GAPS Newsletter: February 2022

4 March 2022

Welcome to the GAPS February wrap up.

In February, GAPS continued to work alongside members including holding a meeting this month to discuss upcoming priorities. GAPS also met with the various teams within the FCDO and wider Government, will be attending consultation workshops in March to discuss the next National Action Plan, and will be taking recommendations from our members to these meetings.

February may have been a difficult time for many POC colleagues working in the aid sector after the publication of news reports of “systemic racism” within ActionAid UK. GAPS team members signed a statement of solidarity released by Charity So White, while GAPS also released our own statement in response to these reports. You can read GAPS’ full statement here.

GAPS and members are all following the situation in Ukraine closely and have made a statement on Twitter to push the UK and Russian governments into action. We stand in solidarity with the people of Ukraine and in many countries who are facing violence, oppression and war.

Looking forward to March, GAPS are collaborating with NIWEP, GNWP and WRDA to host a virtual side-event at the upcoming CSW66 conference. You can find all the details of this in the events section below! Similarly, on the 8th March, GAPS and our members will be marking International Women’s Day. Follow our Twitter page to see what’s on!

January Reads

Monthly Action Points (MAP) for the Security Council: February 2022

For February, in which Russia has the presidency of the UN Security Council, the MAP provides recommendations on the situations in the Iraq, Syria and Yemen.

Enshrining Impunity: A Decade of International Engagement in Libya

The report by Saferworld and Lawyers for Justice in Libya reflects and analyses the past decade of international engagement in Libya has exacerbated the human cost. The report provides recommendations for meaningful engagement in Libya.

Promoting Women’s Participation in the Implementation of the Revitalised Agreement for the Resolution of Conflict in South Sudan

The study carried out by the Women’s International Peace Centre shows that ssutainable peace in South Sudan depends on empowering women and tackling obstacles to their participation in peace processes.

In case you missed it

GAPS is collaborating with NIWEP, GNWP and WRDA to host a side event at CSW66 on Leading Us Into The Future: Young Women’s Ideas for Climate, Gender Justice And Peace and
Security. The event is on 16th March at 10:00 AM GMT and you can find out more and register here.

GADN, Akina Mama wa Afrika, Femnet, IDES and SEWA Cooperative Federation are hosting a webinar on ‘Feminist Alternatives for a Transformative Covid Economic Recovery’ on 17th March at 8:00 AM GMT. You can find out more and register here.

UN Women are marking Interntional Women’s Day with an event titled Gender Equality Today for a Sustainable Tomorrow. The call ends on 8th March at 3:00 PM GMT, and you can find out more and apply here.