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 >>

PROGRAM: Gender and Peacebuilding: Intergrating Planning and Action in the Field

The 5 days will provide structured and informal opportunities for dialogue and relationship building with colleagues from around the world, working in gender and peacebuilding – to expand your global network of collegial support and mutual learning.

World YWCA on Facebook World YWCA on Twitter Women and Young Women Re-energize Zimbabwe's Global Political Agreement

“The coming together of Zimbabwean women across their diversities provides a new impetus and bridge for implementation of the Global Political Agreement.” — Mary Robinson, former President of Ireland; president & founding President of Realising Rights

Palestinians Decry 'Honour Killings'

Several hundred Palestinian women have held a silent protest in the West Bank town of Ram Allah, demanding legislation to protect women from so-called honour killings.

For full article, please click here.

Iraqi Activist Receives Death Threat

Ms. Yanar Mohammed, founder of the Organization for Women's Freedom in Iraq and Editor in Chief of the newspaper Al-Mousawat (Equality), received an e-mail threatening death if the activist continues her struggle against the US-appointed Iraqi Governing Council's Resolution 137.

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As Iraq prepares to hold new parliamentary elections amid continuing controversy over the eligibility of many candidates, Amnesty International is appealing to the country's political leaders to ensure that both the election campaign and the vote on 7 March are conducted peacefully and fully conform with Iraq's obligations under international human rights law.

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iKNOW Politics

The International Knowledge Network of Women in Politics (iKNOW Politics) is an online workspace designed to serve the needs of elected officials, candidates, political party leaders and members, researchers, students and other practitioners interested in advancing women in politics.

The goal of iKNOW Politics is to increase the participation and effectiveness of women in political life by utilizing a technology-enabled forum.

Call for Participation: Publication on Assessing Women's Participation in Peacemaking, Peacekeeping, and Early Post-Conflict Peace-Building

Global Action to Prevent War (GAPW), Women's International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF) and the NGO Working Group on Women, Peace and Security (NGOWG) are partnering to produce a publication assessing women's participation in peacemaking, peacekeeping, and early post conflict peace-building through the eyes of women participants themselves.

Zimbabwe Women's Voices Blog: Perspectives on the Constitution Reform Process

This blog is aimed at providing Zimbabwean women, local and abroad, a ‘space' to voice their perspectives on the constitutional reform process between now and November 2009 when the public consultations are scheduled to be completed.

International Tribunal for East Timor's Campaign

The East Timorese Women's Network (Rede Feto) send a letter to the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Ms. Mary Robinson, asking her support for the establishment of the International Tribunal for East Timor's campaign. The East Timorese Women's Network expressed their rejection of the Ad Hoc Human Rights Tribunal in Jakarta for its inability to bring justice to victims, specially women, and asked Ms.

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