We, Displaced and Stateless Women: Leading Transformation to Shape a Peaceful Future

• Hosts: United Nations Women’s Peace and Humanitarian Fund (WPHF), United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), Action Network on Forced Displacement, Germany, France, and UN Women
• Moderator: Taban Shoresh, Founder & CEO of the Lotus Flower, Spokesperson for the Action Network on Forced Displacement 
• Time and Date: Thursday, 13 March 2025, 1:00 – 2:30 PM EST 
• Location: UN Women HQ (Daily News Building at 220 E 42nd St – between 2nd and 3rd avenue), Room 1924-1925 (19th floor)

Abstract 

Thirty years after the historic adoption of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, displacement crises are at an all-time high, disproportionately impacting women and girls. Yet, recent crises, from  Sudan to Ukraine, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Syria and beyond, have shown how forcibly displaced women provide critical leadership to address conflict and crises through their lived experience and expertise.

The same holds true in statelessness contexts. Stateless women are not only disproportionately affected by statelessness, but also lead efforts to address it. This confirms how the narrative needs to decisively shift beyond seeing forcibly displaced and stateless women solely as vulnerable individuals in need of protection—recognizing and supporting their resilience and leadership as critical agents of change.  

The CSW69 side event “We, Displaced and Stateless Women: Leading Transformation to Shape a Peaceful Future” celebrates the role and contribution of forcibly displaced and stateless women in advancing the commitments of the Beijing Declaration, Security Council Resolution 1325, and the Global Compact on Refugees (GCR). 

Co-hosted by the United Nations Women’s Peace and Humanitarian Fund (WPHF), the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the Action Network on Forced Displacement, Germany, France and UN Women, this event will highlight and reinforce the commitments to invest in the leadership and initiatives of forcibly displaced and stateless women as agents of change within their communities. It will also build on the implementation of pledges from the 2023 Global Refugee Forum (GRF), recommendations from the 2024 UNHCR Global Consultations with NGOs and the Global Compact on Women Peace and Security and Humanitarian Action (WPS-HA Compact). 

Through direct testimonies, accounts of lived experiences, and actionable recommendations from forcibly displaced and stateless women, as well as women’s organizations working with displaced women and girls, the event will showcase women’s leadership and strength in promoting protection, socio-economic recovery, and peacebuilding in conflict-affected contexts. The event will also highlight local solutions led by forcibly displaced and stateless women and girls in advancing the commitments of the Beijing Declaration and showcase examples of the Global Compact on Refugees in Action and the WPHF Funding Initiative on Forced Displacement.

The event will culminate in a call to action to invest in the leadership and initiatives of displaced and stateless women and to support partnerships with women-led organizations (WLOs), including those led by forcibly displaced and stateless women, to fully unlock their potential as agents of change in advancing equitable, peaceful, and economically sustainable futures.

Goal 

The discussions will reaffirm and amplify the significant role, agency, and impact of organizations led by forcibly displaced and stateless women as crucial actors across various displacement and statelessness contexts. This will include announcements of new investments in funding instruments that advance displaced women’s leadership—such as the WPHF Funding Initiative on Forced Displacement in partnership with Germany and the Action Network on Forced Displacement—and commitments to implement or join GRF multi-stakeholder pledges advancing the protection of women and girls.  

Agenda

• Introductory Remarks

UNHCR will highlight its engagement with WLOs, the implementation of the Global Compact for Refugees (GCR), and its role as the Chair of the Funding Board of the United Nations Women’s Peace and Humanitarian Fund (WPHF)  

• Opening

Opening statements by government and UN representatives on the essential role of displaced and stateless women in driving local action and advancing global commitments to shape a peaceful future, including the implementation of Global Refugee Forum (GRF) pledges, Beijing+30, and Security Council Resolution 1325.  

• Keynote

A keynote on the importance of investing in the leadership and meaningful participation of displaced and stateless women. 

• Panel

A discussion featuring women leaders responding to displacement crises in Sudan, Ukraine, and Afghanistan, as well as addressing statelessness, who will share lived experiences, best practices, and strategies to advance the protection of women and girls, socio-economic recovery, and peacebuilding. 

• Recommendations and Announcements

Stakeholders will make recommendations and announcements to advance the leadership and meaningful participation of displaced and stateless women to shape a peaceful future. 

• Closing and Call to Action

Call to action to invest in the leadership and meaningful participation of displaced and stateless women, including in the implementation of the Global Compact for Refugees (GCR) and the WPHF Funding Initiative on Forced Displacement. 

Event speakers include:

• Alexei Buzu, Minister of Labour and Social Protection, Moldova
• Delphine O, Ambassador-at-large and Secretary-General for the Generation Equality Forum (Beijing+25), France
• Ruven Menikdiwela, Assistant High Commissioner for Protection, UNHCR
• Tonni Ann Brodber, Head of Secretariat, United Nations Women’s Peace and Humanitarian Fund (WPHF)
• Maya Ghazal, UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador
• Neha Gurung, Co-Lead at the Global Movement Against Statelessness and Co-founder and Head of Legal Aid and Advocacy at the Citizenship Affected People’s Network, Nepal
• Anila Noor, Spokesperson of the Action Network on Forced Displacement and Founder and Managing Director New Women Connectors and Refugee Activist
• Anzhelika Bielova, President and Founder of the Association of Roma Women “Voice of Romni”
• Fajer Rabia Pasha, Executive Director of Pakistan Alliance for Girls Education (PAGE), Pakistan
• Shaza Bala Elmahdi, Country Director of CIPE Sudan and Member of CenterLink Africa

About the WPHF Funding Initiative on Forced Displacement

The WPHF Funding Initiative on Forced Displacement aims to promote the participation and leadership of displaced women and girls in socio-economic and political decision-making. Launched in 2020 with seed funding from the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), it is currently implemented in 10 countries (Colombia, Nigeria, Yemen, Bangladesh, Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Ukraine and Moldova).