International Forum Women Peace Security - BUILDING ALLIANCES FOR SUSTAINABLE PEACE

The first edition of the International Forum Women Peace Security-BUILDING ALLIANCES FOR SUSTAINABLE PEACE is an initiative of H.E. Dr. Vjosa Osmani Sadriu, President of the Republic of Kosovo, organized in cooperation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Diaspora of the Republic of Kosovo and local as well as international partners working in Kosovo.

The WPS Forum comes at a time when peace and security are attacked in the heart of Europe, with women and girls being yet again at the center of violence, torture, and inhuman treatment.

The goal of the Forum is to bring leaders, experts, academics, civil society representatives, influencers, youth, and other groups of interest together in the heart of the Western Balkans to discuss challenges posed to the WPS agenda during these uncertain times, as well as, to elaborate on the underlying importance of this agenda for enduring, equitable and sustainable peace.The first edition highlighted the challenges alongside inclusion of the potential of women in building and securing a sustainable peace in nowadays troublesome times at all levels (local, national, and global) and at all life realms..Over 500 participants from 33 countries and 6 continents came together in Pristina. More than 120 speakers disscussed various topics in more than 12 sessions in two days. FES proudly supported this event,alongside all other local and international partners who contributed to the success of this edition.

A special focus and input of FES was on the panel regarding the involvement of women in negotiations processes and talks and the difference they make when involved. The FES panel hosted some incredible speakers with a long and interesting experience in peace negotiations such as Monica Mc Williams https://www.acenturyofwomen.com/monica-mcwilliams/  the peace negotiator and signatory of the Friday Agreement in Northern Ireland, Edita Tahiri, the former chief negotiator of Kosovo Dialogue with Serbia, Special Representative of EU Miroslav Lajcak,Sonja Biserkohttp://rwlsee.org/members/sonja-biserko/  the Helsiniki Committee on Human Rights in Serbia, Julia Strasheim,https://www.helmut-schmidt.de/stiftung/kuratorium-mitarbeiterinnen/dr-julia-strasheim from the Helmut Schmidt Foundation and Rachada Dnadirek, https://liberal-international.org/people/rachada-dhnadirek/, Deputy Government Spokesperson and Government Representative on Conflict Resolution for the Southern Border Provinces of Thailand.