Reconstruction and Peacebuilding

In post conflict environments, the challenges faced by women remain formidable. Often they are forced to contend with family dislocations, social ostracism and shattered livelihoods. Some face the everyday reality of being single mothers. In many ways, a level playing field in terms of gender equity continues to elude women in post conflict contexts as well.

The South African Women in Dialogue forum has initiated dialogue between South African women and women in conflict countries, in particular Burundi, on how best to mainstream gender in peace missions in Africa and beyond. The African Women's Peace Table was established in 2007; it is another South African initiative whereby female soldiers and civil society define the peace agenda and discuss strategies for peacebuilding in the continent.

It has been 10 years since the Security Council adopted resolution 1325 (2000), following the adoption of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women. Resolution 1325 (2000) reaffirms the need to implement the obligations of these instruments, aimed at addressing the situation of women in armed conflict.

On the issue of governance, Solomon Islands adopted a political system — the Westminster system — that does not recognize the traditional decision-making role of women in tribal societies. Women's traditional role gets subsumed in the modern decision making-process, which further weakens the power base of women in their traditional setting.

I am pleased to say that Solomon Islands has not shied away from looking at the issue of gender representation in our national Parliament. An ambitious plan for temporary measures to advance women's participation was launched last year. However, it did not receive enough support and needed more consultation. We hope that it will receive attention over time.

Resolution 1325 (2000) on women, peace and security acknowledged that women are not just victims of armed conflict and that their equal and full participation is of vital importance in conflict prevention, peacekeeping, conflict resolution, peacebuilding and post-conflict recovery.

Increasing the participation and representation of our women in peace and security programmes within a democratic governance structure for us is key. To ensure that the role of women in the local Government machinery is enhanced, the Local Government Act stipulates gender parity at the municipal level.

From our own experience, sustainable peace cannot be achieved without the full and effective participation of women in conflict prevention, conflict resolution, peace processes, and post-conflict reconstruction and peacebuilding. A few weeks ago, the Security Council itself acknowledged the efforts that Sierra Leone is making towards the prevention and resolution of conflict and in peacebuilding.

Among other impressive strides taken by the Government of Sierra Leone to improve the welfare of our women and girls are affirmative action for girlchild education and the recent adoption of the free health care delivery initiative for pregnant women, lactating mothers and children under the age of five.

In line with our action plan and with the reinforcement of women's participation in decisionmaking organs relating to peace and security, I am proud to say that we have advanced in terms of women's participation, with a high level of representation of women in parliament — 56 per cent. This extends into the lower echelons such as local government, the judiciary and the private sector.