Behind the Numbers

This episode is with Noeleen Heyzer, the now Special Envoy of the UN Secretary-General on Myanmar. Noeleen has served in several leadership positions in the UN, including as the first woman Executive Secretary of the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, as the Executive Director of the UN Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM), as well as the Secretary-General's Special Adviser for Timor-Leste. In this episode, the final in the series, Noeleen reflects on why a gendered lens to peacemaking is crucial and what meaningful participation means to her.  The episode was recorded in 2020. Although some developments have occurred since then, we believe the insights and experiences discussed in this episode are still relevant today. Any opinions expressed are solely the interviewee’s and do not represent the opinions of the United Nations Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs.

This episode is with Ambassador Anwarul Chowdhury, a Bangladeshi diplomat who played a key role in advancing the UN's Women, Peace and Security Agenda, including its adoption by the UN Security Council in October 2000. In this interview, Ambassador Chowdhury shares a behind-the-scenes account of the adoption of Resolution 1325 and advice on what men can do to help advance the WPS Agenda. The episode was recorded in 2020. Although some developments have taken place since then, we believe the insights and experiences discussed in this episode are still relevant today. Any opinions expressed are solely the interviewee’s and do not represent the opinions of the United Nations Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs.

Interview with Donald Steinberg, Senior Adviser to the Center for Strategic and International Studies, and previously Deputy Administrator, US Agency for International Development. As a former diplomat and peace negotiator engaged in peace processes in Angola, Haiti, Sudan and beyond, Donald shares his lessons learned in conflict resolution and post-conflict reconstruction, including why women’s meaningful participation is critical to ensuring the success of a peace process. This episode was recorded in 2020. Although some developments have taken place since then, we believe the insights and experiences discussed in this episode are still relevant today. Any opinions expressed are solely the interviewee’s and do not represent the opinions of the United Nations Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs.

Interview with Juanita Millán Hernandez from Colombia, current member of United Nations Standby Team of Senior Mediation Advisers focused on security arrangements and retired Lieutenant Commander, Colombian Navy. Prior to her membership in the Standby Team, Juanita served seven years as Advisor to the High Commissioner for Peace during the Havana Peace Talks and in 2014 appointed to become a member of the Sub-Commission on Ending the Conflict, a technical working group responsible for the design of the Ceasefire and Disarmament process. Listen to her personal views and recollections of the peace process, the narratives surrounding her leadership and the importance of recognizing shared experiences and communities with other women from all sides of the political spectrum.