1325 PeaceWomen E-News
Issue #42
20 May 2004

PREPARATIONS UNDERWAY FOR THE FOURTH ANNIVERSARY OF RESOLUTION 1325: OCTOBER 2004

The Security Council unanimously adopted Resolution 1325 on women, peace and security, 31 October 2000. CLICK HERE for the full text of the resolution.

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For past issues of the newsletter, CLICK HERE.

THIS ISSUE OF 1325 PEACEWOMEN E-NEWS FEATURES:

1. 1325 Translation Update: 5 Languages of Burma Now Available
2. Women, Peace and Security News
3. Update on Gender and Peacekeeping: Recent Additions to PeaceWomen.org
4. Feature Initiative: Preparations Underway for the 4th Anniversary of Resolution 1325: October 2004
5. Feature Statements: Baguio Declaration of the 2nd Asian Indigenous Women’s Conference and “Israeli and Palestinian Women Non-Violent Demonstration Prevailed”
6. Women, Peace and Security Calendar

If you would like to fill out the 1325 PeaceWomen E-News evaluation form in either English or French, please write to 1325news@peacewomen.org and we will send you the questionnaire by email.

A number of women’s organizations of Burma, member organizations of the Women’s League of Burma, have translated 1325 into five languages – Kachin, Karen, Lahu, PaO and Shan. We have been told that a Karenni translation, another language of Burma, is on its way, as are translations in 3 other languages.

Information about the organizations that translated Resolution 1325 into Kachin, Karen, Lahu, PaO and Shan is available on PeaceWomen.org.

For more information about the Women’s League of Burma and to view the translations on their site, visit: http://www.womenofburma.org/ (see publications)

In the last issue of the newsletter, we mentioned that we had been given the opportunity to submit, to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office of the UK Government (FCO), a list of 6-10 priority languages into which we want 1325 translated. Based on consultation with a number of our partner organizations, and after having sent a request for suggestions through 1325 PeaceWomen E-News and UNIFEM’s 1325 E-Discussion, we presented a list of 10 languages (see below) and are now awaiting a response:

Achehnese
Amharic (Ethiopia)
Bahasa Indonesia
Kirundi (Burundi)
Kurdish
Kinyarwanda (Rwanda)
Ndebele and/or Shona (Zimbabwe)
Punjabi
Swahili (East Africa)
Urdu

For more information about the 1325 Translation Initiative, including the available translations, CLICK HERE.

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WOMEN AT WORK: PREVENTING GUN VIOLENCE
May 2004 – (IANSA Women’s Network Bulletin Alert #1) IANSA’s first bulletin includes an NGO Profile of Viva Rio (Brazil); news clips; new resources; and an update on IANSA Women’s Network.

FIJI: NEW MOBILE WOMEN’S COMMUNITY RADIO PROJECT
May 19, 2004 – (femLINKpacific press release) Four year after the May 2000 coup, femLINKpacific (Media Initiatives for Women) a women’s community media based NGO in Suva is preparing for the inaugural broadcast of its new mobile women’s community radio project, femTALK 89.2FM which will be staged on Sunday May 23, 2004 live from the St. Joseph’s Secondary School Hall in Suva.

INDIGENOUS WOMEN BEAR BURDEN OF VIOLENCE, ACTIVISTS SAY
May 14, 2004 – (UN Wire) Indigenous women, often the most powerless people in society, bear the brunt of both criminal and political violence, participants at the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues said this week, the first of a two-week session.

EQUAL RIGHTS NOW – ISSUES 13 & 14
May 10, 2004 - (Organization of Women’s Freedom in Iraq – Issues #13 & 14) The most recent issue of Equal Rights Now!, the official paper of the Organization for Women’s Freedom in Iraq, includes a report on the International Women’s Day events in Iraq as well as of the OWFI branches abroad, an article about the increasing cases of violence against women, and an emergency motion to defend feminist activists in Iraq.

REBUILDING OF LIBERIA MUST INVOLVE FULL PARTICIPATION OF WOMEN
May 10, 2004 – (UNIFEM) Speaking today at the National Women's Conference on Peace and Socio-Economic Recovery in Liberia, Noeleen Heyzer, Executive Director of the UN Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM) emphasized the centrality of women's participation and leadership in all phases of the country's recovery, including processes of disarmament, demobilization, and rehabilitation. She described the conference as a celebration of the courage of Liberia's women, of their resilience and capacity for leadership amidst the trauma and devastation of conflict over the past decade.

TRIAL CHAMBER APPROVES NEW COUNT OF FORCED MARRIAGE
May 7, 2004 – (Special Court for Sierra Leone Press and Public Affairs Office Press Release) The Trial Chamber of the Special Court, in a majority decision, has approved a motion by prosecutors to add the new count of "forced marriage" to indictments against six defendants alleged to have been leaders of the former AFRC and RUF.

For more country-specific women, peace and security news, CLICK HERE

For more international women, peace and security news, CLICK HERE

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Recent News

The United Nations mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUC) is currently investigating allegations of sexual abuse and exploitation of civilians, including minors, by its staff serving in the northeastern town of Bunia. Below is a recent news story on this situation:

UN STAFF IN CONGO FACE CHILD SEX CLAIMS
May 17 2004 – (Financial Times) One of the United Nations toughest missions in Africa is facing damaging allegations that peacekeeping troops as well as civilian UN personnel have been involved in the systematic sexual abuse of minors.

For more news stories on gender and peacekeeping issues, including on the situation of sexual abuse and exploitation by MONUC personnel, CLICK HERE.

Recent Event

Security Council Open Debate on Peacekeeping Operations
17 May 2004

Pakistan, as President of the Security Council for the month of May, organized and led a day-long debate on peacekeeping operations, intended to highlight forthcoming challenges, evaluate progress made and analyze future trends. With Pakistan’s Foreign Minister, Khurshid Kasuri, hosting the debate, the Council heard from UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, 42 Member States, and as a respondent, Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations, Jean-Marie Guehenno. A presidential statement was released at the conclusion of the meeting.

The statements by Member States can be characterized by an almost complete lack of gender perspective, (out of 42 Member States, we know of 2 who made substantial references to gender issues, including Resolution 1325, and 3 who made passing references to gender issues).

For the substantial references made to gender issues, CLICK HERE.

Presidential Statement

Despite the lack of gender perspective in the statements made by Member States, the Presidential Statement issued by Pakistan highlighted a few gender issues, though, the language is noticeably weaker and more vague than in other sections of the statement. The references are featured below:

“The Security Council calls upon Member States to contribute sufficient levels of trained troops, police and civilian personnel, including those with specialized capabilities and skills, bearing in mind the need for an increased percentage of female personnel at all decision-making levels…

…“The Security Council further recognizes the importance of a gender perspective, including gender training for peacekeepers, in Peacekeeping Operations, in accordance with Security Council Resolution 1325 (2000) and the importance of protection of children in armed conflict in accordance with Security Council Resolution 1379 (2001).

For more events on gender and peacekeeping, CLICK HERE.

New Resources

"So does it mean that we have the rights?" Protecting the human rights of women and girls trafficked for forced prostitution in Kosovo
Amnesty International, 6 May 2004
This report focuses attention on the role, actions and responsibilities of U.N. and NATO peacekeepers in Kosovo, who, since their arrival, have fuelled a human trafficking industry that sexually exploits women and girls as young as 11. The report includes recommendations to UNMIK, KFOR, the UN, and NATO and NATO Member States. For the full report, CLICK HERE.

Report of the Secretary-General on "Special measures for protection from sexual exploitation and sexual abuse"
23 April 2004
General Assembly resolution 57/306 (15 April 2003) on Investigation into sexual exploitation of refugees by aid workers in West Africa “Requests the Secretary-General, in response to recommendations of the Office of Internal Oversight Services, to maintain data on investigations into sexual exploitation and related offences, irrespective of age and gender, by humanitarian and peacekeeping personnel, and all relevant actions taken thereon;”

In compliance with General Assembly resolution 57/306, the Secretary-General submitted this report (23 April 2004), which presents information on existing cases of sexual exploitation and abuse within the UN system and on the efforts under way to prevent them. “The report also describes the progress made in the development of guidelines and tools to establish a reporting process that is sensitive to the needs of victims and towards the promotion of a culture in which sexual exploitation and abuse are not tolerated.” For the full report, CLICK HERE.

PeaceWomen’s Gender and Peacekeeping Index: http://www.peacewomen.org/un/pkwatch/pkindex.html

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PREPARATIONS UNDERWAY FOR THE 4TH ANNIVERSARY OF RESOLUTION 1325: OCTOBER 2004

The presidential statement (PRST/2002/32) marking the second anniversary of the adoption of Resolution 1325 “requested the Secretary-General to prepare a follow-up report on the full implementation of resolution 1325 to be presented to the Security Council in October 2004.”
In consultation with the Department of Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO) and the Department of Political Affairs (DPA), the UN Office of the Special Advisor on Gender Issues and Advancement of Women (OSAGI) will be coordinating the inputs from the UN system, Member States and others working in support of women, peace and security.

In preparation for compiling the Secretary-General’s report, OSAGI sent a Note Verbale to all UN Member States and a Questionnaire to all UN entities, requesting information related to their work and reflections on Resolution 1325 since it was adopted in 2000.

Note Verbale
OSAGI, 6 April 2004
Submissions by Member States due: 15 June 2004
For the Note Verbale, CLICK HERE.

Questionnaire to United Nations Entities
OSAGI, April 2004
Submissions by UN entities due: 15 June 2004
For the full Questionnaire, CLICK HERE.

Guidance note on use of the questionnaire:
• The questionnaire aims to assess progress in implementation of Security Council resolution 1325 since its adoption in 31 October 2000.
• Responses should highlight achievements, gaps and challenges, good practices and innovative approaches.
• United Nations entities are requested to respond to sections, which are relevant to their organization’s mandate.

NGO Alternative Report
The NGO Working Group on Women, Peace and Security is in the early stages of planning an alternative or shadow report, entitled “Four Years On” meant to complement the UN report and highlight NGO activity on Resolution 1325, and to provide a critical analysis of UN and governmental work to implement Resolution 1325 to-date. An NGO questionnaire is currently in production. We will feature the questionnaire in the next issue of 1325 PeaceWomen E-News.

PeaceWomen has begun developing a web page on 4th Anniversary 1325 happenings. All information related to the 4th anniversary and the NGO alternative report will be posted on this page: http://www.peacewomen.org/un/4thAnniversary/4thAnniversaryindex.html

NGOs are also preparing for related up-coming UN reviews:
-Review and Appraisal of the implementation of the Beijing Platform for Action, 49th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women, March 2005
-Review of the progress made in the fulfillment of the commitments in the Millennium Declaration, 60th Session of the UN General Assembly, 2005

For NGO and civil society reports, papers and statements, UN and government reports, and books, journals and articles on women, peace and security issues, CLICK HERE.

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Baguio Declaration of the 2nd Asian Indigenous Women’s Conference
8 March 2004, Baguio City, Philippines
Submitted to the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, 3rd Session, 10-21 May 2004, by Tebtebba Organization (http://www.tebtebba.org)

On Militarization and Violence

Indigenous women and children in Asia likewise suffer the brunt of militarization perpetrated by state forces, including vigilante groups and private armies of companies. Indigenous communities targeted for development aggression are also targets of militarization.

Rape continues to be used as a weapon of war by the military to humiliate and attack indigenous communities. Girls and even older women and children are not spared. Courtship and marriage with indigenous women is used to gain acceptance in indigenous communities, however, soldiers often abandon local women and children upon transfer to other destinations.

Military rule and the establishment of military detachments in our communities has curtailed our movement and economic activities, the entry of food supplies and basic social services and even disrupted the education of our children.

The military has facilitated the occupation of indigenous territories by non-indigenous settlers, a form of assimilation which breeds conflicts between indigenous and non-indigenous communities.

Compounding militarization is the war on terror and the passage of national policies or laws restricting the exercise of democratic rights and freedoms of the indigenous women and communities. Our organizations are regarded by the state to be engaged in terrorist activities. Women leaders suffer persecution and our elders are criminalized for asserting customary practices in defence of our land and resources...

• We will conduct campaigns against development, aggression and militarization and for the defense of our lands, resources and cultures from destruction and assimilation.

• We demand the pull-out of military troops, checkpoints and detachments in our territories;

• We demand justice and accountability for criminal offenses perpetrated by the Armed Forces and para-military groups and to indemnify victims of political repressions and sexual violence; ...

Signed by 100 indigenous women participating from the Asian region from the following 12 Asian countries:

Malaysia
Mongolia
Indonesia
Bangladesh
India
China
Taiwan
Philippines
Thailand
Nepal
Burma
Kyrgyztan

For the full statement, CLICK HERE.

Israeli and Palestinian Women Non-Violent Demonstration Prevailed!
12 May 2004, Bat Shalom, Biddu, West Bank, Palestine

Yesterday, May 11, 2004, a group of 50 Palestinian women, together with Israeli and international peace activists, marched once again in solidarity. We moved through the streets of Biddu to the site of the Separation Wall, where earthmoving machinery was seen working. Walking through the narrow streets of Biddu, many of the marchers still remembered the violent attack of the police just two weeks earlier. This time, we decided, we will stay together in one group. Some Palestinian and Israeli women hold hands. The tension and the fear could not be ignored.
Someone shouted that she saw policemen on horses behind the hill.

Nevertheless, we kept on walking, holding hands and singing. We were particularly impressed by the passion of the Palestinian women marchers, who chanted peace slogans in Arabic and Hebrew. For anyone doubting the Palestinian desire for peace, today's march was convincing proof that the Palestinians are desperate for peace and ready to live normal lives next to a non-aggressive Israel...

For the full statement, CLICK HERE.

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Making Governance Gender Responsive
June 24-26, 2004 and October 21-23, 2004, CAPWIP Institute on Gender Responsive Governance and Leadership, 4227 Tomas Claudio Street Baclaran, Parañaque City, Philippines
Developed by the Center for Asia-Pacific Women in Politics (CAPWIP), with funding support from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) through its Asia-Pacific Gender Equality Network or APGEN and Regional Governance Programme for Asia and the Pacific (PARAGON). The training is intended for: 1. Local governments, elected officials, the bureaucracy (both legislative and executive); 2. Political parties; 3. Non-governmental organizations and other civil society groups with programs on governance; and 4. Training institutes for good governance. Deadline for applications: For the June 24-26, 2004 training: May 20, 2004; For the October 21-23, 2004 training: September 21, 2004. For more information, visit: http://www.capwip.org/training/mggr.htm.

Documenting the Violations of Women's Human Rights During Armed Conflict: A Tool for Advocacy and Sustainable Peace Building - Isis-WICCE’S 2004/5 Exchange Programme Institute
23 August - 3 September 2004, Isis-WICCE, Kampala, Uganda
The Institute will focus on developing the skills of women in understanding human rights and documenting the experiences of women in situations of armed conflict using the human rights framework. It also aims to improve on women’s advocacy skills for the promotion and protection of women’s human rights and conflict transformation. Active participation in this institute will enable the selected women to contribute more meaningfully in advocating for women’s human rights and building sustainable peace at the community, national, regional, and international level. The Institute is facilitated by experienced, well-known and respected professionals and human rights experts. For more information, visit: http://www.isis.or.ug/isis_news.php?newsId=30&mainCategory=2&category=8.

For the complete calendar items as well as more calendar events, CLICK HERE.

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