Thinking back on his first experiences with discrimination, Anand Pawar discusses the importance of applying feminist values in analyzing and dealing with injustices. When it comes to conflict, he says, feminist organizing and the adherence to principles of participation, justice, and nonviolence are more empowering to all involved. Anand Pawar is the Executive Director of SAMYAK, a NGO based in Pune, India.
This video is part of a series of 10 personal stories from women and men from around the world who work on gender-sensitive peacebuilding within their own communities. These stories are part of the joint action research project ‘Candid Voices from the Field: Obstacles to Delivering Transformative Change within the Women, Peace and Security Agenda’, coordinated by the Women Peacemakers Program (WPP), the Global Partnership for the Prevention of Armed Conflict (GPPAC), and Cordaid. The aim is to uncover the deep-rooted issues that hamper women’s participation in peace efforts. Those interviewed participated in a global consultation meeting for the project that took place in The Hague from June 30 to July 2, 2015. The publication of our findings will be launched on October 23, 2015 in New York, coinciding with the anniversary of UNSCR 1325.
Read more about the Global Consultation
Read more about the Action Research
Reflecting on the roots of her own activism, Sophie Toupin talks about media as a tool for development, empowerment and self-organization. She also looks at the importance of “the collective” in achieving social change, especially with regards to implementing the Women, Peace and Security agenda.
