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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UGANDA: Victims of Rape and Sexual Violence Denied Justice in Uganda

Amnesty International has urged the Ugandan authorities to provide support for women seeking justice for sexual and domestic violence in a new report highlighting the barriers faced by the victims.

I Can't Afford Justice – Violence against women in Uganda documents the economic and social obstacles to justice, including the costs of criminal investigations and discrimination by government officials.

BOLIVIA: A New Dawn in Bolivia: Constitution Extends New Protections for Women

Following a referendum on January 26, 2009, Bolivia has a new constitution, with initial results suggesting that almost two-thirds of the turnout voted in favor.The news has delighted Bolivian pro-choice advocates, as it follows an arduous battle to ensure that early promises concerning women's rights and reproductive rights made it into the constitution's final draft.

COLOMBIA: Women on Their Way up in Colombian Army

Women are starting to find their place in the Colombian army. On Wednesday, 62 female cadets finish their three-month training at Bogotá's Military School, and they are aiming for more.

The 62 hope to climb their way up to army General, which would make them the first women to do so in Colombia.

VENEZUELA: Venezuela Expands Outlets for Denunciations of Violence Against Women

Since the Law on the Right of Women to a Life Free of Violence was passed in 2007, the number of denunciations of violence against women has tripled in Venezuela, as women become more aware of their rights and have more access to the courts.

PARAGUAY: Justice System Tackles Gender Violence

Paraguay's justice system is seeking to address a major pending issue: eliminating the hurdles and inequalities in cases of violence against women. When victims turn to the police and the courts, instead of finding a solution, they are often only revictimised.

BRAZIL: Women 'Peace Workers' in the Favelas

It's another day marked by gunfire in the Morro da Providencia "favela", one of the most dangerous slums in this Brazilian city, and the only area where people can move around in relative safety is in the lower part of the neighbourhood, towards the foot of the hill.

BRAZIL: Electoral Reform "Just a Sop" to Women

The Brazilian government is congratulating itself on the first-stage approval of a draft electoral law that increases women's participation in party politics. However, the women's movement says it introduces no changes to a power structure that excludes women from politics.

BRAZIL: Feminism and M-16s: Transforming Macho Policing in Rio

A police helicopter rattles through the skies over Rio, black-clad snipers poised at either side.

Below, in the Morro da Mineira shanty town, locals scatter for cover, shop-fronts clatter noisily shut and nearly 200 rifle-toting police operatives begin sprinting up the steep hillside, among them Inspector Santos de Mello, a member of the anti-weapons and explosives unit, better known as DRAE.

GHANA: Female Pols in Ghana Reflect on Recent Power Drain

Two female parliamen- tarians in Ghana reflect on how much harder it is for women to win political campaigns than be appointed to office. Money, inexperience and social bias can all stand in the way.

LIBERIA: Women Recommend Punishment for Warlords

Women groupings under the Women NGO's Secretariat of Liberia (WONGOSOL) have reached a broad consensus on the need to punish heads of the former warring factions and "warlords" in the Liberian civil conflict.

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