Current Chairs

  • 2023 – The United States 🇺🇸 and Romania 🇷🇴

Immediate Past Co-Chairs

  • 2022 – South Africa 🇿🇦 and Switzerland 🇨🇭

This symbol combines the national flowers of both South Africa and Switzerland, co-chairs of the WPS Focal Points Network in 2022. The South-African Protea and the Swiss Edelweiss symbolize strength and diversity – values that inspire the co-chairship. The orange circle at their center, reminiscent of the WPS Focal Points Network logo, reflects continuity and unity in purpose. The color combination is further inspired by the flags of both South Africa and Switzerland.

Past Chairs

  • 2020 / 2021 – Canada 🇨🇦 and Uruguay 🇺🇾

This friendship symbol celebrates the partnership of Canada and Uruguay as Co-Chairs of the WPS Focal Points Network in 2020 and represents the spirit of collaboration and cooperation. Designed by Uruguayan graphic designer, Gabriel Benderski, the symbol is also inspired by the indigenous Bunchberry flowering plant found in all regions of Canada and the combined color palette of the Canadian and Uruguayan national flags.

  • 2019 – Namibia 🇳🇦
  • 2018 – Germany 🇩🇪
  • 2017 – Spain 🇪🇸

In any given year, the current, as well as the outgoing and incoming Chairs will constitute the Troika, which is responsible for providing guidance to the Network on operational and substantive issues. The current Troika comprises United States and Romania (2023 Co-chairs) and Switzerland and South Africa (2022 Co-chairs).

(Taking note of the unprecedented challenges posed by COVID-19, with its consequences for Network interaction and engagement, the Network Troika unanimously decided to exceptionally grant Canada and Uruguay an extension of their one-year co-chairship to two years).

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UN Women serves as Secretariat of the Network and has assigned a Coordinator to manage the Secretariat.