Atlantic council. Good morning thank you for joining us for todays events. I am christopher director of the Transatlantic Security Initiative here at the Atlantic Council. Its my distinct pleasure to welcome you women peace and security and shifting Security Landscapes. Todays event is cohosted by the Atlantic CouncilTransatlantic Initiative and the strategy and security. Our secure future women make a difference. The center works to sustainable outline partisan strategies to address the most important security challenges facing the United States its allies and partners we honor the legacy this ethos of nonpartisan commitment to the cause of security support for u. S. Leadership cooperation partners and dedication to the mentorship of the next generation of leaders. In keeping with this mission are trans atlantic Security Initiative shapes and influences a debate the greatest security challenger space in the north atlantic and lions alliance and its key partners. Our partners for todays event are secure future women make the difference was founded to strengthen im sorry our partners women make the difference the security agenda to build a more Peaceful World to ensure full participation inat governance the Organization Works to ensure the effective incorporation into the peace and security and decisionmaking at the national and International Level which leads to greater securityor for everyone. Todays event kicks off the Council International security women state weeklong programming. As we reflect on milestones including nearly 25 years the United NationsSecurity Council resolution 1325 on peace and security as well as nato 70th anniversary the discussion will coider emergent geopo challenges should be addressed and prioritized o this event is part of the transatlantic 2024 wallace on twitter. Todays conversation will be moderated of our secure future Vice President. Before return to our discussion im pleased for key remarks provided by special representative for women peace and security nato. Allow me too express my gratitude for the opportunity to address youou today. On this a timely discussion organized by alongside our securities to all equipment and Security Landscape. While i regret i cannot be there in person, i am keen to share with you on this crucial subject. Todays discussion was particulate value as we reflect natos 75th anniversary this year and that nearly 20 Year Anniversary of the United NationsSecurity Council nc resolution on womens and security. Sthis milestone serves as a reminder on the collective commitment to advancing gender equality promoting peace and ensuring the security of all individuals regardless of their gender. As we sadlyud know europe is not at peace we find ourselves in a secure environment and the unprovoked aggression ukraine violated principles that once contributed to a stable and predictable European Security order. Shattering the peace manyook for granted. Terrorists have been mostt direct poses a significant challenge for the security of our citizens. Its in it impediment to International Peace and prosperity. Increasingly face threats continue to face barriers. The resolution 1325 adopted 24 years ago are not on that yet to be fully implemented but increasingly challenged are reflecting tactics cheaper destabilize. Targeting of civilians and the nfdestruction of civilian infrastructure in ukraine highlights the city or severe consequences of these actions. Women remain target of violence including gender based violence exploitationon and abuse and trafficking. We also face numerous crllenges. One of these is Climate Change. More andirls experience an impasse and Climate Change in Climate Change which amplifies existing gender inequality and poses unique threats to theireld, health and safety. Embracing the technologies offers opportunities to create a more gender equal world. We must be vigilant and engender misinformation that risks excessive agenda inequality and violence undermining and threatening our core values. Once again recognize the significantmp instability and t situations happen with women and girls. The shifting Security Landscape underscores the need for comprehensive and strategicresponse. We believe the complexity of the geopolitical challenges we facee today throughout agenda lens. We have two update the policy the new policy will set a clear vision for advances allowing the alliance to navigate current threats and challenges to a more gender equal future. To deliver a new policy that better reflects our strategic concept majority gender inequalities as a reflection of our values and alliance. Across crisis prevention and management and security. Wps is as relevant now as it has ever been. Resilience in theace of this ever evolving security environment requires active involvement of allme segments including women and women societal organization. They play a vital role in preparing for resisting and responding to quickly strategic. Exchange with organization is vital too prevent and ensure natos approach with global w ps agenda. Thats why a general you have open i with the newly nominated Civil Society and integrated a policy update is a major part. The independent advisor critical perspective to the very grassroots of society. Help us identify pitfalls in preventing blind spots. Acknowledges swim at the forefront to support society and build peace. In addition to womens contributions to all peace and security there meaningful participation in t decisionmaking of solutions related to all aspects of peace and security are critical to achieving this mandate promoting peace and stability area. As we confront today shift and Security Landscape it is crucial to uphold natosd values while forcing alliance uct citizens safeguard our freedom anddemocracy work toward a just inclusive and lasting peace. I extend my best wishes for a productive and insightful discussion. Thank you for yourent to advancing womens peace and security in this challenging time. Thank you so much chris and irene for helping us set the stage for todays conversation ahead off International Womens day, march 8 we have a very a wonderful and thoughtprovoad of us. I am it really glad to share the stage with my colleagues here i am the Vice President of secure future women make the difference. Really excited for you who are watching and all of you in the room today with us. I went to begin by quickly introducing our panel jumping into the conversation. First i would like to introduce the executive Vice President the Atlantic Council. She has p president and chief executive officer of the Treatment National security project and the Truman Center for national policy. We are also joined by melody, Vice President for advocacy and external relations at the womens refugee commission. She and her team Share Commission research and recommendation policy makers media and supporters to the wider public inli the u. S. And a global level. Are also joined director for democracy and technology at the National Democratic institute here in washington d. C. And her role she helps bridge the gap between technology, policy and democracy is a regular contributor to the global conversati fostering a Digital Ecosystem that supports democracy worldwide. Thank you its really a pleasure to show the stage with you. When we appreciate your thought leadership in this area. We heard remarks of the upcoming summitit i would like to start with t you to maybe give us some reflections and contextualize the 75th anniversary summit thats going to be held here in d. C. Thank you and welcome back to the councils great to be here with everyone today. Special thanks to our secure future for your partnership we are delighted. In many ways it feels somewhat like full circle moments weave a series of anniversaries we are coming up onp the 25th which in this movement of women, peace and security in a National Action plan for Members Around the world. We have of course the 75th anniversary of nato cominggton will host the summits. This summer at a are tracking very closely here at the atlantic v council will play an Important Role of the public form whiche is a Civil Society convening for that the summer. And we do so of course amidst open war in europe a in ukraine but is in many ways a war being contributed to, acquired by many countries on the world of the United States. The back drop of which we are having these con is one aoneof particular urgency and poignancy. Because of her rushers were in ukraine which is precious well worth the west. We have withbl that too especially nato secession moments. We think in particular about the former foreign minister legacy of a feminist Foreign Policy even though it was revoked recently i think it was in 2022 we know undoubtedly there is a legacy of a Security Movement in sweden we will become a part of this conversation as they enter nato. Likewise with finland a huge legacy of womens equality. I am curious to see how the succession of these to Member States change this conversation. Its an important moment. As especially as we begin to eyes ukraines reconstruction over the horizon important to table not just the war fighting but the peace table as well. Thank you. Im going to jump. In your reflections i am curious. Your work on democracy technology. Your reflections on the comments talk about the increase in multilateral alliances et cetera. Lets hear your perspective for. Thank you for having me join you today its always a pleasure to be here with two of my favorite organizations. Cii think the remarks what stood out to me is the transition over the 75 years this evolution of watching one of the most enduring Multi Lateral organizations in the world really embrace this concept of multi stakeholder which is inherently when the peace and security of the fullnd participation of people in decisionmaking to make us more secure. The absolute redefinition of security and as we are going into it or we are a quarter into this year of more elections than we have ever seen before the threats to democracy on the periphery from authoritarian actors in asia we are seeing a rise to Pay Attention to these issues especially around emergingss technology not just in the Information Space port we see f it being chilled in electionsnd in their ability to access information. We a also seeing it in cyber and cybersecurity threats to surveillance. The very tools and democracy nato is using to make us more secure can also pose a threat to 50 of the global population in particular. So thesese conversations cannot be coming to the table and figuringl out how we rectify those differences how we insure t over time we try to protect ourselves and try to secure the direction of Free Enterprise free society we dont destroy that from the inside by increasing the use of these technologies to threaten our very security we are trying to achieve. Melanie you work on a lot of these conflicts that from that womens refugee perspective. What are your reflections irene talked about the inclusion of the society voices. How much of those voices do you think are being included. Thanks going to last, echoing what everyone saying i do say that shorthand white really great to be with you. Always its great to be at the Atlantic Council pretty new to wrc a great way to kick off my tenure here. First about yes it is super important wps has that recognition it has in nato and the upcoming summit. We really see some challenges are in two areas and one is said in the interest of protecting women because they face is so many security threats particulate particularly crisis we default use that as an excuse to exclude them from leadership and want to you want to prioritize keeping people safe. That is a real issue there are Solutions Women are a doing Amazing Things around the world refugees women who are displaced by conflict and crisis. But they need our help and need to follow their lead we have excellent recommendations and ideas of how to build peace. Again saying it is great there have been many stridesding women and decisionmaking in decisionmaking follow the lead of women but there is so much more we can do fm the mundane. Women cannot literally be at the table because they cant getet on the bus is too unsafe for them to get on the bus and go to the meeting. Its things address Women Security and less women are safe or not going to have security that is par true of people who are displaced. That is one point. The other one this is not really an anniversary bar pretty close to him and throat in there. He anniversary of the convention on the status of refugees. Which followed world war which does not address all of our modern challenges. It addresses specific we talk specifically talk about climate refugees means. Its a legal term was established applies to people fleeing persecution based on race religion nationality membership in a social group or political opinion. Thats what refugee is the protect refugees. Put some requirements on verefugees themselves how they must comport themselves but basically it states protecting refugees. What we are seeing now is a race to the bottom. We have a massive crisis. We havee millions of people mins by conflict fight Climate Change that comes from Climate Change. We are taking a deterrence recommendations will be includingng women and addressing some of these challenges and the world kind of coming together in a more coordinated way to address these challenges that but not while some blockades because rid of its not going to work. What you have ally underscoring the fact that now we know its been almost 25 years for peace and security we know we need to have women at the decisionmaking table on for a lot of good reasons but its not quite push towards multilateralism and strengthening alliances can really be an entry point for that particularly nato. Being aoror leader in advancing the goals. This is an interesting point to turn back to you. How can nato better integrates these perspectives . They are talking about creating new policies. Asking the Civil Society groups to add their perspectives. But can you give us some examples or how are these countries actually doing this . Theres a number of important points raisedse here. We begin to address some of those having Civil Societys structurally on these conversations is a really importantti one. Nato like many multilateral institutions and noth having its processes in its own diplomacy be accessible to parties. So extending a logical structured entry point for that womens peace and security agenda into nato as an important point part of this. The other piece of this is so much of the dialogue around nato has been reaching 2 commitment for defense spending. One of the things we know from our w say some of the right thing to do its a smart a thing today. If you are talk about a moment youu address we have an unprecedented level make a globee many respects. A tremendous number of people forcibly displaced andle t move at a time globally our institutions are unable to meet that demand. That is especially the time to ensure these resources are used really wisely. We know that by including women and the decision moments not because are disproportionately impacted by conflict but also because there is a durable peace it also needs to be a part of the way we think about resourcing when it comes to addressing these crises. This is one of the Important Roles are secure future and s some of the organizations plate is reminding these not just the right imperative but the fiscal imperative to equity. That is a big part of what will be on the table for conversations around natos as we approach. You want to see not just a commitment to wellness peace and security but from signaling and resourcing at the summit at least a discussion about that. Teshe dominated the war in ukraine we are in the midst of her own u. S. Congressional continued in battle over funding this ukraine supplemental as nato partners continue to try to reach their own commitments and things of that nature. We need to be thinking about how we continue to provide for not just in the conflict but in that reagan for construction phase and as we look at the data we know women at the table in these moments of conflict table create a more durable and long lasting peace. That is one element of t addressing the resort constraint environment. Absolutely absolutely. Something else you have mentioned all of you have role of women as agents. Advancing broadbased order. I would like to turn to you about this because she worked in the democracy and technology field. It would