Sunday, Sweden’s Foreign Minister announced that while Sweden has the presidency of the UN Security Council they want to focus on the involvement of women in peace processes. Giving women a voice in decision making is crucial to protect in conflicts.

Monday, the Burmese Union Election Commission revealed the parliamentary candidates for the upcoming election. Of the 95 candidates, 16 are women. This is a positive step in the progress against women’s exclusion in politics in Myanmar.  

Also Monday, Yazda – an NGO supporting the Yazidi in Iraq – was without any warning or reason shut down by the Kurdish authorities according to Human Rights Watch. ISIS has been committing genocide against the Yazidi since 2014. Iraq is a party of the Genocide Convention, and must fulfil its obligationsto prevent this genocide.

Thursday, GOP announced that they plan to defund Planned Parenthood. Denying women their right to abortion violates human rights.

Also Thursday, the World Economic Forum released a report that the US spends $13.6 trillion yearly on conflict related activities whilst spending nothing on peace-building. Providing an abortion to raped women in conflict areas is one peace-building effort.