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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SUDAN: Effective Governing, Focus of WDN-IRI Sudan Women Conference

Juba, Sudan – Developing the ability of women legislators to govern more effectively, especially with regards to addressing gender equality issues was the focus of a conference by the Women's Democracy Network (WDN) and IRI in partnership with the United Nations Development Fund for Women and the Government of Southern Sudan (GOSS) Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs.

AFGHANISTAN: Afghan Poll Candidate 'on the Front Line of War for Women'

Fawzya Gailani says her husband beat her when she won a seat in Afghanistan's parliament.
He was jealous that she won more than 14,000 votes in the country's first parliamentary election in 2005, while he only polled 160.

SOMALIA: Somali Women Groups Opposed to New Draft Constitution

Some of Somali women groups in Banaadir Region are blaming Prime Minister Umar Abdirashid Sharmarke to be behind civilian harassment including constant shelling in Mogadishu Bakaaraha Market. Our correspondent Isma'il Tifow Hassan has the details.

KAZAKHSTAN: Women's Rights in Kazakhstan

Equal gender rights have always been a guaranteed indicator for the social development of a country. The nine million women (out of 15 million) has been enabled by the government of Kazakhstan to patronage them. Firstly the life expectancy of a Kazakh woman is 71 years, ten years more than that of a man. Secondly being larger in number, she is the real responsibility of her family.

HAITI: The Plight of Haiti's Women Eight Months After the Earthquake Life in Camps is Rife with Sexual Violence

Eight months after the catastrophic earthquake in Haiti, having no home is still not the hardest thing to bear. Thousands of women living in makeshift camps in southern Haiti dare not speak about the sexual and domestic violence they are subjected to in the camps. Faced with being stigmatized by police and society, or with revenge and impunity for the perpetrators, they remain silent—and some say the situation is getting worse.

UGANDA: UN Dutch Women's Representative Gathers Stories of Women War Survivors.

The women's movement in Uganda last week called for the fast implementation of the UN Security Council Resolution 1325. This call comes ahead of the 10th anniversary since the world body urged governments to ensure security of women and their participation in conflict prevention and resolution.

SUDAN: World Bank President Tips Southern Sudan on Development

JUBA - The World Bank Vice President for Africa Region, Ms Obiageli Oby Ezekwesili on her visit to Juba Teaching Hospital has said that the maternal mortality rate in southern Sudan is very high and unacceptable. She made this statement during a press briefing in which she gave an appraisal on the Bank projects in the region. The Minister of Finance and Economic Planning David Deng Athorbei also attended the function.

HAITI: When Disaster Strikes, Women Bear the Brunt of it

IT'S normal, an aid worker told her, not to menstruate after suffering severe trauma such as enduring an earthquake.
But when her period still hadn't shown up five months after January's massive tremor that claimed the lives of her husband and hundreds of thousand others in Port-au-Prince, the desperate woman spent a precious $2 on a pill to abort the fetus she knew she could never support.

EAST AFRICA: Female Candidates in Upcoming Tanzanian polls to Receive UN Election Training

The United Nations is seeking to empower women candidates ahead of Tanzania's general elections in October, including by improving their skills in public speaking, media engagement, campaign planning, presentations, community mobilization, advocacy and lobbying.

AFGHANISTAN: Women Running for Afghanistan Parliament Now Have Tougher Time

Reporting from Kabul, Afghanistan- Five years ago, when Afghanistan was last preparing to hold parliamentary elections, Rahela Alamshahi would sometimes hop into her car and drive herself to campaign events in her home province.

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