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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RWANDA: Encouraging Police to Tackle Violence against Women

The Rwandan authorities are trying to tackle gender-based violence by addressing the role of security personnel in ending the scourge.

"Violence of any sort is an affront to society, an abomination that is simply unacceptable," Rwandan Prime Minister Bernard Makuza said. "Security forces in Africa must recognize gender-based violence as a crime."

DRC: DR Congo Court Convicts Nine Police of Rape

A Democratic Republic of Congo military court sentenced nine police officers for up to 20 years in jail for raping a dozen women at a farm, a prosecutor said on Monday.

The police officers were called to guard a farm in central Kasai-Occidental province in 2009 during a land dispute, and during the dispute they raped 12 women.

DRC: Ending Impunity in the Congo

A man accused of helping direct a campaign of severe war crimes and crimes against humanity in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo was arrested in France, 7 years after fleeing there to evade justice for his actions.

DRC: Changing Gender Norms is Essential for Peacebuilding in Congo (Opinion)

I've been working in the development field for a long time, and I've increasingly been frustrated by the way that when gender was talked about, it was always in terms of women. We talked about engaging men in reducing violence against women, rather than engaging them with their own issues. The underlying assumption is that men are still in positions of power and therefore they can't ever be vulnerable.

DRC: UN Mission Chief Stresses Reform of Security And Law to End Violence

The head of the United Nations peacekeeping mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) cautioned today that military operations alone in the restive eastern region cannot ensure long-term security in the area, stressing the need to build the capacity of the country's military, justice system and the police force.

ZIMBABWE: More Women Die in Childbirth

THE number of women who die in childbirth in the country has doubled in the past decade because of the poor state of the health delivery system, a senior government official has said.

The Minister of Health and Child Welfare Henry Madzorera said maternal mortality ratio (MMR) has doubled in the last decade from 283 deaths in 1994 to 725 last year.

NIGERIA: Lagos Deputy Governor Tasks Women on Governance

As the 2011 elections are around the corner, the Nigerian woman has been challenged to participate fully in governance.

This call was made by the Lagos State deputy governor, Princess Sarah Sosan,during Arise Women Conference 2010 tagged "The King's Daughter". Sosan, who was the special guest of honor at the occasion, said it is high time women took up their responsibilities in nation building.

LEBANON: Women in Lebanon Remain at Risk from Conflict

Women in Lebanon remain disproportionably at risk from conflict and have largely been excluded from the national reconstruction process, Lebanon's The Daily Star reported Tuesday, citing a United Nations report released on Monday.

INDONESIA: Barriers Prevent Indonesian Women from Achieving Reproductive Health

Many Indonesian women and girls, especially those from poor and marginalised communities, struggle to achieve reproductive health in the face of discriminatory laws, policies and practices, a new report by Amnesty International says.

CAMBODIA: Cambodia Aims To Uplift Women's Role In Public Institutions

Cambodian government has affirmed its commitment to uplift women's status in society, especially, the women's role in serving public institutions, reports China's Xinhua news agency.

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