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“Nairobi Symposium: Maximizing Impact of Women, Peace, and Security Policies in Africa” by Inclusive Security, CC BY 2.0
Side Event
Geneva, Switzerland

Women as a force at the Arms Trade Treaty

Tuesday 26 August 2025  |  8:15 - 9:45 CEST

Centre International de Conférences Restaurant, Cafeteria – Espace Violeta Parra, 1st floor | Geneva, Switzerland

The United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research (UNIDIR), Australia, Expertise France and the Small Arms Survey are pleased to host a networking breakfast event for women delegates of the 11th Conference of State Parties (CSP) to the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT). As the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) Agenda celebrates its 25th anniversary, efforts are continuing to ensure the full, equal, meaningful and effective participation of women in peace and security processes.

At CSP 10, States Parties reaffirmed this commitment as well as stressed the importance of women’s involvement in all decision making and implementation processes relating to the ATT. As part of the fourth phase of the European Union’s Partner to Partner Arms Trade Treaty Outreach Programme, Expertise France will be supporting this commitment by sponsoring female delegates to attend CSP11. The ATT Secretariat has also been striving to ensure gender balance through its sponsorship programme.

Bringing women to the ATT, however, is just the first step and analysis demonstrates that this alone will not make women’s participation impactful. It is important that they also have opportunities for training, confidence building, agenda setting and coalition building. This event, aimed primarily at women delegates, seeks to provide opportunities for networking and information sharing on key ATT related activities. It also aims to showcase the formal and informal support available to first time delegates from civil society organizations, the ATT Secretariat and more experienced delegates.

The event will follow an interactive format, with opportunities for interaction in English, French and Spanish.

Speakers

Welcome remarks

   Emily Hall, Assistant Secretary of Defence Export Controls, Australian Department of Defence
   Honny Choua, Project Manager, Expertise France

*Full agenda and speakers to be announced soon.

Participants

Please note that this event is aimed at women who are registered to the Arms Trade Treaty 11th Conference of State Parties.

Further information

For further information please contact Hana Salama at hana.salama@un.org.

Photo credit: “Nairobi Symposium: Maximizing Impact of Women, Peace, and Security Policies in Africa” by Inclusive Security, CC BY 2.0