DCAF

01/06/2026

The vision is clear: a world where women's participation in the is not a programme, not a budget line, not a separate initiative. Just the way things are.

Changing mindsets takes time. Shifting budgets takes . Transforming institutions takes stubborn ,

Do you still have questions? We have 8 years of answers.

The story is not finished. Every reform, every conversation, every barrier removed adds another line to what's being written right now.

ripple doesn't stop.
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👉 Need data? We have 8 years of it.
Go to https://www.dcaf.ch/mowip

Canada’s Foreign Policy—Global Affairs Canada
High Commission of Canada in South Africa
Embassy of Canada to Senegal
Embassy of Canada to Jordan
Embassy of Canada to Switzerland and Liechtenstein

29/05/2026

✨ May brought some brilliant conversations to !

We welcomed students from the The Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre, Accra Ghana, Andrássy Universität Budapest and Universität Basel.

What we value most about these visits is the exchange itself. Students arrive with perspectives shaped by different regions, experiences, and fields of study. Those conversations challenge us. They also help us learn and grow.

🙌 Thank you to everyone who spent time with us this month. We look forward to meeting you again next time!

29/05/2026

📌 Wrap-Up: High-Level promotion of the publication "Application of Special Investigative Measures in "

We successfully concluded the promotional event and panel discussions for our latest publication, developed under the "Intelligence and Reform Programme" in the Republic of North Macedonia (2021–2026), and implemented by . The event brought together key judicial, , and academic stakeholders to discuss findings, balance needs, and reinforce the .

🔎 Here are the key highlights from the two panel sessions:

Panel Session 1
👉 Experts outlined how the publication bridges theory and practice by analyzing data alongside direct feedback from focus groups. Discussions centered on the challenges pre-trial face during the authorization and strict of special investigative measures.
👉 Panelists underlined the indispensable role and practical efficiency of special investigative measures as a primary tool for the basic public prosecutor's office for prosecuting and when tackling high-profile investigations.

Panel Session 2
👉Public and judges debated real-world hurdles on the ground, specifically focusing on the collection, handling, and eventual admissibility of special investigative measures-derived evidence during court proceedings.
👉 The dialogue emphasized maintaining a strict balance between aggressive crime-fighting and the unconditional protection of , utilizing academic and insights to close systemic gaps through institutional training.

🔎 Main Takeaways:

👉 The application of special investigative measures must always remain exceptional, heavily substantiated, and fully aligned with international standards.
👉 Improving relies entirely on continuous, structured communication between the judicial , public prosecutors, and the courts, with this publication serving as a practical guide for future reforms.

Thank you to all the authors, panelists, and participants for their invaluable contributions and commitment to security sector hashtag .

📕 Read the publication (in Macedonian): https://www.dcaf.ch/application-special-investigative-measures-republic-north-macedonia

29/05/2026

On International Day, we honor those who build where it’s needed most.

But the evidence points to something we can't ignore: less than 10% of uniformed peacekeepers are women. That number is not a detail - it's a challenge.

For 8 years, the has been answering that challenge. Not with promises. With evidence, structural change, and people doing the hard work from within.

Women’s meaningful participation is a strategic path toward more effective and sustainable . Its future depends on creating space for more women and men in uniform to make decisions together for peace.

: 8 years of evidence.

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👉 Need data? We have 8 years of it.
Go to https://www.dcaf.ch/elsie-initiative


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Canada’s Foreign Policy—Global Affairs Canada
High Commission of Canada in South Africa
Embassy of Canada to Senegal
Embassy of Canada to Jordan
Embassy of Canada to Switzerland and Liechtenstein

28/05/2026

to DCAF’s participation in 📷

Earlier this month, we joined partners and experts to discuss today’s evolving challenges and the importance of stronger international cooperation in .

📢 A key highlight of the week was the Opening Ceremony, where our Director, Ambassador Nathalie Chuard joined representatives from the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs, the United Nations, ITU, United Nations Human Rights, International Committee of the Red Cross, the World Economic Forum, Microsoft, the CyberPeace Institute, FIRST, CERN, UNODA and United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research to discuss global for and in cyberspace.

As cyber risks become increasingly systemic, interconnected, and transboundary, this panel discussion highlighted the importance of coordinated action across , international organizations, the , civil society, and research actors. In this context, continues to play a unique role in connecting , humanitarian action, and technical knowledge under one multilateral ecosystem.

As Nathalie Chuard underlined during the discussions:
💬 “Effective and sustainable cybersecurity must be accountable and context appropriate. To achieve that, it requires clear mandates and legal frameworks, as well as institutions able to act in a coordinated, accountable, and legitimate manner. This requires long-term efforts, responsive to local needs and rooted in local knowledge and expertise. ”

🙌 Thank you to all participants for these important exchanges on advancing a stable, secure, and inclusive cyberspace.

📷 UNIDIR

28/05/2026

📅 Mark your calendars and join DCAF at the "Geneva Peace Forum meets " event on 3 June.

The event will bring together experts and practitioners to discuss today’s most pressing and challenges. Our Director, Nathalie Chuard, will be joining the panel:

🔹 “From risk to : linking mine action, governance and food security in ”, co-organized with Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining - GICHD and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
The discussion will explore why integrated approaches are essential in contexts affected by conflict, such as in Ukraine, especially when the effects of conflict extend far beyond the front line.

👉 If you can not attend in person, follow the discussions online: https://www.genevapeaceforum.ch/en/gpf-meets-vienna/programme-gpf-meets-vienna/from-risk-to-resilience-linking-mine-action-security-sector-governance-and-food-security-in-ukraine

👉 Register now: https://forms.cloud.microsoft/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=ASb5r3UJPkeU4ODDavy56ssGDxYlGfhLgctmdL7ELbFUNU8yRzEwTVlYNEJTSDA1UDdIOEZUSFEwVi4u

We look forward to contributing to this important event alongside our partners and the wider community.

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Geneva Peacebuilding Platform

28/05/2026

27/05/2026

The countdown continues ⏰🎙️

❓ How is AI used today in the ?

For this new episode of DCAF's podcast, we are joined by Prateek Sibal who works in Artificial Intelligence and Digital Transformation at UNESCO.

Together, we will discuss the use of in the highly complex context of the system, with a particular focus on fragile and conflict-affected situations. While there are opportunities such as increased administrative efficiency and strengthened access to justice, there are also challenges for fragile states when adopting in legal decision-making. What are these challenges? How can these issues be solved most effectively? Is the main challenge?

🔍 All these questions and much more will be answered soon, so stay tuned!

🎧 In the meantime, listen to our other episodes: https://www.dcaf.ch/shaping-security-podcast-series

27/05/2026

🏆 Lessons from Champions #3:

strategies are the first step for change.

That's what 8 years of evidence demonstrates, and it's what Captain Na Fataou Cissé knows firsthand.

➡️ In , when the Ministry of began implementing their , few people even knew it existed. Today, it is felt across the entire institution - from the uniforms women wear every day to the written policies.

That's what institutional transformation looks like when it finally fits.

That's .
_________________________________________
👉 Need data? We have 8 years of it.
Go to https://www.dcaf.ch/elsie-initiative

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Canada’s Foreign Policy—Global Affairs Canada
High Commission of Canada in South Africa
Embassy of Canada to Senegal
Embassy of Canada to Jordan
Embassy of Canada to Switzerland and Liechtenstein

27/05/2026