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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CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC: Victim - My Daughter Cried When She Saw Bemba's Men Assaulting Me

On Monday, a victim recounted to International Criminal Court (ICC) judges how she was sexually assaulted in front of her young daughter by soldiers belonging to the group led by war crimes accused Jean-Pierre Bemba.

PHILIPPINES: Gender Equality Can Boost Productivity

Improving women's access to jobs and economic opportunity could significantly boost worker productivity in the Philippines and the rest of the East Asia and the Pacific region by as much as 18 percent.

BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA: Bosnian Serbs Sentenced for Srebrenica Killings

Bosnia's war crimes court convicted four former Bosnian Serb soldiers on Friday of participating in the execution of hundreds of Srebrenica Muslims during the country's 1992-95 conflict and sentenced them to a total of 142 years in prison.

About 800 captured Muslim Bosniaks were shot and killed at Branjevo military farm, near Srebrenica.

SOUTH AFRICA: Government Must Reinstate Special Rape Courts

Earlier this morning I protested along with the Democratic Alliance Women's Network (DAWN) outside the Roodepoort Magistrates Court. Our protest coincided with the start of the trial of the four boys and three men who are accused of the brutal gang-rape of a mentally disabled girl in Soweto.

ZIMBABWE: Healing the Wounds of Gender Based Violence

A small garage in Chitungwiza has become a centre of hope and rejuvenation for victims and perpetrators of gender based violence.

Local Councillor Clara Makwara established the Instant Truth and Justice Forum from her home in 2010. At that time she had zero budget – and a big heart. Her aim: to reduce GBV in her community by at least 50% by 2015.

EGYPT: Egyptian Women Have Choice of Rock or Hard Place

If new elections are held, Fatema Khafagy will not be sorry to see the months-old Islamist parliament go.

MIDDLE EAST: Arab Spring vs. Women's Rights

In the "Arab Spring" countries in transition, women are now marginalized or excluded entirely from political bodies. Denial of one's fundamental right to participate in the democratic process in one's own country is one form of violence. Yet it is not, unfortunately, alone in the pattern of violence involving restrictions on women.

KURDISTAN: Ban on Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) Passed in Iraqi Kurdistan Parliament

For the first time in Iraqi Kurdistan women are protected by a new law against some of the traditions most harmful towards them.

On Wednesday the regional parliament ratified a bill banning female genital mutilation and domestic violence. This is a landmark law in a region that is more steeped in such practices than surrounding countries.

KURDISTAN: Women's Rights Law No Match for Kurdistan Tradition

In June 2011, Iraqi Kurdistan passed a landmark law that criminalised female circumcision and domestic violence, but one year on, activists remain frustrated with its patchwork implementation.

AFGHANISTAN: New Worries About Women's Rights and Ethnic Tensions Emerge in Afghanistan

Events this week that raised questions on women's rights and ethnic tensions have added to long-term concerns about Afghanistan after American-led forces withdraw in 2014 and new elections are held.

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