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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COMMENTARY: Put Women's Rights Back on Afghanistan's Agenda

When the Taliban fell in 2001, my family and I were already settled in Pakistan after having fled our home country, Afghanistan, like so many others. The new political landscape born in 2001 brought newfound hope to Afghans, including my family. I remember the mounting enthusiasm for women's rights, which was shared by the international community and the Afghan government.

World YWCA advocates for more women in peace building process

The Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) hosted the 11th Triennial Conference of Pacific Women in Noumea, New Caledonia, from August 16 - 20, 2010. 22 countries of the Pacific participated and the theme of the conference was “Progress and prospects: National level implementation of the Pacific and Beijing Platforms for Action”.

STATEMENT: Statement by Ambassador Susan E. Rice, U.S. Permanent Representative to the United Nations, on the Situation in the DRC

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

The United States condemns in the strongest terms the recently reported mass rapes against innocent civilians in the Democratic Republic of the Congo committed by elements of the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR).

CALL FOR APPLICATIONS: Participatory Evaluation Reports of Aid Flows from a Gender Perspective in Cambodia, Guatemala, Morocco, Mozambique, Peru and Vietnam

Call for Applications

Participatory Evaluation Reports of Aid Flows from a Gender Perspective in Cambodia, Guatemala, Morocco, Mozambique, Peru and Viet-Nam: evaluations, mapping of actors and key stakeholders, organization of capacity development and knowledge sharing workshops at national level, preparation of activities to initiate political dialogue between key actors, and public presentation of results.

STATEMENT: Remarks at a Town Hall With Georgian Women Leaders

This weekend, as I am sure many of you know, is the time when Americans celebrate our independence. And I am so pleased that I could end my trip here in Georgia, a country that has had an extraordinary history going back hundreds of years and, more

CALL FOR APPLICATIONS: Youth & Diversity: Does Gender Matter?

The United Network of Young Peacebuilders (UNOY Peacebuilders) is pleased to invite young people from Council of Europe member states to apply for participation in our training course “Youth and Diversity – Does Gender Matter?”. The training course will take place from 9-14 September 2010 in The Hague, Netherlands.

IRAN: One Million Signatures Demanding Changes to Discriminatory Laws

Iranian women's rights activists are initiating a wide campaign demanding an end to legal discrimination against women in Iranian law.

STATEMENT: The Rome Statute, the Voices of Victims

Stocktaking of International Criminal Justice: The Impact of the Rome Statute System on Victims and Affected Communities
Review Conference of the Rome Statute of the ICC Kampala, Uganda

The Rome Statute, the Voices of Victims
Breaking the silence on atrocities

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