GAPS Newsletter: May 2022

1 June 2022

Welcome to our May wrap up.

On 16th May, the FCDO released the anticipated International Development Strategy (IDS). The Strategy outlines the Government’s key priorities in its approach to International Development. GAPS has written a response to the IDS, examining how the strategy’s approach to gender equality silos efforts into a “women and girls” approach, and doesn’t accurately reflect or respond to how women, girls and marginalised groups are disproportionately impacted by conflict, climate and global health crises. You can read our full response with recommendations on our website.

GAPS attended consultations in May with the UK Government on the Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict Initiative, alongside other meetings with the FCDO on Ukraine, Afghanistan and the development of the new NAP

The Government’s Annual Report to Parliament, due to take place in May, was postponed. Plans to hold this meeting are currently being discussed, and you can find out more about how to join the APPG’s database to hear more about their meetings on our website.

Make sure to follow us on Twitter to keep in touch with our work in June.

March Reads

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

For May, in which the United States has the presidency of the UN Security Council, the MAP provides recommendations on the situations in Iraq and Somalia, and on Sudan.

Race, Power, and Peacebuilding

Peace Direct’s collaborative report is a summary of a global consultation which included 160 people in over 70 countries aiming to explore and understand how racism manifests itself within the peacebuilding sector, and encourage the peacebuilding sector to embrace the decolonising agenda and address unequal global-local power dynamics.

Localization in Practice: Realities from Women’s Rights and Women-Led Organizations in Poland

This briefing by CARE outlines key findings and recommendations from discussions with women’s rights organizations and women-led organizations in Poland working on gender-based violence, LGBTI and migrant rights, and sexual and reproductive health following the invasion of Ukraine.

Addressing Conflict-Related Sexual Violence through Multilateral Sanctions – Learning from Myanmar

This report from the GIWPS draws on the case of Myanmar to demonstrate that multilateral, coordinated sanctions are an important but underused tool in responding to conflict-related sexual violence.

In case you missed it

Womankind Worldwide’s Her Voice Fund provides flexible funding for women’s rights organisations and activists in the Global South to fund resource advocacy work. You can find out more about eligibility and how to apply here.

The Women’s Peace and Humanitarian Fund has a new regional call for proposals in Afghanistan, Pakistan and Tajikistan to promote the socio-economic recovery, participation and leadership of Afghan women and young women in forced displacement. Find out more and apply here.

Women for Women International’s DRC Country Director, Rachel Boketa, was invited by the US Mission to the UN to brief the UN Security Council during its annual Open Debate on Protection of Civilians. You can watch the full session here.