Panel discussion
Panel discussion on the implementation of the Women, Peace and Security agenda and its relevance to national minorities
- Date
- Wednesday 18 May 2022
- Time
- Location
-
Wijnhaven
Turfmarkt 99
2511 DP The Hague - Room
- 3.46
On 18 May 2022, OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities Kairat Abdrakhmanov and Ambassador Astrid Harz of the Republic of Austria to the Netherlands are holding a panel discussion on the implementation of the Women, Peace and Security agenda and its relevance to national minorities within the framework of the course on Foreign Policy and Diplomacy taught by Professor Bert Koenders at Leiden University.
Objective of the discussion
Engagement with youth and gender mainstreaming are priorities for both Ambassador Harz and High Commissioner Abdrakhmanov. Recognizing that gender is central to international peace and security, both speakers are keen on increasing the scope of their engagement with young people and engage on this subject with a broader audience.
The objective of the discussion on 18 May is to engage with students at Leiden University on the subject of international security with particular attention on the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security. Ambassador Harz and High Commissioner Abdrakhmanov will highlight the importance of ensuring the full participation of women and young people in order to strengthen peace and security and will share best practices in this regard.
During the interactive discussion students will be encouraged to share their views on the current challenges in international security, and on ways how to address these.
For registered participants there will be a refreshment afterwards.
Speakers
Ambassador Kairat Abdrakhmanov of Kazakhstan took up the mandate of OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities on 4 December 2020. Before taking up the position of High Commissioner, Abdrakhmanov was Ambassador of Kazakhstan to Sweden and Denmark.
Ambassador Abdrakhmanov first joined the Kazakhstan Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1993 where he held a number of key positions. He was Foreign Minister of Kazakhstan from 2016 to 2018, and twice held the position of Deputy Foreign Minister. From 2013 to 2016, he was Kazakhstan’s Permanent Representative to the UN, when he led Kazakhstan’s bid to become the first Central Asian State elected as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council. He then represented his country as the Foreign Minister on the UN Security Council between 2017 and 2018.
Ambassador Abdrakhmanov served as Kazakhstan’s Permanent Representative to the OSCE from 2007 to 2013 and Chaired the OSCE Permanent Council in 2010 when Kazakhstan became the first post-Soviet country to hold the Chairmanship. He was instrumental in organizing the first OSCE Summit in 11 years in December 2010, during which the Astana Commemorative Declaration: Towards a Security Community was adopted.
He also served as the Ambassador of Kazakhstan to Austria from 2007 to 2008 and 2011 to 2013; and to the State of Israel from 2003 to 2006. He was Deputy Chief of Mission – Minister Counsellor at the Embassy of Kazakhstan to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland from 2001 to 2003.
After graduating in history from the Kazakh National University in 1987, he lectured in history at the Kazakhstan National Technical University (Almaty) until 1993.
Ambassador Astrid Harz joined the Austrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in December 1994 after working for the Austrian Broadcasting Corporation (ORF), the research agency Joanneum Research Graz and the United Nations in Cape Verde.
She worked at the Embassies in Rome and Paris, was Head of the Austrian Forum for Culture Rome (2007-2011) and was Ambassador to Jordan (co-accreditation in Iraq, 2011-2015). At the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Vienna she worked, among other things, in the field of the EU and press matters. From 2018 to July 2020, she was deputy and interim head of the EU affairs department in the Chancellor's Office. Ambassador to the Netherlands and permanent representative to the OPCW since August 3, 2020.
Moderator
This event will be moderated by Professor Bert Koenders, Professor Peace, Justice and Securityon Peace, Justice and Security at Leiden University.
Register and questions
Please register for this event via this form.
If you have any questions, please send an e-mail to communicatie@fgga.leidenuniv.nl.
