NWI is taking part in the Munich Security Conference
Dates: 16 - 18 February, 2024
Location: Munich, Germany
Olga Hamama (United for Ukraine), Oleksandra Matviichuk (Center for Civil Liberties), Tata Kepler (heroine portrayed in “oh, sister!” documentary) and Maria Butler (NWI) at MSC 2023.
ABOUT MSC
The Munich Security Conference (MSC) is the world’s leading forum for debating the most pressing international security concerns. The annual meeting brought together over 450 senior decision-makers and thought leaders from around the world, including heads of state, ministers, and high-ranking representatives of international organizations, industry, media, academia and civil society.
MSC's objective was, purportedly, to build trust among nations and facilitate a peaceful resolution of conflicts by sustaining a continuous, curated and informal dialogue within the international security community. It is the world’s leading forum for debating international security policy.
2024 marked the 60th annual MSC. The meeting took place on the backdrop of Israel’s ongoing destruction of Palestinian territories, Russia’s ongoing brutal invasion of Ukraine, the continuing war in Syria, and escalating conflicts in the Red Sea, Sudan, DRC, and elsewhere. Participants met shortly after Iran and Belarus voiced plans to use nuclear weapons, and China echoed intentions of “imminent reunification” with Taiwan.
NWI AT MSC
Nobel Peace laureates Jody Williams (USA) and Maria Ressa (Philippines) lead NWI’s participation at the MSC 2024. Our participation was supported by the BMW Foundation.
Despite its stated mission to achieve lasting peace, MSC was a highly militarized space in which more, not less, militarization was achieved. NWI is guided by the belief that increased militarization leads to more conflict, as opposed to lasting peace. We also believe that peace and security are achieved not with weapons, but with respect for human rights, dignity, and the climate.
As this conference brought together global leaders who discussed the global security policy and peace processes, it provided an opportunity for NWI to take part and shape the discussions. We aimed to elevate voices of women peace builders, prevent further militarization and war, and to remind audiences that in situations of war and conflict, military action, although it receives the most attention, forms only a small part of the bigger picture. Unless we consider the bigger picture, lasting peace cannot be achieved.
Civil society has a long history of organizing around the MSC main conference. NWI’s partner BMW Foundation hosted a pavilion with numerous events, in which NWI participated in. Additionally, the laureates addressed the main conference.
NWI PARTICIPANTS
Jody Williams, Nobel Peace Prize laureate (USA)
Maria Ressa, Nobel Peace Prize laureate (Philippines)
Tania Principe, Interim Executive Director, NWI
Dildar Kaya, Advocacy Coordinator, NWI
Daina Ruduša, Head of Communications, NWI