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.

For more resources on this Critical Issue, visit PeaceWomen Resource Center >>

ANALYSIS/PETITION: Next Steps to Protect

On Monday, April 18, Citizens for Global Solutions ran a full page advertisement in the New York Times that calls for three essential actions for the U.N. to take in Libya. We are reaching out to Americans because we now live in a new age where the international community has accepted its responsibility to protect.

BLOG: Using Social Media to Save Women's Lives

Imagine you're a highly motivated doctor working at a hospital in Liberia providing maternal health care. Imagine that, despite your medical training years ago, today you encounter a complicated post-partum hemorrhage and can't remember how to treat it. You have no one to ask because you are the only obstetrician in the hospital. You know you will lose the patient, but there's nothing you can do.

OPINION: Why We Need to Engage Women in Issues of War, Hunger, Environment

The Obama administration reportedly says we can no longer make women's rights a priority in Afghanistan.

Meanwhile, former President George W. Bush says we have to stay and fight in Afghanistan to help women gain rights.

CAMPAIGN/VIDEO: Discrimination Enforced by Law: Women's Struggle Around the World

“Various forms of discrimination against women not only exist in all societies, but are even codified by the very governments which should be fighting that injustice.” (Sarah Jones in Women Can't Wait)

Countries around the world have a variety of laws discriminating against women, ranging from age of marriage, nationality, freedom of movement to the right to divorce, work and retire under the same conditions as men.

PANEL: Securing Justice for Women in Post-Conflict States

2 May 2011 - 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM, ECOSOC Chamber, North Lawn Building, United Nations Headquarters, New York

About the event :

UN Women and the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights is hosting a panel Securing justice for women in post-conflict states on Monday, 2 May 2011, 10:00–13:00, at the United Nations Headquarters.

INTERVIEW: The Failure of the United States in Afghanistan

Harvard International Review: How has Afghanistan changed since the fall of the Taliban? In particular, how have women's lives changed?

OTHER: Girl Guides Take to Empower War Affected Women

The Sri Lanka Girl Guides Association (SLGGA) launched a project titled War Affected Women Empowered, at the Girl Guide Headquarters, recently. The project implemented with the objective of empowering women affected by the war will aim at skills development.

ANALYSIS: Parker: Wars Can't Fix Nations Which Oppress Women

Whether the topic is Libya's rebels or Afghanistan's “reconciliation” with the Taliban, the pivotal question is, or should be: What about the women?

During my brief tenure as a CNN anchor, I insistently raised this question and was consistently disappointed by the answer, which more or less went like this:

“Yes, well, the women. Too bad about the women. They'll suffer.”

INTERVIEW/BIOGRAPHY: A Vision for Afghanistan: Kabul's Leading Female MP Sets out her Hopes and Fears

For me there are two reasons to be an MP. First, I come from a political family: my father was also a member of parliament during what we call the "democracy decade" in the 1970s. Second, I've experienced many different problems and discrimination just for being a woman, especially during the Taliban period, and I want to fight for that to change.

STATEMENT: Rule of Law and Development -Remarks by Ms. Michelle Bachelet at the General Assembly Interactive Thematic Debate on the Rule of Law and Global Challenges

Excellencies,

Distinguished Delegates

Ladies and Gentlemen,

First let me express my appreciation to His Excellency Mr. Joseph Deiss, President of the General Assembly, for the invitation to participate in this important discussion.

The linkages between the rule of law and development are multiple and gender-sensitive rule of law reforms are critical building blocks to furthering development.

Pages