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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INTERNATIONAL: UNESCO Head Meets With UN's Top Gender Equality, Relief Officials

The contributions that the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) can make in the areas of gender equality and humanitarian aid were the focus of talks between the agency's chief and top world body officials.

SRI LANKA: Former Female Fighters Strive For a Better Life

Lalitha* was 23, from Petiva Pullumalai, deep in Sri Lanka's eastern interior, when the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) came for her.

At the time, each family living under LTTE control was required to provide a child to the separatist forces fighting for an independent Tamil homeland for three decades. Lalitha joined up to spare her younger sister.

ZIMBABWE: Transition Government Urged to Respect Human Rights

U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Johnnie Carson and other senior U.S. government officials told representatives of Zimbabwe's transitional government at a meeting at the United Nations that they should speak out against human rights abuses in Zimbabwe, observe international standards of human rights and continue to make political progress that will sustain much-needed economic growth.

NEPAL: Nepal Continues to Strive for Gender Equality in Post-Conflict Period: Minister Rawal

Bhim Bahadur Rawal, Minister for Home Affairs and the leader of the Nepali delegation to the 65th Session of the United Nations General Assembly on Saturday addressed the Ministerial-level event “A 1325 Call to Action” co-hosted by the Secretary-General of the United Nations and the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Austria, Canada, Bangladesh, Chile, Liberia, Namibia, Sierra Leone and United Kingdom in the UN headquarters in New Yor

SOUTH AFRICA: Minding the ANC Gender Gap

The gender press briefing at the ANC national general council was scheduled for 11am on Wednesday.

SRI LANKA: LLRC, a Hoax – Vanni War Victims

Only fifteen of nearly four hundred persons, most of them women, were allowed to witness before Sri Lanka's Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC) in Mullaiththeevu Government Secretariat Monday while the others were driven away, sources in Mullaiththeevu said.

AFGHANISTAN: Afghan Women Police To Provide Security For Elections

Afghanistan's security forces have been bolstered by thousands of women officers as they go on high alert ahead of nationwide parliamentary elections on September 18, RFE/RL's Radio Free Afghanistan reports.

SUDAN: Their Country May Not Be Ready to Vote, But Southern Sudan's Young Women Are Ready to Work

In a highly anticipated meeting next week, President Obama will sit with Sudanese leaders at the United Nations to discuss the upcoming referendum on independence for the southern part of their country. The vote, scheduled for January 2011 is a pivotal test for the diplomatic community and a potentially historic moment for the war-torn African state.

NEPAL: More Women Seeking Space in Nepali Congress

For the first time in its history the Nepali Congress will see a long queue of women participants in the 12th general convention. As many as 500 women representatives selected from village and regional level conventions and under reserved quotas are participating in the conclave.

AFGHANISTAN: Few Afghan Women Brave Vote in Kabul Suburb

In a rural Kabul suburb, hundreds of men jostle for the chance to ink their finger and vote, while next door, shielded by a curtain, only a few women wait for their own line to form.

Although 10 of Kabul's 33 parliamentary seats have been reserved for women, few were visible in the capital's outlying hamlet of Chawni after voting began in Afghanistan's second parliamentary election since 2001.

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