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 >>

Election Campaign

Starting from May 2002, village level elections were held around Eritrea. In the months running up to the elections, the National Union of Eritrean Women organized a campaign to promote electoral awareness in Eritrean society in general, and among women in particular.

Campaign leaders were trained and equipped with instruction materials. During the campaign women were encouraged to run in the elections.

Blue Ribbon Campaign ....One Year on from December 5th 2006

Media Initiatives for Women
Continuing in their efforts for the use of non violence to enable and ensure gender inclusive conflict transformation, femLINKPACIFIC (Media Initiatives for Women) will be undertaking a series of Blue Ribbon Women's Community Media Exchange (dialogue) sessions in their four target communities commencing on the first anniversary of the December 5th coup:

End harassment of women human rights defenders


The Women Human Rights Defenders International Coalition (WHRD IC) calls on Fiji's military regime to end its harassment of Imrana Jalal and all women human rights defenders.

ATHWAAS: Building Constituencies of Peace

ATHWAAS, which meaning is a warm greeting or shake of the hand, is a women initiative that look to build safe spaces for women in Kashmir. A group of women and men have been travel on a field trip to North and South Kashmir as well as to Purkho and Muthi camps of Jamunu, to listen to people experiences on both sides of the conflict.

The Women's League of Burma

Message to all our friends inside Burma and around the world

Friends,
June 19, 2007 is the 62nd birthday of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, the Nobel Peace Prize Laureate. She has now been in detention for nearly 11 years and 8 months since 20 July 1989.

Women and Men in Partnership in Sierra Leone:The Politics of the Future

WOMEN OF SIERRA LEONE – IT'S YOUR PARLIAMENT TOO ! Workshops to Get More Women Successfully Involved in the July 2007 Elections

Venue: British Council Freetown Sierra Leone

Catastrophe in Burma a Wake Up Call to the International Community: Time to End Impunity for Heinous Crimes by the Military Regime

Senior General Than Shwe's denial of international humanitarian aid to the victims of Cyclone Nargis should come as no surprise to the international community. This negligence and refusal of access is part and parcel of the criminal nature of the regime and reflects their fear that the entire world will see first hand the results of decades of systematic human rights violations, crimes against humanity and war crimes.

Women in Democracy

The International Foundation for Election Systems provides professional advice and technical assistance in promoting democracy and serves as an information clearinghouse on elections, rule of law, governance, and civil society.

Nobel Women's Initiative: Nobel Laureates call for action on Burma: A UN Security Council Commission of Inquiry

Nobel Women's Initiative: The UN Security Council must take strong action on Burma and issue an investigation into war crimes and crimes against humanity committed by the Burmese military regime. This was the message sent by 14 Nobel Laureates—including The Dalai Lama, Shirin Ebadi, Jody Williams, Mairead Maguire, Presidents Mikhail Gorbachev and Kim Dae-jung and Archbishop Desmond Tutu in an open letter to the Security Council.

Women For Peace Exhibition in the South Caucasus

An exhibition, Women for Peace, was hold late this October under UNICEF's regional project on Women for resolution of conflicts and rehabilitation of peace in the South Caucasus. Organized by UN Women Development Fund jointly with the Artists Association Labirint-ARTA, the show will display large boards on the topic. Similar exhibitions were hold in Georgia and Armenia. A catalogue of the best works will be published.

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