Allison Pytlak

Leading the development of Stimson's new Cyber Program by focusing on tools and mechanisms that deter malicious cyber activity and address cyber harms through research, collaboration, and dialogue. Some of our current projects focus on cyber accountability, addressing cybercrime scam operations in Southeast Asia; building capacity to implement cyber norms and international law in the IndoPacific; and gendered disinformation in electoral contexts.

The disarmament programme of the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF) advances disarmament research, policy analysis, advocacy, and monitoring and reporting on relevant international forums. I contribute to the rapid analysis contained in our reports of diverse UN and multilateral meetings on weapons topics, with a special focus on cyber security, the international arms trade, and autonomous weapons, among others. Through research, publications, advocacy and public engagement, our work brings a feminist and gender analysis to international security issues. This includes working cross-departmentally within WILPF to highlight the intersectional nature of arms issues with human rights; the Women, Peace and Security Agenda; and feminist foreign policy-making. Represent WILPF in the leadership bodies of several prominent civil society coalitions, notably the Campaign to Stop Killer Robots and the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN), recipient of the 2017 Nobel Peace Prize, as well as informal networks such as the Feminist Foreign Policy Working Group in Canada.

Control Arms is a global civil society alliance of over 90 organizations advocating for the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) with headquarters in New York. Responsibilities included: • Represented Control Arms at the United Nations and to the Permanent Missions in New York and at other diplomatic conferences by liaising with diplomatic officials, including at the Ambassador level and facilitating civil society participation at key meetings • Coordinated the lobbying work of the coalition’s over 100 member organizations through consultation with thematic or regional experts and other team members • Provided strategic input to campaign and advocacy initiatives • Guided the process to develop a three-year strategic plan by conducting surveys and interviews with members, partners and other stakeholders. • Played an active role in fundraising through direct interaction with donors, drafting proposals, preparing reports and managing budgets • Provided interim responsibility for the management of the Control Arms staff team plus interns and consultants in the absence of a Director • Actively participated in the Arms Trade Treaty negotiations at the United Nations in July 2012 and March 2013 by coordinating the coalition’s lobbying and advocacy efforts as head of the Mobilization Team • Acted as a spokesperson for the coalition to media by providing interviews and statements while also proactively pitching stories

Created an annual campaign plan, resources and monthly action activities for the “Take the next step for survivors!” campaign focusing on landmine and cluster munition accident survivors.

Initiated and oversaw implementation of international and country-level projects on a range of arms issues including small arms and light weapons, cluster munitions, landmines and nuclear weapons. Co-coordinated the Arms Down! Campaign for Shared Security, which collected over 10 million signatures on a global petition asking government to cut military spending by 10% to advance the Millennium Development Goals. Created materials such as resource guides, advocacy letter templates and fact sheets to equip and support the Religions for Peace international network Developed funding proposals; conducted financial resource management and donor reporting. Speaking engagements included the Newark Peace Education Summit (Newark); a screening of Burma Soldier (New York); UN DPI-NGO Briefing (New York); A Climate of Peace (Oslo); Arms Down! Campaign launch (Costa Rica); Youth Disarmament Summit (Nepal).

Provided assistance and support to the Director of Advocacy, first as an intern and later as an employee. Advocacy projects included research on current policies; meetings and letter sending. Communications work comprised regular website updating, overseeing the production of the campaign’s quarterly newsletter and liaising with UN-based journalists.