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Navigating a New Global Security Era: Women in Leadership

SpeakerS:

H.E. María Fernanda Espinosa, Former President, GWL Voices, United Nations General Assembly (2018-2019)
The Hon. Henrietta Fore, Chairman & CEO, Holsman International
Anna Morris, Acting Assistant Secretary for Terrorist Financing and Financial Crimes, U.S. Department of Treasury
The Hon. Melanne Verveer, U.S. Ambassador for Global Women’s Issues (2009-2013) & Director, Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace and Security

“If you're doing humanitarian work anywhere in the world, and many of you are, what you really want is peace. I mean, it is the one thing that allows cross-sectorial work in humanitarian work.” The Hon. Henrietta Fore
“As we think to the future these partnerships and alignments on financial defense will be critical.” Anna Morris
“The more women are participating economically, the greater growth and progress we're going to see in economies, around the world.” The Hon. Melanne Verveer

Key takeaways:

  • The Importance of women in security and leadership: Women remain underrepresented in key decision-making roles in national security and peacebuilding efforts. There is a need to increase women’s participation in leadership positions to ensure well-rounded perspectives are included.
  • Global Security and financial defense: The use of sanctions, particularly in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, has been a significant step in ensuring that financial systems do not support actions that undermine international peace.
  • Humanitarian work requires peace: Effective humanitarian work requires peace and the ability to access crisis zones. Public-private partnerships are key to ensuring sustainable solutions for improving water, energy and health systems.
  • Economic empowerment of women: Governments must eliminate barriers to women’s entrepreneurship, which is critical for economic growth, including access to credit, markets, and training, to unlock entrepreneurial potential.
  • Political participation of women: Political participation remains a significant challenge for women globally. Only a small percentage of world leaders are women, and overcoming political violence and barriers to entry is essential.
  • Intergenerational dialogue and mentorship: The younger generation of women in leadership can learn from their predecessors through intergenerational dialogue. Support from experienced leaders can guide them in navigating the male-dominated fields of politics, security, and financial systems.
  • Cross-Sector collaboration: Women in leadership must embrace cross-sector collaboration, leveraging experiences from government, business, academia, and nonprofit sectors. 

Action items:

  • Increase women’s representation in leadership: Advocate for policies that actively promote the inclusion of women in leadership roles in national security, peacebuilding, and decision-making processes to ensure diverse perspectives are represented.
  • Strengthen global partnerships for financial defense: Focus on fostering international partnerships to ensure global financial systems are used to support peace and security, with particular emphasis on sanctions and financial defense strategies.
  • Support cross-sector humanitarian initiatives: Encourage the development of large-scale, cross-sectoral initiatives in humanitarian crises that integrate water, health, education, and energy systems, ensuring they are supported through public-private partnerships.
  • Remove barriers to women’s economic participation: Work to remove institutional and societal barriers that limit women’s economic opportunities, particularly in entrepreneurship and access to capital, to foster economic growth and sustainability.
  • Promote political empowerment for women: Strengthen efforts to combat political violence and create safe avenues for women to participate in politics. Support initiatives that encourage women to pursue leadership roles at the political level.
  • Mentorship and support for emerging women leaders: Encourage mentorship programs where experienced women leaders provide guidance and support to young women entering the realms of politics, finance, and security.
  • Foster inter-sector collaboration and entrepreneurship: Advocate for young women to develop skills across various sectors, including business, government, and nonprofit work, to be well-equipped for solving global challenges. Entrepreneurship and adaptability should be encouraged.

 

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