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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AUSTRALIA: Australia Increases Support for Women in Conflict Situations

Today, International Women's Day, marks the economic, social and political achievements of women.

The theme of this year's International Women's Day is ‘Empowering Women to End Poverty by 2015'.

Removing discrimination and actively supporting women's full participation in economic, social and political life is a key factor in reducing poverty and increasing the general wellbeing of women.

INTERNATIONAL: Deputy Secretary-General, in Women's Commission, Hails Possible New Gender Entity at United Nations as 'Historic Opportunity' to Give Women Stronger Voice Globally

Addressing the Commission on the Status of Women's fifty-fourth session this afternoon, Deputy Secretary-General Asha-Rose Migiro said the General Assembly's proposal to create a United Nations body for gender issues was an historic opportunity to give women a stronger voice in global governance and policymaking.

AFGHANISTAN: Advancing the Rights of Women and Girls: Keys to a Better Future for Afghanistan

The advancement of women's rights is critical to political and economic progress everywhere around the world. This is especially true in Afghanistan, where women's human rights have been ignored, attacked and eroded over decades, especially under Taliban rule.

Training Session for Congolese Police Force in Child Protection

A training session for Congolese Special Police for Protection of Women and Children is being held from February 9, to February 19, 2010 by MONUC's (the UN Peacekeeping Mission in the DRC) Police component in Kananga in collaboration with UNICEF (United Nations Children's Fund).

Congo Women Taught to Take Rape Cases to Court

Rape victims in the south east of the Democratic Republic of Congo, can usually be paid off with five goats and some money to forget an act. This is why, in a six month drive to re-shape attitudes towards the crime, United Nations staff are telling women they can go to court. One of the stops on the campaigns tour is the village of Mwitwobe in Katanga province.

The Grotesque Vocabulary in Congo

I've learned some new words.

One is “autocannibalism,” coined in French but equally appropriate in English. It describes what happens when a militia here in eastern Congo's endless war cuts flesh from living victims and forces them to eat it.

RWANDA: Empowering Genocide Widows

Sixteen years after the Rwandan genocide, many women are struggling to come to terms with the violence they endured.

According to the association of genocide widows NGO, Avega Agahozo, sexual violence was used to humiliate, degrade and abuse women during the 6 April to 16 July 1994 killings. In many cases, the violence was meted out before, during or after the women had witnessed the killing of a relative.

BURUNDI: Security Council Extends UN Mission in Burundi for Another Year as Elections Loom

The Security Council today extended for another year the United Nations political mission in Burundi, calling for full support for next year's elections in the war-scarred African country while voicing concern at continuing human rights violations, sexual and gender-based violence, restrictions on civil liberties and political violence.

Afghan Women's Rights

President Hamid Karzai recently outlined proposals that could see the Taliban share power in Kabul. What should not be forgotten is the Taliban regime from 1996 to 2001. That period in Afghanistan was characterised by brutality, a medieval style of ‘justice' and gross violations of rights — particularly women's, rights.

AFGHANISTAN: No Short Cuts to Afghan Justice

Plans for rebuilding Afghanistan always seek the shortest route – and have repeatedly resulted in failure. At the London conference last month there was talk of reconciliation or reintegration for the Taliban but, once again, the Afghan government and its international allies failed to put a legitimate and functioning justice system in place.

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