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Symposium on women and water security for peacebuilding in the Arab region

07
May
2018
Beirut, Lebanon



Beirut, UN-House, 9-10 May 2018

 
What: Symposium on women and water security for peacebuilding in the Arab region
 
When: Wednesday 9 May 2018 from 09:00 am to 05:00 pm
            Thursday 10 May 2018 from 09:00am to 04:15pm
 
Where: ESCWA headquarters, Riad el-Solh Square, Beirut
 
Why: The primary objective of the Symposium is to review and advance the emerging water security gender nexus in the Arab region in the context of current geopolitical considerations. Systematically addressing persistent gender gap in the response to gender, water security and peace is one of the most effective mechanisms for building resilience. Achieving this resilience also requires that serious considerations be given to monitoring and assessment of gender responsive data, indicators, monitoring, follow-up, and implementation. The symposium therefore aims to strengthen the national capacities of the Arab region to integrate water security and gender approaches in their national plans and strategies.
 
The specific objective of the activity is to enhance the capacity of governmental and non-governmental practitioners from the region, to formulate and implement strategies, policies, frameworks and programs in support of Goals 3, 5, 6 and 16 of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the 2030 Agenda.
 
The Symposium is organized by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (UN ESCWA) in partnership with the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA) and the Pacific Water Research Centre of Simon Frazier University, Vancouver, Canada.
 
Special features:
 
Within the context of the implementation of the above-mentioned SDGs the Symposium will help achieve the following policy-relevant outcomes:
 

  • Develop ways in which women can be recognized as agents of change; this will include approaches that can help surpass stereotypes of women’s role in water security, especially women refugees, and women head of households, and help bring about true behavioural and policy changes.
  • Formulate actionable recommendations for mainstreaming gender in policy planning and implementation of water policies at the community level including refugee communities.
  • Community mobilization, with an aim to achieving positive health outcomes through improved knowledge and implementation of better hygiene practices.
  • Modelling inclusion of women to serve as interlocutors in times of conflicts and in enhancing conflict resolution and post-conflict reconstruction.

 
The Symposium will undertake an evidence-based assessment of country experiences (Jordan, Lebanon, State of Palestine, Sudan, Syrian Arab Republic and Yemen) in integrating women and water security programs, by sharing lessons learned and good practices with the intent of improving women’s access to WASH, and eventually contributing to peacebuilding and sustainable development.
 
Participants: Representatives of Arab member States, representatives from relevant international, regional and national organizations in addition to civil society institutions and regional experts.
 
For more information:
 
The event page: https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/?page=view&nr=2709&type=13&menu=1634
 
The ESCWA Communication and Information Unit (ECIU) kindly requests media representatives wishing to cover this meeting to confirm their attendance on the following numbers in order to facilitate their access: +96170008879 | +96170827372 | +96170079021
 

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For more information:
 
Nabil Abu-Dargham +961-70-99 31 44; email: dargham@un.org  
Ms Rania Harb: +96170008879  harb1@un.org
Ms Mirna Mahfouz:  +961-70-827372   mahfouz@un.org
Mr Haidar Fahs: +961-70-079021  haydar.fahs@un.org