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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AFGHANISTAN: Obama Must Not Let Taliban rule over Afghan Women Again

In mid-August in the northern Afghanistan province of Kunduz, the Taliban carried out a horrific sentence against two young Afghan lovers who had eloped against their families' wishes. The punishment was death by stoning. Deemed by Islamic extremists to be justified under sharia law, the process involves partially burying the accused, after which a male crowd hurls stones at the victims' exposed heads until they die.

BURMA: Only a Handful of Women to Run in Election

Whatever else happens after this year's election, it is clear that one thing is certain not to change—namely, the extremely limited role of women in Burmese politics.

Leaders of the Democratic Party (Myanmar), Cho Cho Kyaw Nyein, left, Thu Wai, center, and Nay Yee Ba Swe at a press conference at the party's head office in Rangoon on Aug. 22.

INTERNATIONAL: Efforts to Increase Number of Female Police Bearing Fruit, says Top UN Cop

The United Nations initiative to boost the number of female police officers deployed in peacekeeping missions around the globe has made real progress since it was launched a year ago, according to the world body"s top police official.

NAMIBIA: Pohamba Calls for Gender Equality

President Hifikepunye Pohamba has called for a fair gender representation on the ruling Swapo Party's nomination lists for the November 2010 Regional Councils and Local Authorities elections.

ZIMBABWE: Women Trust Established

The Zimbabwe Women in Trade and Development Trust, aimed at bridging the gap between professional women and their counterparts in the rural areas, has been officially launched in the capital.

The non-profit making Trust, which is open to all women in the country from different provinces, seeks to empower marginalised women through capacity building programmes and improving access to loans for income generating projects.

CAMBODIA: Concerted Efforts Needed to Bring More Cambodian Women into Parliament

Cambodia has made strides in increasing the number of women in the Parliament in recent years but a redoubling of efforts will be necessary if it is to achieve its target to have 30 percent women in the legislature as set by the Cambodia Millennium Development Goals.

COLOMBIA: Indigenous Colombians Face Possibility Of Extinction, U.N. Report Says

Thirty-four indigenous groups face extinction due to internal armed conflict from the ongoing violence in Colombia, according to a report released by the United Nations High Commission on Human Rights.

COLOMBIA: Spanish Delegation to Study Sexual Abuse in Colombia

A Spanish delegation arrived in Colombia Thursday to meet with Colombian congressmen and discuss the problem of the sexual abuse of women in the Andean nation's armed conflict.

"We were invited by women who are members of the new Colombian Congress in order to observe and share ideas of how to combat the use of sexual violence as a weapon in the armed conflict in Colombia," said Spanish delegate Jordi Pedret.

SUDAN: South Sudan's Female legislators fight for committee seats

Parliament – Juba Female members of Southern Sudan Legislative Assembly are up in arms against an alleged women under-representation in the distribution of chairs of the assembly's 17 Standing Specialized committees.

ZIMBABWE: Zimbabwe Women Urged to Further Participate in Constitution Drafting Process

APA-Harare (Zimbabwe) The Women's Coalition of Zimbabwe said Monday that fewer females than males are participating in an ongoing exercise to gather public views on the proposed Constitution and warned that women risked having their concerns left out of the new charter.

According to the coalition, women comprise only 38 percent of overall attendances during the constitutional outreach programme that started in June.

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