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 five-year plans formulated by the Government of India for economic develo...

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The five-year plans formulated by the Government of India for economic development recognize the important role of women as agents of sustained socio-economic growth and change by incorporating proposals on gender empowerment. Women's empowerment is essential to promote overall sustainable development. That is also true in conflict situations.

Resolution 1325 (2000) is indeed important and unique, as it was the first of...

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Resolution 1325 (2000) is indeed important and unique, as it was the first of its kind to link women's experiences in conflict to the international peace and security agenda, focusing attention on the impact of conflict on women and girls and calling for women's engagement in conflict resolution and peacebuilding.

With regard to the peacebuilding process, Chile notes the work of the Peacebu...

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With regard to the peacebuilding process, Chile notes the work of the Peacebuilding Commission and the vision of gender equality that the Commission has brought to its work, in keeping with the resolutions that led to its creation. It is also noteworthy that the Peacebuilding Fund has allocated significant resources to incorporating the gender perspective in the projects it funds.

To enhance the participation of women in peace processes, the most effective ...

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To enhance the participation of women in peace processes, the most effective
way, we believe, is to empower women, both politically and economically. To
this end, it is important to ensure their equal access to education and information,
since this helps raise their awareness of their own rights and equip them with
necessary knowledge and skills to actively participate in governance and

Ensuring that women are represented and participate in decision-making forums...

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Ensuring that women are represented and participate in decision-making forums, institutions and mechanisms concerned with preventing and resolving conflict and with peacebuilding; that they are included in peace agreement negotiations and implementation; and that enabling conditions for women peacemakers and peacekeepers are created requires clear guidelines and support on the part of the United Nations and national authorities.

It's time to re-set the peace table

The International Peace Institute has launched a project aimed at enhancing the participation of women in peace processes at all levels: "From the dinner table to the boardroom table, women’s participation in decision-making is increasing in societies around the world. But the peace table still lags behind, despite many international commitments requiring women’s equal representation.

No Women, No Peace in Iraq

As world powers deploy military missions to fight ISIL*, the International Campaign to Stop Rape & Gender Violence in Conflict is urging them to prioritize ending widespread sexual violence by ISIL and other militant groups in Iraq. The Campaign also warns that without the inclusion of Iraqi women in diplomatic efforts to establish peace, violence will worsen.

CONFERENCE: Call for Syrian Applicants: Women Organising for Change in Bosnia and Syria

Joint Conference in Bosnia: February 10th – 14th 2014

Background

Since 2012, WILPF International has been engaged in a program that seeks to:

Strengthen support to Syrian women's rights and civil society activists in order to strengthen the full and equal participation in all processes leading to peaceful transition in Syria

STATEMENT: 10 Point Manifesto on Conflict and Post Conflict Issued by Arab Regional Network on Women, Peace & Security

The Arab Regional Network on Women, Peace, and Security, which was launched in October 2013 and is composed of women from 14 countries from the Arab region, met in Amman, Jordan, during 1-3 April 2014 to deepen understanding of causes and consequences of issues related to women, peace, and security, and establish strategies and indicators for protection, prevention, participation, and promotion of women's safety, inclusion, and security in pea

ADVOCACY: The Sustainable Development Agenda Must Strengthen Gender Equitable Peacebuilding and Conflict Prevention

It is time to take action to strengthen integration of development and conflict agendas from a gender perspective and ensure goals move from words to implementation and impact.

In 2015, the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) are set to expire. Although they have not yet all been accomplished, many discussions at the UN are addressing what should come next.

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