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 >>

SAUDI ARABIA: Saudi Women Demand Municipal Elections Participation

A group of Saudi female activists launched an online campaign calling for the participation of women in municipal elections both as voters and candidates, amid arguments over the conflict between law and tradition.

INTERNATIONAL: The WHO Calls for Sustained Investment to Increase Midwife Numbers

All her life, Roya has known that her life was inextricably linked with her mother's death. Within hours of her birth in a small village in rural Afghanistan, Roya's mother had bled to death.

She was one of the thousand women who die each day in childbirth. In addition, every year more than 7 million babies are stillborn or die shortly after birth – the majority from preventable conditions.

PAKISTAN: Govt for Empowerment of Women: Fouzia Gilani

First Lady of Pakistan Fouzia Gilani has said the PPP-led government is ensuring the empowerment of women in the society.Addressing the closing ceremony of Women Entrepreneurs Furniture Exhibition organised by Furniture Pakistan at a local hotel on Sunday, she said that nations, societies and the countries could not make progress without the contribution of women in the economy.

INTERNATIONAL: From Fighting Poverty to Building a Safer World, UN chief Outlines Priorities for 2011

From promoting sustainable development and mitigating climate change to empowering women to keeping nuclear weapons out of the hands of terrorists, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today laid out the United Nations agenda for the coming year.

“Success in rising to the challenge does not belong to any one of us,” he told the 192-member General Assembly, listing eight priorities for 2011.

UNITED STATES: United States Institute of Peace Elevates Gender Initiative to Center of Innovation

The United States Institute of Peace (USIP) announced today that its initiative on gender and peacebuilding is now become a full programmatic center, naming Kathleen Kuehnast as director. Kuehnast, a socio-cultural anthropologist, joined USIP in 2008 following a 15-year career in international development and post-conflict.

SAUDI ARABIA: Women Call on Saudi Government to Let Them Run in Elections

Ahead of municipal elections in the spring, a group of activists in Saudi Arabia have launched a campaign to allow women to run, as well as vote.

The campaign, dubbed My Country, kicked off Sunday with letters sent to various government officials and posts on social networking Web sites.

BRAZIL: New President's First Steps Create Optimism in Women's Movement

The initial steps taken by Brazil's first woman president, Dilma Rousseff, have confirmed that a stronger female presence will indeed be a hallmark of her administration.

After taking office on Jan. 1 and naming nine female ministers, a record in Brazil, Rousseff announced that her main social goal is to eradicate extreme poverty.

SUDAN: Will an Independent Southern Sudan Bring Advances for Women? Part II.

The Declaration on violence against women adopted by the UN General Assembly in 1993 requires states to exercise due diligence to prevent, investigate and in accordance with national legislation punish acts of violence against women whether those acts are perpetrated by the state or private persons.

AFGHANISTAN: Taliban Ready to Lift Ban on Girls' Schools, Says Minister

The Taliban's leadership is prepared to drop its ban on girls' schools, one of Afghanistan's most influential cabinet ministers has claimed.

According to Farooq Wardak, the country's education minister, the movement has decided to scrap the ban on female education that helped earn the movement worldwide infamy in the 1990s.

CAR: Bemba's Lawyer Says Several Militias Committed Atrocities

A defense lawyer in the trial of Jean-Pierre Bemba today stated that there were several militia groups that committed atrocities in Bangui at the time the accused's troops were in the capital of the Central African Republican (CAR).

Pages