INTERNATIONAL: UN Chief Calls for Greater Role of Women in Conflict Prevention

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki- moon on Friday called for a greater role of women in conflict prevention and mediation, which he said "is essential for building peace and reinforcing the foundations of democracy."

The statement came as the secretary-general was addressing an open debate at the UN Security Council on the role of women in achieving peace and security.

"Women's participation remains low, both in official and observer roles. This has to change," he said.

Ban pledged that the United Nations would lead by example, noting that the number of women leading UN peacekeeping, political and peacebuilding missions had gone up to six from 33 missions in the past year.

The UN Department of Political Affairs (DPA), meanwhile, has increased the proportion of women candidates in its roster of senior mediators, team members and thematic experts to 35 percent, he said.

Specific actions to address the low numbers of women in conflict resolution and in the implementation of peace agreements are required.

"In the field, our teams are supporting women so they can engage in peacebuilding and conflict prevention, management and reconciliation," he said.

At the same time, the secretary-general decried widespread and systematic abuses of women's rights during conflict. "While there is undoubtedly progress, I am deeply concerned about the persistence of serious abuses of women's rights," he said.

The day-long council debate marked the 11th anniversary of the adoption of Council Resolution 1325, which demanded action to reverse the egregious and inhumane treatment of women and girls, the denial of their human rights and their exclusion from decision- making in situations of armed conflict, in peacemaking and peacebuilding.

The Council had before it the secretary-general's latest report on the issue, presented by UN Women's Executive Director Michelle Bachelet, in which he voiced concern that implementation had been so uneven.

"Proactive steps must be taken to accelerate implementation of key elements of this agenda, such as strengthening women's engagement in conflict resolution and deterring widespread and systematic abuses of women's rights during conflict," Ban wrote in the report.

The report covers findings in five areas of the women, peace and security agenda -- prevention, participation, protection, relief and recovery, and coordination and accountability for results -- noting that there is growing recognition of women's roles in peace and security, and highlighting an increasing number of innovative measures and good practices.

"A gender and inclusion expert is now serving in the UN Standby Team of Mediation Experts, and guidance will soon be issued for UN mediators addressing conflict-related sexual violence in ceasefire and peace agreements," Ban said at the Security Council.

In Afghanistan, the UN mission continues to engage with women networks struggling against the abuse of women, Ban said. "We have also worked for the inclusion of women in the High Peace Council and Provincial Peace Council" in Afghanistan.

In the Sudanese region of Darfur, "our mission worked to ensure that more than 30 percent of civil society representatives at the Doha peace negotiations were women," Ban said.

In South Sudan, the UN mission "is working with women parliamentarians to enhance the role of women in conflict resolution, mitigation and peace building," he said.

"In turn, I encourage member states to increase the number of women in senior positions in international and regional conflict prevention," he said. "This means more women in senior government roles, at the top of security institutions, and serving as diplomats."

"I encourage member states to increase the number of women in their foreign service and national security establishments and to take steps to ensure that women diplomats are engaged in leadership roles in conflict resolution," he said.

Meanwhile, the secretary-general welcomed increases in the number of women in police and troops contributed to the United Nations and urged member states to do even more. He also called on member states to strengthen measures to ensure the equal participation of women in peace agreement implementation bodies.