Reconstruction and Peacebuilding

The Reconstruction and Peacebuilding theme focuses on the application of a gender perspective to peacebuilding. The response of local, national, and international systems to women’s priorities in post-conflict situations can significantly impact stability and development.

The realisation of women’s right to full participation in preventing, resolving and recovering from conflict, is critical to building sustainable peace and the fulfilment of human security. Furthermore, the response of local, national and international systems to women’s priorities in post-conflict situations, can significantly impacts the stability and development of communities.

The engagement of women in early stages of peacemaking can increase gender analysis in post-conflict planning, lead to improved outcomes for women, and enhance their capacity to participate in longer-term peacebuilding. However, women’s rights and concerns should not be dependent on the presence of women in peace processes. Systems must be in place to ensure their inclusion is standard operating procedure.

In SCR 1325, the Security Council recognises that addressing the unique needs of women and girls during post-conflict reconstruction requires integrating a gender perspective at all stages (1325,OP8). The Security Council acknowledges the need to counter negative societal attitudes regarding women’s equal capacity for involvement, and calls for the promotion of women’s leadership and support for women’s organizations (1889,OP1). In addition, the Security Council requests training on the protection, rights and needs of women in all peacebuilding measures (1325,OP6).

To achieve this, the Security Council tasks the Secretary-General to report on challenges and make recommendations relevant to the participation of women and gender mainstreaming in peacebuilding and recovery efforts (1888,OP19). In response, the Secretary-General issued a report on women’s participation in peacebuilding in 2010. The report details the challenges obstacles women must confront in participating in recovery and peacebuilding efforts, and advocates for a Seven-Point Action Plan to respond to these challenges.


First, the plan calls to increase women’s engagement in peace processes and to address gender issues in the context of peace agreements. Secondly, the plan urges for the inclusion of gender expertise at senior levels in the UN’s mediation support activities. Thirdly, the plan notes that, while the international community cannot control the gender composition of the negotiating parties, it must investigate strategies for the inclusion of more women. Fourthly, the plan calls for the establishment of mechanisms to ensure that negotiating parties engage with women’s civil society organisations. The Action Plan’s fifth commitment involves increasing the proportion of women decision makers in post-conflict governance institutions. The sixth point addresses rule of law, emphasising the importance of issues such as women’s access to justice and a gender perspective to legal reform. The Action Plan’s seventh commitment is concerned with women’s economic empowerment. The Action Plan’s implementation remains the challenge.

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For all of those reasons, it is the responsibility of the international commu...

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For all of those reasons, it is the responsibility of the international community to establish conditions for shared and sustainable development that limit the risk of conflicts breaking out, or continuing. Thus the Peacebuilding Commission, in the countries on its agenda, has made the emancipation of young people and women one of its priorities, alongside security sector reform, as both factors contribute to stability.

In that regard, when drafting mandates, the Council could place greater empha...

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In that regard, when drafting mandates, the Council could place greater emphasis on the strengthening of coordination activities and structures that have a high impact on the development of national capacities. Such activities are not new in the context of peacekeeping operations.

With all of that in mind, Bosnia and Herzegovina emphasizes the importance of...

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With all of that in mind, Bosnia and Herzegovina emphasizes the importance of an integrated, comprehensive and coordinated approach that includes the establishment of good governance, the rule of law, the promotion of human rights, institution-building, security sector reform, economic reconstruction and development in order to achieve irreversible peace.

The African Union approach on the interdependence of security and development...

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The African Union approach on the interdependence of security and development also underscores the core imperative of addressing the root causes of conflict in order to ensure social justice and thus attain sustainable development.

We have learned important lessons over the past two decades in this field, bu...

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We have learned important lessons over the past two decades in this field, but we also have work to do in putting them into practice. We all agree that national ownership of the processes of rebuilding and renewal is indispensable, but we still struggle to assist fragile post-conflict Governments so they can set and implement their own priorities.

Today's debate will be taken into account by my delegation in the context of ...

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Today's debate will be taken into account by my delegation in the context of Ukraine's current membership in the Peacebuilding Commission, the Economic and Social Council, UN-Women and other relevant organs. It will also serve as a valuable reference in the case of Ukraine's election to the Security Council for the term of 2016-2017.

Finally, we look forward to the imminent completion of the Senior Advisory Gr...

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Finally, we look forward to the imminent completion of the Senior Advisory Group's review of international civilian capacities and its recommendations for improving the international response by strengthening the availability and appropriateness of civilian capacities for post-conflict peacebuilding.

First, peacebuilding is primarily a national responsibility. Hence, as has be...

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First, peacebuilding is primarily a national responsibility. Hence, as has been stressed by many delegations, national ownership is of critical importance. The effective and sustainable realization of peacebuilding goals requires the active engagement of all local stakeholders, including civil society, professional associations and women's organizations.

Before concluding, let me also underline the importance of mainstreaming wome...

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Before concluding, let me also underline the importance of mainstreaming women's participation at all stages of the peacebuilding effort. Turkey welcomes the increasing awareness within the United Nations system and among Member States of the importance of removing constraints on women's full participation in the peacebuilding process.

Unemployment has plummeted, with 96 per cent of men aged between 30 and 49 ye...

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Unemployment has plummeted, with 96 per cent of men aged between 30 and 49 years currently employed and two in five women now working year round. In 2007, 85 per cent of all Timorese were employed in the agriculture sector; today, that figure stands at 67 per cent of men and 61 per cent of women. Much of this achievement has been underpinned by the strengthening of institutions.

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