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 >>

NEPAL: PM Nepal Issues Instructions to Forward Campaign Against Violence Against Women

Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal has issued instructions for taking forward the campaign against violence against women in a coordinated manner.

UNITED STATES: UN Study of Violence Against Native Women Touches Cherokee

A United Nations expert on women's human rights is investigating why Native women face the highest rates of sexual and physical assault of any group in the U.S.

CAMBODIA: First Cambodian Woman Promoted to Deputy Police Chief

Un Sokunthea became Cambodia's first female deputy police chief on Thursday.

The promotion ceremony was held at the Ministry of Interior chaired by Em Sam An, secretary of state of Ministry of Interior, said Keat Chantharith, spokesman of National Police Commissariat.

Just prior to her promotion, Major Gen. Un Sokunthea served as deputy director of central justice department of Interior Ministry.

SOMALIA: Why Western Military Contractors Are a Terrible Idea for Somalia

The Somali government should direct new expertise and funding toward existing Somali reconciliation initiatives, women-led peacebuilding efforts, UN rule of law and security trainers, and local coast guard forces who have been working with far too few resources. Instead, the government is bringing into a crowded conflict a new, expensive breed of Somali gunman, the Western contractor.

IRAQ: 2011 Looks Grim for Progress on Women's Rights in Iraq

When Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al Maliki introduced what he called a national partnership government two weeks ago, he included allies and adversaries, Arabs and Kurds, Shiite Muslims and Sunnis. One group, however, was woefully underrepresented.

KASHMIR: Crime Against Women Up; 520 Rapes, 2536 Kidnappings in Four Years

Primarily, as a result of negligible conviction rate, the graph of crime against women in Kashmir has touched an all time high in last four years.

Data available with the Kashmir Times reveals the pathetic position of women victims who have faced the worst not only at the hands of the criminals but the administration as well.

DRC: Troops Held over DR Congo Mass Rape

Seven soldiers and a commander in the army of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) have been arrested over allegations that they were involved in a mass rape, according to the United Nations.

Fifty women have told the UN that they were raped in the eastern town of Fizi on the night of January 1 this year.

SOMALIA: Justice According to Al-Shabaab

Mogadishu — When the punishment, 100 whip lashes, was postponed because she was pregnant Ms Anab Mussa thought she was the luckiest woman in the world. She had misread the Al-Shabaab-backed court.

The court in Wanlaweyn town, some 100 kilometres west of Mogadishu, had convicted Anab for having sexual relations out of wedlock.

VIETNAM: Vietnam Leads Region in Gender Gap Eradication

Vietnam is evaluated as the best performer in Southeast Asia in terms of eradicating gender gap over the past 20 years, said Minister of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan.

Pages