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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The Government has enacted laws for protecting women against domestic violenc...

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The Government has enacted laws for protecting women against domestic violence and is currently implementing a number of projects for developing capabilities of women. These include Vulnerable Group Development Program (VGD), micro-credit, skill training including computer skill, product display centers, etc. Women registered for VGD and hired for rural works receive skill training and credit or some simple capital machinery i.e.

Over the past decade, progress in the implementation has been slow and uneven...

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Over the past decade, progress in the implementation has been slow and uneven. The resolution's real impact remains to be felt on the ground in many areas. All too often women do not make it to the tables where decisions are taken in peace processes or post-conflict reconstruction that have a direct impact on their lives. There are no issues that are not also women's issues.

We have experienced this first hand in our region. Earlier this year, represe...

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We have experienced this first hand in our region. Earlier this year, representatives of Armenian and Azerbaijani women's non-governmental organizations discussed ways to find peaceful solutions to theNagorny Karabakh conflict. The peace dialogues are oriented towards increasing the role of Armenian and Azerbaijani women in peace processes and towards the implementation of resolution 1325 (2000).

Peacebuilding needs the involvement of women. Women's roles in peacebuilding ...

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Peacebuilding needs the involvement of women. Women's roles in peacebuilding in Bosnia, Rwanda, Sri Lanka and many other places in recent decades highlight the importance of their full participation. Women need to be present to discuss issues such as genocide, impunity and security if just and enduring peace is to be built.

As we discuss the role of women in peacemaking and peacebuilding, we cannot i...

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As we discuss the role of women in peacemaking and peacebuilding, we cannot ignore an issue that is inextricably tied to it — violence against women and girls in conflict situations. It is unfortunate that, despite the existence of international legal instruments and normative mechanisms, there has been a disturbing escalation in levels of sexual violence during and after armed conflicts

Armenia takes note of some positive developments. During the past decade, the...

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Armenia takes note of some positive developments. During the past decade, the Security Council has put in place a normative framework for women's participation in peace processes, the elimination of sexual violence in armed conflict, the protection and promotion of women's human rights, and the mainstreaming of gender equality and perspectives in the context of armed conflict, peacebuilding and reconstruction.

Despite the progress, however, much still needs to be addressed and accomplis...

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Despite the progress, however, much still needs to be addressed and accomplished, as the female voice is not always heard. In that regard, the most important item on the agenda is to increase the presence of women in decision-making processes. Women remain largely excluded, especially from efforts to find workable solutions to conflicts. We should further promote their participation.

Resolution 1325 (2000), then, reaffirms the important role that women play in...

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Resolution 1325 (2000), then, reaffirms the important role that women play in the prevention and solution of conflicts and in peacebuilding, underscoring the importance of women's participating on equal footing with men and of their full participation in all initiatives aimed at maintaining and fostering peace and security.

Further, we will move forward with programmes of training on issues of gender...

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Further, we will move forward with programmes of training on issues of gender and human rights for contingents that are soon to be deployed. That will include developing curricula that consider the gender perspective in conflict resolution and peacebuilding, by integrating both women in the contingents and women in the local population.

Regarding the specific topic of today's debate, the African Union has continu...

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Regarding the specific topic of today's debate, the African Union has continued to develop its specific policy and institutional capacity in this area.

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