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 >>

SUDAN: More Men than Women Register in Rumbek

November 17, 2010 (RUMBEK) – Voter registration centers in Rumbek, the capital of Lakes state, have recorded a low female turn out despite more people registering on the second day.

On Tuesday, staff at Matangai, Achol-theen, Malual-bab and Rumbek Freedom Square voter registration centers told Sudan Tribune that they had witnessed a low female turn out.

NIGERIA: 100 Women And the Beijing Train

In 1996, the British Council sponsored a resource person Ms. Lesley Abdela to work with Nigerian women on developing strategies for promoting women's effective participation in politics and public life.

PAKISTAN: Pakistani Police Involved in Rape, Rights Violations

A large number of police officials across Pakistan have been booked for rape and human rights violations in the last three years, says an official report submitted to the interior ministry.

The report submitted by the National Police Bureau to the ministry of interior said that 78 police officials in Sindh province were involved in 91 cases - 61 in 2008, 22 in 2009 and eight till mid 2010.

MALAWI: Malawi's Women Pushing for a Place at the Table

No sooner had Mariness Luhanga announced her intention to contest local elections in Mzimba district in northern Malawi, than she was summoned to appear before a village court on allegations of insulting men.

INTERNATIONAL/KOSOVO: Trapped in Black: Balkan War Widows

Arbeta Kryeziu has grown up. Almost 13, her face is taking on the shape of her mother's. Staring at a picture of Arbeta as a child, her mother, Flora Rexhepi, looks tearful.

Rexhepi was widowed when she was just 24, after Serbian forces killed her husband, Ramadan Kryeziu, in his home village of Sllovia in April 1999, during the war in Kosovo.

SUDAN: Referendum Outcome Will Not Affect Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration Program in South Sudan: VP Machar

November 17, 2010 (JUBA) - Implementation of the disarmament, demobilization and reintegration (DDR) program in Sudan will continue regardless of the outcome of next year's referendum on southern independence according to Riek Machar Teny the region's Vice President.

ZAMBIA: Speaker Urges Women MPs to Find Formula to Increase Women Membership in Parliament

Speaker of the National Assembly of Zambia, Hon. Amusaa Mwanamwambwa, MP on Monday, November 15, 2010, urged Zambian female parliamentarians to ensure that the various political parties find a formula to increase the membership of the Zambian Parliament in terms of women representation.

SUDAN: UN: Crunch Time for War, Peace or Chaos in Sudan

United Nations -- With barely 55 days left until a referendum on independence for southern Sudan, the U.N. Security Council is putting pressure on both sides of the country's north-south divide to ensure the vote takes place on time and civil war is averted.

SUDAN: Focus On South: In Women Forum on Peace, Ekhlas Sheds Tears for Unity

Ekhlas Garang one of the thousands of Sudanese women who believe in national unity. Reports Zuleikha Abdel Raziq

As South Sudan self-determination referendum deadline nears, the Sudanese political arena becomes blusterous and dominated by intensive activities overwhelming emphasizing the merits of unity and hazards of Sudan partitioning.

SOUTH SUDAN: Mary Kiden Urges Women Lawyers to Defend Referendum

Juba - Kajo-Keji MP Mary Kiden has urged Southern Sudanese women not to underrate the upcoming referendum because “it is about life and death”.

Addressing female lawyers at Sahara hotel in Juba this Tuesday the MP said, “we cannot waste a single minute because this is all about the future of our nation.”

Pages