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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BALKANS: Women and War

Thousands of women were victims of sexual crimes during the Balkan conflicts. Most of them receive no support from the region's states, despite the progress marked by international criminal law in prosecuting these crimes 'I couldn't do anything, I just laid there while they raped me. There was no way I could defend myself...' Room of the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY), the Hague.

BURUNDI: Restoration of livelihoods and trauma healing in Burundi

Working with others to make a difference

After many years of violent conflict, the men and women in Burundi are moving forward with their lives.

Still, the country's social fabric was torn apart, livelihoods have been reduced to survival, and mistrust that cropped up among citizens and lead to widespread fear are barriers to peace and prosperity.

INTERNATIONAL: Sexual and Gender-Based Violence: Acknowledging the Issue Is not Enough

The issue of sexual and gender-based violence in conflict and crisis has been featured prominently among scholars, organizations and institutions alike within the past few weeks. During the United Nations General Assembly, Secretary of State John Kerry announced a new US initiative, Safe from the Start, to prevent and respond to sexual and gender-based violence in humanitarian emergencies worldwide.

RWANDA: East Africa: President Kagame Discusses ICC, FDLR, EAC Integration, Women Majority in Parliament and More At Press Briefing

Rwanda's new parliament was seated this month, with higher female representation than any other country in the world

The tiny East African nation's Parliament was seated this month and women dominated the room. In September elections they took 51 of 80 seats in Parliament – and at 64 percent, the country has the highest female representation of any nation on earth.

INTERNATIONAL: End Sexual Violence In War Zones

Half a million women were raped during the Rwandan genocide. As many as 64,000 suffered sexual violence during Sierra Leone's brutal blood diamond fueled civil war. And 40,000 were raped in Bosnia. The sheer magnitude of women raped and the frequency of the crime tells us something. These attackers aim to do more than rape. They seek to shame and demoralize, break down the fabric of victim communities, and stigmatize survivors for life.

RWANDA: We Should Support Efforts to End Rape in Conflict

BY GITURA MWAURA, 10 OCTOBER 2013

ANALYSIS

Towards the end of last month, the UN General Assembly passed what was touted as "a landmark declaration to stop rape in conflict."

A record 113 countries - more than half of the UN member states in one sitting - agreed to support the Declaration. The countries expressed support for strengthened efforts to end rape in war.

GUATEMALA: One Woman's Campaign Against Violent Crime and Corruption

Claudia Paz y Paz has a tough job as the first female attorney general in Guatemala, one of the most violent countries in Latin America.

In Guatemala City, shopkeepers in cramped surroundings sell tortillas and soft drinks from behind thick metal bars that run from floor to ceiling. The well-off are retreating not just to gated communities, but gated enclaves with their own shops and gyms.

COLOMBIA: National Summit of Women for Peace Starts in Colombia

About 400 Colombian women, representing all the political sectors, ethnic groups and organizations in the country will exchange here, since Wednesday until Friday, proposals and national and international experiences on the construction of a stable and lasting peace.

GUATEMALA: Rigoberta Menchu Says Impunity Continues in Guatemala

Buenos Aires, Sep 16 (Prensa Latina) Nobel Peace laureate Rigoberta Menchu said today that after many long years of genocide during Guatemala''s armed conflict (1960-1996), the country is now in a difficult period, in which impunity still remains strong.

In an interview with Página 12 newspaper, the outstanding Mayan Guatemalan fighter said she does not believe the situation would last for only a few decades.

NIGERIA: Nigeria Launches UN's Action Plan on Women, Peace, Security

NIGERIA is set to launch national action plan for full implementation of the United Nations' Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1325 on women, peace and security.

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