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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LEBANON: Lebanese Call for End to Violence Against Women

Last week, Lebanese women's rights activists launched a 16-day campaign to push parliament to pass new legislation to protect women from violence inside their homes.

According to the activists, there are currently now laws in the country specifically designed to protect women from domestic violence. Activists said at the launching of the campaign that rarely are perpetrators brought to justice.

SUDAN: Women Activists Say Changes to Law and Funding Needed to Fight Gender Violence

December 2, 2010 (JUBA) - Women activists are calling on the government of southern Sudan to allocate more resources to address gender based violence (GBV) which they say has increased in the region.

SUDAN: Some Men in Lakes State Not Encouraging Women to Register for Referendum - Official

Rumbek — The Lakes state Advisor for Gender and Human Right Affairs in the government of Ms. Adak Costa Mapuor is concerned that men are discouraging women from voting in south Sudan's referendum on independence has improved throughout the states eight counties.

SOMALIA: Al Shabaab Apprehends 30 Women For Selling Khat

Kismayo, Somalia (AHN) - Somali extremist group Al Shabaab arrested 30 women for selling the plant drug khat inside Kismayo, the regional capital of Lower Jubba in southern Somalia, witnesses said Monday.

Militants of the group detained the women late Sunday after search operations in the town, according local residents, adding that all were taken into custody.

SUDAN: Women Urged to Register for Referendum

The Southern Sudan Human Rights Commission on Friday staged a march on the streets of Juba mobilizing women to go and register for upcoming referendum. The march started from Women Union to the Southern Sudan Legislative Assembly where a number of speeches were delivered.

BOSNIA&HERZEGOVINA: UN official - Bosnia War Rapes Must Be Prosecuted

SARAJEVO, Bosnia-Herzegovina -- A U.N. official said Friday that a better job needs to be done in prosecuting rape cases that occurred during the Bosnian war nearly two decades ago, and in other armed conflicts worldwide.

EAST AFRICA/TANZANIA: Road to Parliament Proves Bumpy for Women

Dar Es Salaam — Women have continued to lag behind in elective posts as shown by the General Election results announced by yesterday evening, with only nine women having won parliamentary seats so far. Among them there are five who have retained their seats and four new candidates who have defeated their opponents.

KYRGYZSTAN: Tough Times for Kyrgyz Women's Groups

The few women's crisis centres that exist in Kyrgyzstan are finding it hard to carry on as the international donor support they rely on is drying up.

In the absence of domestic charity fundraising opportunities, the best hope seems to lie in applying for state funding.

SUDAN: Sudanese Women Struggle to Ratify Maputo Protocol

Forty-six African governments have signed the Maputo Protocol, properly known as the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights on Women in Africa.

AFRICA: Reporting Rights, Protecting Rights

The Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa was adopted in 2003, entered into force in 2005, and has to date been ratified by 29 African states.[1] Provided States fulfill their obligations under the protocol, it has the potential to play a key role within the human rights framework designed to address gender inequality and advance women's rights in Africa.

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