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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EVENT FOLLOW-UP: 'Women as a Barometer of Success in Post Conflict' Gives Rare Perspective of Life in Iraq

Last Tuesday at noon, September 14, The Ashby Residential College hosted, "Women as a Barometer of Success in Post Conflict," presented by speaker Ms. Manal Omar. Omar is the Director of Iraq Programs under the Center for Post-conflict Peace and Stability Operations at the United States Institute of Peace (USIP). The USIP is an independent, nonpartisan, national institution established and funded by Congress.

CALL FOR APPLICATIONS: Consultant - Expert Police Trainer- Violence Against Women (VAW), Iraq

Consultant - Expert Police Trainer- Violence Against Women (VAW)
International Rescue Committee (IRC)
Closing date: 30 Sep 2010
Location: Iraq

INTERVIEW: Women Have a Big Role to Play in Peace-Building - Anthony Foreman of CARE International

This year marks the 10th anniversary of UN Security Council resolution on Women, Peace and Security. The landmark resolution, known as Resolution 1325, was passed on October 31st, 2000, and for the first time recognized the role women have to play in peace-building.

CAMPAIGN: Local Women Leaders Discuss TRC Recommendations

Women leaders in the western region have begun discussing the simplified version of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's recommendations in support of local transitional justice under the Liberia Peace Building Fund. The discussions are a follow-up to previous engagements the Women NGOs Secretariat of Liberia (WONGOSOL) aimed at giving rural women the opportunity to have an input into the TRC final recommendations.

SUMMARY: The Role of Women in Peacebuilding and Reconstruction: Lessons from Rwanda, East Timor, and Afghanistan.

This discussion was on-the-record.

The following summary incorporates the perspectives and recommendations of Noeleen Heyzer, Executive Director at UNIFEM and Ambassador Donald Steinberg, Principal Deputy Director of Policy Planning for the Department of State.

BLOG: While the World Scales Back its Afghanistan Ambitions, Afghan Women Push Forward

At the same time the United States is scaling back its goals for Afghanistan, women in the country are scaling up their own ambitions. In arenas ranging from medicine to the military, from small business to civil society, women are speaking up for themselves and tackling ever-larger aspirations.

CALL FOR APPLICATIONS: The Peacebuilding & Development Institute in Sri Lanka, Professional Training Programmes; October – December 2010

PDI-SL Professional Training Programmes; October – December 2010

The Peacebuilding & Development Institute in Sri Lanka (www.pdisl.org) is an international training, capacity building and research Institute in South Asia.

STATEMENT: A Tale of Two Women Who Were Both Denied Justice

by Patrick Corrigan, Northern Ireland director of Amnesty International


Over recent months, Amnesty International has been highlighting the plight of two women sentenced to death in Iran.

Both of them have suffered incredible injustices, but their stories are actually very different.

While one of them has received a great deal of publicity, the other has failed to attract the attention her case deserves.

Workshop: Gender Audit Workshop on the Consultation Draft Constitution of the Somali Republic Communique

We, the participants from South/Central Somalia, Puntland and Somaliland representatives from IFCC, Members of Parliament UNPOS, UNDP, representatives from Civil Society Organizations and Diaspora attending the Gender Audit Consultation Workshop held at the UN Headquarters, Gigiri, Nairobi from 6th to 8th September, 2010.

VIDEO: Hands on Haiti

As the earthquake-ravaged country of Haiti works through its long recovery process, stories of empowerment and inspiration continue to emerge.

Emmy Award-winning producer and host Tawnya Rush recently traveled to Port au Prince to better understand the people and places of the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, finding stories that add a different perspective to life in Haiti.

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