PKD 2020 - Women in Peacekeeping, A Key to Peace
UNGSC devised a new way of celebrating the International Day of UN Peacekeepers on 29 May 2020 on the theme “Women in Peacekeeping – A Key to Peace”.
An intense programme in English, that thanks to the communication platform Teams, brought together the UN communities in Brindisi and Valencia for a live video event, lending the opportunity to celebrate peacekeepers worldwide and honour those who have lost their lives, reflect on gender issues from the field perspective with mission colleagues, including a presentation on Elsie Initiative for Field Missions’ Facilities & Infrastructure, and even have a virtual medal award ceremony!
Ms Arancha González Laya, Spanish Minister of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation, and Ms Marina Sereni the Italian Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, participated with very inspiring video messages recorded for the occasion; we were joined live by Ms Marta Laurienzo, UNHRD Brindisi Hub Manager and Deputy Network Coordinator, Ms Maria Costa, Director of Mission Support in South Sudan, Ms Lisa Buttenheim, ASG for Operations Support in New York. Ms Giovanna Ceglie, UNGSC Director, did the honours and Ms Katherine Ghidella moderated the entire event ensuring smooth transitioning among the different parts of the programme, what a superb and inspiring group of women to look up to and use as role models!
PhD Professor and expert on Gender Issues of the European University of Valencia, Mr. Frederic Mertens de Wilmars drew an academic line across all contributions with his reflections on “Gender Equality in Peace & Security: Progress and Challenges”
A new way of celebrating, a first time ever for UNGSC, and though there’s always room for improvement, as with all human endeavours, we can be proud, if nothing else, for having held true to UNGSC’s commitment to innovation and gender equality.
Happy Peacekeepers’ day to us all!