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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NAMIBIA: Pohamba Unhappy With Women Representation

President Hifikepunye Pohamba is disappointed with the under-representation of women on his party list for the upcoming elections.

Addressing a Swapo Party rally recently in Oshakati, Pohamba said the party needs to improve on the nomination of women candidates at local authorities and constituency levels in order to create a balan-ce between men and women candidates.

BURMA: Burma's Poll Called 'Yes Vote' for Junta Rapes

Last week's election victory by the junta-backed party in Burma is a setback for Charm Tong's work against military rape in the country, also known as Myanmar. Tong says that like her idol Aung San Suu Kyi, she will keep working.

NEW DELHI, India (WOMENSENEWS)-- The victory of the junta-backed party in the Nov. 7 elections for Burma--which the military government calls Myanmar--comes as no surprise to Charm Tong.

UGANDA: What Women Want to be Addressed by 2016

The Women's Movement spearheaded by the Forum for Women in Democracy (FOWODE) recently launched the Uganda Women's Agenda to inform government, political parties, and other stakeholders about the critical issues to be addressed if meaningful development and empowerment of women is to be realised within the next five years.

UGANDA: Gender Imbalance Cited in Slow Northern Recovery Programme

WOMEN's organisations working for peace in the Greater North are concerned that the Peace, Recovery and Development Plan (PRDP) lacks gender sensitivity.

The PRDP is a Government plan dealing with the reconstruction of the region.

The women say they were not involved in the definition of PRDP, and that the framework does not recognise their leadership role and falls short of addressing their needs and rights.

UGANDA: Uganda Government Told to Review Resettlement Process

Uganda's Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Ms Rebecca Kadaga has called for a review of the resettlement process in northern Uganda and asked the government to invest more in post-war healing programmes.

"The Uganda government should not care more about constructing roads and classrooms in post-conflict areas but also think about the lives of post-conflict victims," Ms Rebecca Kadaga said.

SOLOMON ISLANDS: Women to Share Election Experiences

A THREE-DAY workshop on the 2010 National Diagnostic Study and Think Tank on Women in Shared Decision Making will officially open tomorrow in Honiara.

The workshop will focus on the efforts of women leading up to the 2010 general elections and to analyse the barriers to women's representation in national and provincial governance.

Think Tank will also be linking these issues to the electoral and political governance reforms.

PAPUA NEW GUINEA: Women Weaving Bougainville Together

Helen Samu Hakena exudes a serenity that belies her extraordinary energy and inner strength that she has devoted to the cause of justice, peace building and advocating for women's and human rights and the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325.

UGANDA: 2011: Women Pay Price as Parties Target Youth

In politics, as they say, there are no permanent foes or friends but only interests. With the youth now having the largest bloc vote ahead of the 2011 general elections, parties are pulling all stops to court young voters at the expense of their erstwhile darlings - the women, writes Benon H. Oluka:-

ASIA/PACIFIC: Asian Legislators Pledge to Eliminate Violence Against Women

Ministers and parliamentarians from 19 countries in Asia-Pacific have agreed on 'Whole-of-Government Approaches' for the promotion and advancement of actions and legislation on the elimination of violence against women.

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