Young women have begun to utilise the global reach of online media and use its potential to help them localise efforts in the grassroots level. Learn different ways and strategies that peace building advocates do to advance UNSCR 1325 in the UN CSW Parallel NGO event entitled ‘Raising Young Women’s Voices in the Localisation of UNSCR 1325.’ The session is on Tuesday March 11, 2014 and will start at 10:30am. The venue of the panel is at the Y-Hall of the Armenian Convention Center (630 2nd Ave, NY, NY).

Spearheading this discussion will be the organisers and select participants of the ‘Linking the Networks – Enhancing Social Media Strategies to Advance UNSCR 1325 in Asia – A Grass Roots Initiative’ project by the Australia-based Justice Equality Rights Access (JERA) International in partnership with Isis International and Asia Pacific Women’s Watch as regional partners.

Luz Martinez, Past Chair of the Board of Trustees of Isis International, will serve as the panel moderator. The speakers who will participate are the following:

Carole Shaw, CEO of JERA International and Isis General Member

Velayudan Jayachithra, Programme Officer (Media) of Asia Pacific Women's Watch

Nicole Hutchison, Activist School Coordinator of Isis International

Rahmi Dian Agustino, advocate from Search for Common Ground in Indonesia

Dimdaline Sar, advocate

Agustino and Sar’s participation at the CSW was made possible through the help of Global Fund for Women. Linking The Networks project was supported by Australian Aid.

The panellists will discuss how their conversations about the long term implications of armed conflict in Asia began during the Linking the Networks – Enhancing Social Media Strategies to Advance UNSCR 1325 in Asia – A Grass Roots Initiative Activist School workshop/training conducted in Manila, Philippines last October 2013. Participants working on peace building processes in Asia came together and discussed how to further their advocacy work on advancing the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325. Women from Australia, Cambodia, Indonesia, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines and Sri Lanka gathered to share strategies, network, and learn how to use various social media tools

Activist School participants Agustino, Jayachithra, and Sar will share stories on how they are reaching young women in their respective countries. They will also discuss the needs of countries that have no National Action Plans yet. In addition, there will be a launch of a regional network of young women peace advocates using social media to advance UNSCR 1325.

Participating guests and audience members are encouraged to join in the discussions or follow it via social media. Please use the official hash tags of the Linking The Networks projects #1325socmed and follow the discussions to be livetweeted via the Isis International Twitter account @IsisIntl. Highlights of the panels will also be posted at the Isis Facebook page.