40 women from the region who have dedicated their work to advancing the global peace and security agenda, the Symposium aims to present future strategies of the United Nations system to promote women and security in the region; to deliberate on how 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) can contribute to improving the lives of women in the region; and to explore different approaches to strengthening arms control to that end.  Throughout the event, ample time will be dedicated to identifying and sharing new ideas on empowering women working in the fields of peace and security.

The Symposium is made possible thanks to generous financial support from the Governments of Canada and Sweden.

The Symposium will also serve as a platform to launch “Forces of Change III:  Latin American and Caribbean Women Share Experiences on Disarmament, Security and SDG Implementation”, a publication of the United Nations Regional Centre, and the third edition of an innovative initiative highlighting the role of women as agents of change in the field of disarmament, arms control, and non‑proliferation of weapons of mass destruction in Latin America and the Caribbean.  Izumi Nakamitsu, High Representative for Disarmament Affairs, notes in her foreword:  “[…] it is clear that the region is at the forefront of progress toward the full and equal engagement of women in peace and security discussions and decision-making”.  The publication is available at www.unlirec.org.

For more information on the Symposium or “Forces of Change”, please contact Amanda Cowl, Political Affairs Officer, at email:  cowl@unlirec.org.