Guide to UN Security Council Resolution 1889

Wednesday, September 1, 2010

Author:

Institute for Inclusive Security

Abstract

Presented by Vietnam, this resolution was unanimously approved on October 5, 2009, and is a follow-up to UNSCR 1325, the original resolution that focused on women, peace, and security. UNSCR 1889 emphasizes the participation of women in all phases of the peace process. Most important, it calls for monitoring and introduces accountability mechanisms UNSCR 1325 lacks. The resolution strongly encourages cooperation with civil society, particularly women's organizations.

Security Council Resolutions

UN Security Council Resolutions (UNSCRs) are international law; as such, UN member states are required to follow them. At the same time, resolutions provide advocacy tools to civil society organizations.

Four resolutions currently address women, peace, and security. Each acknowledges the previous, and each emphasizes that the resolutions must work together to address multiple issues. UNSCRs 1325 and 1889 underscore women's leadership in peacebuilding and conflict prevention. UNSCRs 1820 and 1888 focus on preventing and responding to conflict-related sexual violence.

UNSCR 1889

I. Participation of Women in Decision-making and Peace Processes

A. Women as Agents of Change
UNSCR 1889 calls on the secretary-general and member states to increase the involvement of women at all stages in any peace process. The resolution reiterates the vital role of women in preventing conflict and in peacebuilding. More specifically, it notes that during armed conflict and post-conflict, women are often considered victims, not leaders and stakeholders who can help address and resolve war. UNSCR 1889 stresses the need to focus on empowering as well as protecting women. Member states also are urged to ensure gender mainstreaming in all aspects of post-conflict recovery.

B. Donors and Advisers
The council requests that the secretary-general develop methods for increasing the number of women in peacekeeping operations. It also urges donors to address women's roles and calls for transparency in tracking the funds allocated for assessing women's needs in post-war situations. In addition, the council asks the secretary-general to continue to post gender advisers in UN missions.

Implications:
• Governments and non-governmental organizations should create rosters of qualified women for appointment to high-level UN positions.
• UN member states should revise requirements for high-level peacekeeping missions, making them more accessible to female peacekeepers.
• NGOs and governments should continue to ensure system-wide attention to and mobilization of resources for advancing gender equality and women's empowerment as an integral part of peacebuilding, and to encourage the full participation of women in all phases of the peace process.

II. Monitoring and Accountability

UNSCR 1889 calls on member states to develop UNSCR 1325 national action plans. It acknowledges the value of the UN Steering Committee that resulted from an Institute for Inclusive Security and Realizing Rights event in April 2009. (On that occasion, Asha-Rose Migiro, UN deputy secretary-general, agreed to chair a committee to drive implementation of UNSCR 1325 throughout the UN system.) The Security Council welcomes the Steering Committee's input to enhance visibility and strengthen coordination within the UN system in preparation for the tenth anniversary of UNSCR 1325.

A. Reporting
The resolution requests that the secretary-general ensure that all future UN state reports to the Security Council include information on the impact of armed conflict on women and girls. It also asks the secretary-general to guarantee that relevant UN bodies, in cooperation with member states and civil society, collect data on the needs of women and girls in post-conflict situations, including women's participation in decision making and post-conflict planning.

B. Data Collection
UNSCR 1889 is the only resolution to request that the secretary-general provide global indicators to measure progress in implementation of UNSCR 1325. These indicators are critical for reporting by UN entities, other international and regional organizations, and member states, on UNSCR 1325's implementation. The secretary-general is requested to include in an annual report all issues relevant to UNSCR 1325, such as data on women's participation in UN missions.
The resolution asks the secretary-general to ensure that relevant UN bodies, in cooperation with
member states and civil society, collect gender-disaggregated data. It also requests that the secretary-general submit a report within 12 months to the Security Council on addressing women's participation and inclusion in peacebuilding.

Implications:
• NGOs in conflict zones should use this resolution to press for greater involvement of women and women's organizations in the full range of peacebuilding activities, regularly bringing the resolution to the attention of national and international negotiators. NGOs should monitor and evaluate negotiators' actions, using UNSCR 1889 to gain access to the talks and to report on exclusion.
• NGOs should continue to advocate and pressure member-state governments to take steps to develop national action plans to implement UNSCR 1325.
• Civil society organizations should advise UN personnel on how conflict affects women and girls to ensure that UN reporting includes that information.
• NGOs and experts should apprise the UN of appropriate data and indicators required for sufficiently monitoring UNSCR 1325 implementation.
• NGOs should work with civil society to provide accurate and credible data pursuant to adopted indicators.
What is lacking?

Accountability: Like the other resolutions on women, peace, and security, UNSCR 1889 lacks specific sanctions for non-compliance. However, it does call for recommendations in 2010 on how the Security Council should receive, analyze, and act on information that applies to implementing UNSCR 1325.

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