Webinar Gender Assessment in Arms Trade: Does the Silver Bullet Exist?
WO=MEN Dutch Gender Platform
3rd September 2020, 12.00 – 13.30pm
In June 2013, The Netherlands signed the United Nations (UN) Arms Trade Treaty (ATT). Article 7.4 of the ATT states that the exporting State Party shall take into account within their risk assessment the risk of arms being used to commit or facilitate serious acts of gender-based violence or serious acts of violence against women and children. However, research suggests that The Netherlands considers their main arms export products not in relation to GBV. What are the obstacles for implementation and what is needed for the full enactment of the ATT in the Netherlands? You are warmly invited to join this webinar on September 3rd from 12.00 – 13.30 PM.
In this webinar we will discuss the obstacles for the implementation of article 7.4 by the government of The Netherlands. Obstacles such as the lack of knowledge about the link of the exporting of arms components and GBV, the lack of financial resources and the absence of capacity within the bureaucracy to fully implement. Furthermore, we will be talking about ways to overcome the existing obstacles and research-based recommendations for the further implementation of article 7.4.
The aim of this sessions is to share knowledge about ATT article 7.4 and the obstacles for implementation. In addition, we aim to develop a joint perspective of actions that the WO=MEN Platform and its expert members can take to accelerate implementation of ATT article 7.4. Core questions in this webinar are 1) what goes wrong with the implementation of the ATT article 7.4 in the Dutch context?, 2) what can be done better in the process of enactment of this article? and 3) what can WO=MEN as a Platform contribute to this process?
Program
12.00 - 12.10pm Welcome & introduction
12.10 – 12.30pm Introduction on the gendered impact of Arms Trade, including components by Martin Butcher
12.30 – 12.45pm Obstacles for implementation of ATT 7.4 and recommendations to do better by Suzanne Glimmerveen
12.45 – 13.00pm Q&A
13.00 – 13.20pm Discussion (possibly in smaller groups) on how WO=MEN as a platform can contribute to a better implementation of ATT 7.4
13.20 – 13.30pm Wrap up
Register at a.wildschut@wo-men.nl with your name and organization. Deadline of registration is September 1st.
Short bio of the speakers
Martin Butcher
Martin Butcher is a policy adviser on arms issues for Oxfam. He has worked in the field of security, arms control and disarmament for over 25 years, in London, Brussels and Washington DC. He is the author and co-author of numerous publications on nuclear, conventional, chemical and biological weapons, nuclear policy, NATO strategy, and European security in general.
Suzanne Glimmerveen
Suzanne Glimmerveen recently obtained her master’s degree in Political Science at Leiden University with a focus on the gendered aspect of conflict. This specific interest led to a research internship at WO=MEN Dutch Gender Platform, where she worked together with Anne-Floor Dekker on the topic of Gender, Peace and Security. Her thesis research was carried out in cooperation with WO=MEN, and aimed at uncovering the Dutch commitment to the Arms Trade Treaty, Article 7.4.
