|
Security Council
Resolution 1325 - One Year On
Intergovernmental
Bodies / Governments
/ Non-Governmental Organisations
Introduction
The NGO Working Group on Women and International
Peace and Security was formed to encourage the open session and
resolution of the UN Security Council on Women, Peace and Security.
The group has since expanded to include: Amnesty International,
International Alert, the Women's International League for Peace
and Freedom, the Hague Appeal for Peace, the Women's Caucus for
Gender Justice, the International Women's Tribune Center and the
Women's Commission for Refugee Women and Children. These non-governmental
organisations have worked with UN departments and sympathetic member
states, another example of the productive synergy of the democratic
diplomacy at work
Unlike most Security Council Resolutions, 1325 has
a constituency of active organisations and individuals that know
and quote its clauses and expect its full implementation. These
groups have pooled their efforts, networks and expertise to spread
the good news about the binding international commitments enshrined
in Security Council Resolution 1325, and will continue to work towards
ensuring its full implementation. The group made Resolution 1325
into an attractive brochure and have distributed 15,000 of them
around the world as well as speaking and writing in many languages
and on many continents.
Since October 2000 many opportunities have been
lost that could have made a lasting impact on women affected by
war.
Peace negotiations on the Middle East, in Burundi,
and in Sudan either did not include women at all, or women were
not represented at high levels, the desperate suffering of women
in Afghanistan was less important than stone statues until it was
a convenient propaganda tool to justify military action, a Gender
Unit for the UN's Department of Peace Keeping Operations was not
approved and the number of women acting in the capacity of Special
Representative of the Secretary General is still zero.
However, some notable advances were made since the
historic unanimous resolution of the Security Council on Women,
Peace and Security - a wide range of activities and initiatives
have emerged from the UN system, governments and non-governmental
organisations.
This annotated listing of activities is impressive
and encouraging, but is also incomplete. This ongoing work in
progress will appear on www.peacewomen.org
to provide a sense of the activities, initiatives, publications
and decisions taken since October 2000, including some key events
and documents that occurred beforehand. If you have additions, please
send them to info@peacewomen.org.
Amnesty International,
Hague Appeal for Peace,
International Alert,
Women's Caucus for Gender Justice,
Women's Commission for Refugee Women and Children,
Women's International League for Peace and Freedom,
International Women's Tribune Center
Back to top
Intergovernmental
Bodies
European Commission
European Commission, November 2000: Resolution
on Women and Peace Building & Report on women's involvement
in peaceful conflict resolution submitted by Maj Britt Theorin (2000/2025(INI))
Council of Europe
Council of Europe, 20-21 September, 2001:
The Steering Committee for Equality between Women and Men, part
of the Directorate General of Human Rights, organised a Seminar
on the participation of women in the prevention and resolution of
conflicts in Strasbourg. The aim of this event was to explore and
draw attention to the involvement of women in peace building and
conflict prevention activities, notably the contribution of Resolution
1325. Over one hundred participants attended the seminar (representatives
of ministries, international and non-governmental organisations,
research institutes). At the closing session the General Rapporteur,
Ms Hilkka Pietilä from Finland, presented her conclusions,
which include recommendations from the working groups that met during
the seminar.
United Nations
International Women's Day, March 8, 2001:
Official celebration of International Women's Day, 8th March 2001
on Women, Peace and Security . To celebrate this important day,
UNIFEM and ESCAP through the Thematic Working Group on Women's Empowerment
for Gender Equality (TWEGE) organized a day of activities at the
United Nations Convention Centre in Bangkok. A panel discussion
was held on 'Women, Peace and Security' to make visible women's
concerns in conflict, celebrate women's struggles, applaud and encourage
women's contribution to the peace process, affirm UN peace initiatives,
and remind the international community and each UN agency of the
need to wholeheartedly implement their commitments to women. For
more information see http://www.unifem-eseasia.org/news/news.html#IWD2001
International Women's Day, March 8, 2001
Celebration at the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and
the Pacific, Bangkok Thailand, The United Nations agencies at Bangkok
commemorated the Day through an official opening session and panel
discussion, attended by 115 participants. Under-Secretary-General
of the United Nations and Executive Secretary of ESCAP Mr. Kim Hak-Su
opened the event. In his address he emphasized the key role of women
in conflict resolution and peace-building, and underlined two recent
paramount measures towards including a gender perspective to peace,
namely the Security Council Resolution (1325) on women and peace,
adopted in October 2000, and the Hanoi Declaration adopted at the
Asian Women for a Culture of Peace Conference, December 2000. United
Nations Resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative, Mr.
J. K. Robert England recognised the International Women’s Day
as one of the most notable UN observances, and stressed the importance
of addressing gender inequality and discrimination in the region,
in its overt and covert forms. For more information see http://www.unescap.org/wid/IWday.htm
UN General Assembly, 15 November 2000:
The General Assembly adopted the United Nations Convention against
Transnational Organized Crime, the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress
and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children
planning a signing conference in Palermo, Italy, from 12 to 15 December.
It did so by adopting, without a vote, a related draft resolution.
United Nations Security Council
UN Security Council, 8th March, 2000: Statement
by the President of the Security Council, Ambassador Chowdhury of
Bangladesh, indicated that, "members of the Security Council recognize
that peace is inextricably linked with equality between women and
men. They affirm that the equal access and full participation of
women in power structures and their full involvement in all efforts
for the prevention and resolution of conflicts are essential for
the maintenance and promotion of peace and security. In this context,
members welcome the review of the Fourth World Conference on Women
as an essential element in achieving this goal.
Members of the Council also recognize that while
entire communities suffer the consequences of armed conflict, women
and girls are particularly affected. The impact of violence against
women and violation of the human rights of women in conflict situations
is experienced by women of all ages. Women also constitute the majority
of the world's refugees and internally displaced persons.
Members of the Council note that although women
have begun to play an important role in conflict resolution, peacekeeping
and peace-building, they are still under-represented in decision-making
in regard to conflict. If women are to play an equal part in security
and maintaining peace, they must be empowered politically and economically,
and represented adequately at all levels of decision- making, both
at the pre-conflict stage and during hostilities, as well as at
the point of peacekeeping, peace-building, reconciliation and reconstruction.
For the full text see: http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2000/20000308.sc6816.doc.html
UN Security Council 8th March, 2001: Presidential
Statement to the Press on the occasion of International Women's
Day stated that, "Members of the Security Council recall the first-ever
statement by the Council on 8 March 2000 on the occasion of the
International Women's Day, which highlighted the plight of women
and girls in conflict situations and the role played by women in
prevention and resolution of conflicts, as well as peacekeeping,
peace-building, reconciliation and reconstruction.
Members of the Security Council also recall the
discussions of the Council on its meeting in October 2000 and the
Council resolution (S/RES/1325) on women and peace and security,
adopted on 31 October 2000, which recognize that an understanding
of the impact of armed conflict on women and girls, effective institutional
arrangements to guarantee their protection and full participation
in the peace process can significantly contribute to the maintenance
and promotion of international peace and security.
Members of the Security Council reiterate, in particular,
the call on Member States to ensure increased representation of
women in decision making for the prevention, management and resolution
of conflicts, and the call on all parties to armed conflict to take
specific measures to protect women and girls from gender-based violence
in situations of armed conflict.
Members of the Security Council stress the need
for early and full implementation of the resolution by all relevant
actors and urge all relevant United Nations agencies and bodies
to take into account this resolution in their respective areas of
work." For the full text see: http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2001/obv195.doc.htm
UN Security Council Mission to the Great Lakes
Region 15-26 May, 2001, Security Council members met with civil
society organisations, including women's organisations. See the
Report of the Security Council on the Mission for a brief mention.
http://www.un.org/Docs/sc/missionreports/521e.pdf
UN Security Council Mission to Kosovo 16-18 June,
2001 Press Release of Mission, Security Council expresses support
for Kosovo Women NGOs stated that, "Representatives of Kosovo women’s
NGOs and civil society met last night with the President of the
UN Security Council, Ambassador Anwarul Chowdhury of Bangladesh,
along with the ambassadors of Colombia, Jamaica, Singapore, the
United Kingdom and the United States.
During a wide-ranging discussion, participants agreed
on the need for greater involvement by Kosovo women in political
and economic activities in the province. It was especially important
that women should have a place at the negotiating table and in peace-building
activities.
The Security Council commended women NGOs in Kosovo
for their efforts to promote reconciliation and inter-ethnic cooperation.
The ambassadors also outlined initiatives being taken - with the
strong support of the Secretary-General and the Security Council
- to ensure that women’s concerns were addressed throughout
the UN system.
The adoption of Security Council resolution 1325,
which calls for greater involvement of women in peace negotiations
and the protection of civilians in conflict situations, marked a
great step forward, but it was equally important that it be implement
in the field, Ambassador Chowdhury noted.
The Kosovo participants called for enhanced dialogue
and consultation between UNMIK and women’s groups, to ensure
that issues such as domestic violence and equal opportunities were
reflected in new legislation and discussions on developments in
Kosovo. The NGOs welcomed the quota for female candidates in the
forthcoming general elections and called for more training to support
the participation of women in the electoral process.
Tom Koenigs, the Deputy Special Representative for
Civil Administration, outlined steps which UNMIK would take to promote
better cooperation with women’s groups.
Ambassador Chowdhury described the meeting as extremely
useful and thanked the participants for their contribution to the
creation of civil society in post-war Kosovo. He said he would report
on the meeting in the Security Council’s report on its Mission,
and discuss the issues raised by the group with the
Special Representative of the Secretary-General.
For the full text see: http://www.un.org/peace/kosovo/press/templ.pr.597.html
Also: http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2001/sc7077.doc.htm
UN Security Council June 2001: Report of the
Mission to Kosovo: The Mission highlighted that a key factor
in reconiliation efforts could be the role played by civil society,
NGOs and women's group, who could prove helpful in reaching across
the ethnic divide. In that regard UNMIK highlighted the recent decision
of the Central Election Commission (CEC) to accept one third of
women on the electoral (closed) lists, which was classified as a
spectacular result for Kosovo's first post-conflict Assembly. A
further example was the moderating influence women had played in
the KPS. For the full report go to: http://www.un.org/Docs/sc/missionreports/600e.pdf
UN Security Council Mission in Kosovo - UNMIK
- UN Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo, 11 January 2000
Establishment of the Gender Strategic Planning Group, as an inter-agency
and multi-sectorial working group http://www.un.org/peace/kosovo/press/templ.pr.130.html
UN Security Council Mission in East Timor - United
Nations Transitional Administration in East Timor - Gender Affairs
Unit has done excellent work in the field. See under UN Department
of Peace Keeping Operations for more details.
UN Security Council, Second Arria Formula Briefing
of by Women's NGOs, 30th October 2001
UN Commission on the Status of
Women
UN Commission on the Status of Women 6 March,
2001 Opening Statement, Commission on the Status of Women, Angela
King, Assistant Secretary-General Special Adviser on Gender Issues
and Advancement of Women
"One of the most remarkable breakthroughs since
the forty-fourth session concerns women and peace. You will recall
that on International Women’s Day which coincided with our
session last year, the Security Council recognized the central role
of women in conflict resolution, peacekeeping and peace building.
Since then, the Windhoek Declaration and the Namibia Plan of Action
on Mainstreaming a Gender Perspective in Multidimensional Peace
Support Operations were adopted. Last October, building on these,
the Security Council held its first ever meeting on women, peace
and security. The Council adopted a far-reaching resolution on this
topic (S/RES/1325/2000) in which it stressed the importance of women's
equal participation with men and full involvement in all efforts
for the maintenance and promotion of peace and security including
serving as special representatives and envoys. It also called on
Member States to increase women’s role throughout peace support
operations. This has provided local women’s groups engaged
in peace efforts around the world with an opportunity to find entry
points for contributing directly to United Nations peace efforts.
One important aspect of the resolution, is the Council’s
request to the Secretary-General to prepare a study on the impact
of armed conflict on women and girls, the role of women in peace-building
and the gender dimensions of peace processes and conflict resolution.
This study, a collective inter-agency
endeavour, will reflect the experiences of the whole
United Nations system. It is being coordinated, at the Secretary-General’s
request, by my Office. A Task Force of of the Inter-Agency Meeting
on Women and Gender Equality is collaborating on the study and on
a system-wide action plan to implement other parts of the resolution."
19th March, CSW adopts resolution on discrimination
against women and girls in Afghanistan (documents E/CN/.6/2001/L.5
Rev.1)
By the terms of the draft, the Economic and Social
Council would strongly condemn the continuing grave violations of
the human rights of women and girls, including all forms of discrimination
against them in all areas of Afghanistan, particularly those under
the control of the Taliban.
The Council would also condemn the continued restrictions
on women’s access to health care and the systematic violation
of their human rights in Afghanistan, including the restrictions
on access to education and employment outside the home, on freedom
of movement and on freedom from intimidation, harassment and violence.
That had a serious detrimental effect on the well-being of Afghan
women and the children in their care.
The Council would urge the Taliban and other Afghan
parties to recognize, protect, promote and act in accordance with
all human rights and fundamental freedoms, regardless of gender,
ethnicity or religion, in accordance with international human rights
instruments. The Council would also urge them to respect international
humanitarian law. It would further urge all the Afghan parties,
in particular the Taliban, to immediately end all human rights violations
against women and girls. Among the urgent actions called for are
the repeal of all legislative and other measures that discriminate
against women and girls and impede the realization of their human
rights.
By further terms, the Council would appeal to all
States and to the international community to ensure that all humanitarian
assistance to Afghanistan, in conformity with the strategic framework
for that country, is based on the principle of non-discrimination,
integrates a gender perspective, and actively attempts to promote
the participation of both women and men and peace and respect for
fundamental human rights. It would also demand that all Afghan factions,
in particular the Taliban, ensure the safety and protection of all
United Nations and humanitarian workers in Afghanistan and allow
them, regardless of their gender, to carry out their work unhindered.
The draft was co-sponsored by Argentina, Armenia,
Azerbaijan, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Cyprus, Czech Republic,
Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Estonia, Finland, France,
Georgia, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Hungary, Iceland, India, Ireland,
Israel, Italy, Japan, Kenya,Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg,
Mali, Malta, Mexico, Mongolia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway,
Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russian Federation,
South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Thailand, Turkey, United Kingdom, United
States, and the Observer for Switzerland.
Adoption of Resolution on the Release of Women
and Children Taken Hostage, including Those Subsequently Imprisoned,
in Armed Conflicts (document E/CN.6/2001/L.3) In adopting,
as orally amended, a resolution on the release of women and children
taken hostage, including those subsequently imprisoned, in armed
conflicts, by a recorded vote of 31 in favour with none against,
and 2 abstentions (India, United States), the Commission condemned
violent acts in contravention of international humanitarian law
against civilian women and children in areas of armed conflict,
and called for an effective response to such acts, including the
immediate release of such women and children taken hostage, including
those subsequently imprisoned.
The text was co-sponsored by Argentina, Azerbaijan,
Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Iran, Kazakhstan, Pakistan, Suriname,
Tajikistan and Turkey.
Office of the Special Adviser
on Gender Issues and the Advancement of Women, (OSAGI)
Inter-Agency Task Force on Women, Peace and Security:
In order to ensure collaboration and coordination throughout
the United Nations system in the implementation of the Security
Council resolution 1325, the Interagency Meeting on Women and Gender
Equality, chaired by the Special Adviser to the Secretary General
on Gender Issues and Advancement of Women - Ms Angela E.V. King,
established a Taskforce on Women, Peace and Security. Within the
United Nations Secretariat the Department for Disarmament Affairs,
the Department of Peace-keeping Operations, the Department for Political
Affairs, the Department of Public Information, the Office for Coordination
of Humanitarian Affairs, the Office of Human Resources Development,
the Office of the Special Adviser for Gender Issues and Advancement
of Women and the Division for the Advancement of Women are represented
on the taskforce. Other members include UNFPA, UNICEF, UNDP, UNHCR,
UNIFEM, UNCHR, UNU and WFP. The taskforce has developed an Action
Plan on the implementation of the Security Council resolution. The
Action Plan outlines initiatives to be taken by different parts
of the United Nations system in relation to each of the operational
paragraphs in the Security Council resolution.
Secretary-General’s study and report: The
Security Council resolution 1325 (para 16) invites the Secretary
General to carry out a study on the impact of armed conflict on
women and girls, the role of women in peace-building and the gender
dimensions of peace processes and conflict resolution, and further
to submit a report to the Security Council based on the results
of the study. On 28 December 2000 the Secretary General requested
his Special Adviser on Gender Issues and Advancement of Women, Ms
Angela King, to take the responsibility for coordinating the preparation
of the study and report, in close collaboration with other relevant
parts of the United Nations system. The active involvement of the
Department of Peacekeeping Operations, the Department of Political
Affairs, the Department of Disarmament Affairs and the Office for
Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs in the Secretariat, which is
critical for ensuring identification of clear priorities and recommendations
for action throughout the United Nations system, has been ensured.
The Secretary General's study and report will also build upon studies
already carried out within the United Nations system, such as the
UNRISD study on Women and Post-conflict Reconstruction, as well
as ongoing or planned studies and activities, for example, by the
Department of Peace-keeping Operations, UNIFEM and UNU.
Inputs to the study and report are being provided
by all members of the Inter-Agency Taskforce on Women, Peace and
Security. The taskforce has prepared an initial outline for the
study, which highlights the main issues to be tackled under each
of the three areas outlined in resolution 1325: the impact of armed
conflict on women and girls, the role of women in peace-building
and the gender dimensions of peace processes and conflict resolution,
as well as areas where recommendations would be desirable. An annex
of good practice examples from the United Nations, Member States,
regional organizations and NGOs will also be included in the study.
Two international experts in the field gender, peace
and security have been identified to conduct the study - Ms. Sandra
Whitworth (Canada) and Ms. Dyan Mazurana (United States). Both Ms
Whitworth and Ms. Mazurana have published widely on the subject
of gender, armed conflict and peace-building. The study is expected
to be finalized by June 2002. Preparations of the Secretary-General’s
report by the Secretariat will commence early in 2002.
Division for the Advancement of
Women
23-15 April 2001, Regional Consultation on Enhancing
Women's Participation in Peace-building, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Ms. Yakin Ertürk, Director of DAW stated at the opening, "We
need to learn from women’s actual peace-building activities
so that we may be able to develop and extend, through the current
project, activities that have the potential to enhance women’s
peacebuilding capacities. This meeting provides an excellent opportunity
to exchange views and experiences in this regard. I am confident
that your deliberations in the next few days will contribute towards
expanding our understanding of the issue, in identfying capacity
building needs and provide guidelines for developing effective strategies
and methodologies to respond to these needs."
http://www.un.org/womenwatch/daw/news/ye23apr01.htm
United Nations Development Fund
for Women (UNIFEM)
Independent Expert Assessment: To follow up Security Council
Resolution 1325 on women, peace and security, UNIFEM appointed two
Independent Experts to assess the impact of armed conflict on women
and women’s role in peace building and present their findings
by early 2002. The assessment will complement the follow up already
underway in relation in relation to Resolution 1325 and will contribute
to the Secretary General’s report. It will also be in response
to Graça Machel’s call on UNIFEM - in her five-year
review document on War-Affected Children - to support the preparation
of independent expert assessments on the impact of armed conflict
on women and on women’s role in peace building. The Independent
Experts will assess progress made and obstacles encountered and
will reflect the perspective of women from the ground.
The Independent Experts are:
Elisabeth Rehn (Finland), former UN Under-Secretary General and
Special Representative of the Secretary-General in Bosnia and Herzegovina,
former UN Special Rapporteur for Human Rights in Bosnia and Herzegovina
and former Minister for Defence and Equality Affairs in Finland
Ellen Johnson Sirleaf (Liberia), former Assistant Administrator
and Director of UNDP Regional Bureau for Africa and a member of
the OAU Panel of Eminent Persons to investigate the genocide in
Rwanda.
Victoria Brittain, Associate Foreign Editor of the Guardian and
author and editor of numerous books, including "Death of Dignity",
which deals with Angola’s civil war, will document the findings
of the independent experts.
Preliminary findings of the experts include:
Education of women and girls
Women are conscious of their own need to be literate and educated
so that they can participate fully in brokering peace, decision-making
and in post-conflict reconstruction.
Sexual violence, prostitution and trafficking
War provides a breeding ground for certain forms of sexual exploitation
such as trafficking. Conflict also forces many women and young girls
to prostitute themselves in order to make a living. Violence against
women, particularly domestic violence often increases after conflicts.
HIV/AIDS
In the Great Lakes region of Africa, HIV/AIDS transmitted through
rape has been called a weapon of war.
Economic security
Conflict affects women’s economic security. Women and girls
are heading households but in many cases, struggle to do so without
basic income, resources, or control over decision-making.
Women and the peace process
Women are fighting their way to the peace table within political
parties and through civil society, but there is a need for their
contribution to be acknowledged, also in UN peace operations.
Newsletter ‘Women, Peace and Security: Progress on UN Security
Council Resolution 1325’: On the occasion of the UN Security
Council ‘Arria’ formula meeting and related events, UNIFEM
published a newsletter mapping progress around the world towards
implementing Resolution 1325. It features a number of country examples
and is available online at www.undp.org/unifem or from UNIFEM’s
Governance Section (Tel. 212 906 6487 or 5756).
UNIFEM’s framework for action on women, peace and security
and its country programmes: UNIFEM’s work in the field of women,
peace and security focuses on four main pillars:
1. Early warning and prevention: Understanding the impact of armed
conflict on women
UNIFEM provides policy support, information and gender analysis
of the political, humanitarian and human rights dimensions of conflicts.
In the Occupied Territories for example, little data was compiled
on the consequences of the political conflict on the situation of
Palestinian women. The Women’s Department of Birzeit University
is to undertake a comprehensive study on behalf of UNIFEM and will
assess forced displacement, economic security, destruction of land
and removal of crops, women as caretakers, women’s participation
in the Intifada, changing family structures and roles, and violence
against women. The results of the study, expected in November 2001,
will form the basis for developing future initiatives to enhance
women’s protection and their participation in peace negotiations.
In Melanesia, participants in a weeklong UNIFEM consultation discussed
conflict, post-conflict rehabilitation and prevention in Bougainville,
Fiji, the Solomon Islands and Vanuatu, and concluded that the region
continues to be a hot spot, and decided that further work on peace
and security should include gender based research and analysis and
provide further early warning and leadership training as well as
the establishment of effective information, support and response
mechanisms.
2. Improving protection and assistance for women
Women and girls are often neglected in the delivery of protection
and assistance during conflict and in post-conflict reconstruction.
UNIFEM helps mobilize humanitarian, psychosocial and economic assistance
for women. In Kosovo and Tajikistan, UNIFEM has worked to prevent
trafficking of women and girls through awareness campaigns and training
for media. In Tajikistan, UNIFEM is assisting the government and
civil society institutions to provide assistance and raise awareness
of the psychological impact of conflict on women.
3. Making women and gender perspectives central to peace processes
UNIFEM supports women’s participation in peace building, and
helps to leverage the political, financial and technical support
needed. UNIFEM also fosters strategic partnerships with regional
and international bodies and helps to mainstream gender in peace
operations by involving women in their design and implementation.
In the Democratic Republic of Congo, UNIFEM helped the Facilitator
of the Inter-Congolese Dialogue to develop a strategy to support
women’s participation. He urged each of the parties to the
Lusaka Agreement to include women in their delegations and for gender
issues to be addressed on the agenda of the Dialogue. The women’s
"peace table" convened by CONAFED and UNIFEM in October
2001 promoted networking and policy dialogue among participants,
which should hopefully contribute to women’s further involvement
in the Dialogue.
4. Gender justice in post-conflict peace building
As a central element of peace building,
UNIFEM seeks to strengthen a gender focus in electoral, constitutional,
legal, judicial and policy reform. In East Timor, at the request
of the Gender Affairs Unit of the East Timor Transitional Administration
under UNTAET, UNIFEM supported a series of political skills training
workshops for potential women electoral candidates. Despite the
absence of a women’s quota in the electoral regulations, women
won 27 % of the seats in the Constituent Assembly elections in August
2001. In Rwanda, the process of reviewing the constitution from
a gender perspective began earlier this year. The Forum of Rwandan
Women Parliamentarians invited UNIFEM to participate in its technical
committee and has been working closely with the constitutional and
legislative commission, thus taking the first step in a long process
of effective empowerment of the country’s women.
Millennium Peace Prize: Together with International Alert,
UNIFEM awarded four women and three organizations the first Millennium
Peace Prizes for Women. The prizes, which carry a $5,000 stipend
and an Oscar-like statue for organizations, and the statue alone
for individuals, are awarded to "women who are bravely and
effectively engaged in conflict prevention, conflict resolution
and other forms of peace-building work, particularly at the grassroots
level."
Winners were Flora Brovina of Kosovo, the president of the League
Albanian Women of Kosovo, Asma Jahangir and Hina Jilani, sisters
who in 1980 founded the Women's Action Forum, Veneranda Nzambazamariya
of Rwanda, who received her award posthumously. Ruta Pacifica de
las Mujeres, a Colombian organization of women aimed at achieving
peace in that country. Leitana Nehan Women's Development Agency
of Papua New Guinea is specifically aimed at getting women involved
in the peace process. Women in Black, a "worldwide network
of women against war, violence and militarism," which organizes
demonstration for women only with the participants all dressed in
black. Olivia Ward of the Toronto Star, an awards judge told the
Earth Times that the winners were of such obviously high merit that
"it was easy" to make the selections.
UN Department of Political Affairs
- DPA’s Under-Secretary-General and the Departmental
Focal Points for Women met with Independent Experts, Elizabeth Rehn
and Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, to discuss (i) the aims of the Independent
Expert Assessments on the impact of armed conflict on women and
on women’s role in peace building (ii) the objectives of the
planned assessment field trips and (iii) measures which could be
taken by DPA and its field offices to support the efforts of the
Experts and their staff.
- 18 April — DPA invited a consultant with
Star Network of World Learning to speak on "Effective peace-building
at the community level — The role of women and international
long and short-term support" at a brown bag, which was chaired by
one of the Department’s Assistant-Secretary-Generals. The event
generated much in-depth discussion among the participants, which
included a visiting SRSG and other senior level DPA staff.
- April 23 —25 - Two senior DPA staff participated
in the "Regional Consultation on Enhancing Women’s Participation
in Peace-building" held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
- DPA Focal Points for Women are frequently included
in substantive meetings convened by the Assistant-Secretary-General
with senior staff in order to include a gender mainstreaming perspective
in the department’s substantive work.
- DPA’s Focal Point for Women, at the request
of one of the Department’s Assistant-Secretary-Generals, submitted
proposals for enhancing the Department’s efforts with regard
to gender mainstreaming.
- DPA’s Focal Points for Women submitted to
the Under-Secretary-General an assessment of the Department’s
gender mainstreaming efforts, which included a set of recommendations
by which these efforts could be further strengthened. This assessment
was based on their 2-year term in office.
United Nations Department of Peacekeeping
Operations
Gender component: With respect to gender
issues and peacekeeping, the Department of Peacekeeping Operations
recognizes the importance of ensuring that a gender perspective
is incorporated into all aspects of peacekeeping operations, and
that ongoing attention needs to be given to the implementation of
legislative mandates in this area. Therefore, the Department has,
in its most recent budgetary request, asked for a dedicated capacity
for gender issues in the Peacekeeping Best Practices Unit, with
a view to ensuring that a gender perspective is interwoven into
the Department’s work.
Policy: The Department’s Plan
of Action to implement resolution 1325, part of the system-wide
Plan of Action, spells out the measures that the Department is taking
or will take in the near future to mainstream gender in its activities,
increase the participation of women in peacekeeping, increase the
numbers of women at decision-making levels in field mission and
consider the needs of women in its activities in the field. The
Department has also made a conscious effort to include a gender
perspective in all policy development.
Training: The Department has prepared
a training curriculum on gender awareness and sensitivity
for military and civilian police. This has been field-tested in
several missions. In collaboration with UNITAR, the Department is
preparing a training course for civilian staff on the impact of
armed conflict on women and children, which will include a module
on gender awareness and sensitivity.
Field gender affairs units/offices:
The Department is also committed to establishing gender affairs
offices/units in large multidimensional missions and gender focal
points in smaller missions where gender units may not be merited.
The missions in East Timor and Kosovo have been able to do a great
deal to mainstream gender issues into the activities of each mission
as both have dedicated Gender Affairs Offices. Below are some of
the activities the missions have undertaken with the support of
their Gender Offices:
The Gender Affairs Office in UNTAET has raised
awareness about the critical link between gender equality and sustainable
development with UNTAET staff (through induction training for new
staff, peacekeeping forces, civilian police as well as Timor Loro
Sae Police Services); built capacity to take concrete actions towards
the goal of equality for Timorese men and women (e.g. workshops
for district gender focal points network as well as internal UNTAET
gender focal points network, both of which the Office helped establish,
and civil society organizations in order to build their capacity
to develop gender action plans specific to their areas of work);
gathered information and data to understand the gender situation
in East Timor (the Unit works with the East Timorese Women’s
Network, UNTAET departments, district administrations as well as
international and national civil society organizations to gather
sex disaggregated data and information to contribute to the Unit’s
Gender Database Study); and incorporated East Timorese women’s
concerns into UNTAET policies (the Unit has assisted local women’s
networks and organizations to promote, implement and monitor the
Platform for Action for the Advancement of the Women of Timor Loro
Sae). In addition, the Unit has ensured that UNTAET policies and
programmes promote gender equality in key areas of concern to East
Timorese women, including participation at decision-making levels,
legislation protecting equal rights, prosecution of gender-related
crimes from 1999, violence against women, equal participation of
women in the political process, and at least 30% representation
of women in the public service. The Unit is represented on the Cabinet
Legislative Committee and reviews and drafts UNTAET legislation
to ensure gender-sensitive provisions. It also formed the Gender
and Law Working Group to build local capacity to participate in
the law-making process. It has served in an advisory capacity to
the General Prosecutor to incorporate a gender perspective into
investigations and prosecutions. It also supports women victims
of the 1999 violence and works with a horizontal investigation team
on gender related crimes that is part of the Serious Crimes Investigation
Unit. To encourage the participation of women in the political process,
the Unit organized training workshops for potential candidates.
The Unit is also working with the Civil Service and Public Employment
Unit to improve the mainstreaming of gender through all stages of
recruitment and appointments to decision-making bodies.
The Office of Gender Affairs (OGA) in UNMIK
has focused on three priority areas: increasing the representation
of women in decision-making in the reconstruction and peace-building
processes; addressing issues of violence against women; and integrating
women into the economic recovery of Kosovo. The Unit played an important
role in the identification of these key policy issues facing the
women in Kosovo, giving them visibility, and initiating inter-pillar
policy mechanisms to tackle them. Internally, the Unit has ensured
a gender perspective across mission policies by being part of high-level
inter-pillar meetings and initiating an inter-pillar Gender Strategic
Planning Group. To increase the representation of women in decision
making, several initiatives have been taken. The Kosovo Transitional
Council, which began as the highest consultative body to the SRSG,
was expanded to include Kosovar women representatives of political
parties and non-governmental organizations on the advice of the
OGA and other relevant organizations. When the mission became a
Joint Interim Administrative Structure (JIAS), consisting of 20
departments, the SRSG appointed 7 women (three Kosovar and four
international) as co-heads of departments. UNMIK also initiated
a Kosovo Transitional Council Gender Policy Working Group to review
legislation and policy. For the October 2000 municipal elections,
a 30% quota was stipulated for the top 15 candidates on the lists
in order to promote women leadership in the municipalities. The
mission is currently conducting capacity-building programmes for
Kosovar men and women in the municipalities. Training of potential
women candidates for the elections is under way. The OGA working
with the Office of Human Rights has focused on building a legislative
framework to protect women and girls from domestic violence and
trafficking. A regulation prohibiting the trafficking of human beings
was enacted in January 2001 and a draft domestic violence code is
in the final stages of development. The Kosovo Police Service has
an excellent record on the participation of women in its ranks:
of the almost four thousand graduates of the Kosovo Police Academy,
approximately 20% are women. Women have also played a major role
in the UNMIK mine action programme, where women have worked in operational
mine clearance, mine awareness and victim assistance organizations.
The GAU has been able to mainstream gender in JIAS departments through
various mcchanisms: close consultation with co-heads as well as
a gender focal point network in JIAS departments. Gender-based policy
interventions have been initiated in the priority departments of
Agriculture, Education and Science, Health and Social Welfare, Justice,
Labour and Employment, Local Administration, Trade and Industry,
and Youth. Training for gender focal points in different regions
and municipalities has also been provided. Programmes initiated
in these areas include a strategy for a women’s literacy programme;
gender in higher education; regulations to improve women’s
representation in local and municipal administrations; legal protections
for women in the labour force; social assistance for no income women
heads of households and widows; referral system for women who are
victims of domestic or other violence; and raising awareness about
the reproductive rights of young women.
Status of Women: The Department has
strengthened its commitment to appointing women to senior posts
and at decision-making levels. The Department participates in the
Secretary-General’s Senior Appointments Group, which is responsible
for selecting candidates for leadership positions in field missions.
A roster of senior female candidates is maintained by DPKO. In addition,
DPKO has urged contributing States to provide more women civilian
police officers and military observers to serve in UN peacekeeping
missions.
- DPKO has ensured that a female gynaecologist or
doctor is available to all UN staff in peacekeeping missions. All
UN hospitals also must also be staffed and equipped to care for
female patients.
- HIV/AIDS awareness has been made a responsibility
of national medical units. UNAIDS and DPKO are also in the process
of developing an awareness card in different local languages for
uniformed peacekeepers where the peacekeepers code of conduct is
integrated with HIV/AIDS awareness.
- As an example of gender mainstreaming in its activities,
planning for DD& R in specific peacekeeping missions takes account
of gender-specific needs during the demobilization process as well
as the needs of families who often accompany the ex-combatants to
the demobilization sites.
Office for the Coordination of
Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA)
UN Consolidated Appeal Process (CAP) The
2001 theme of the Inter-Agency Appeal was Women and War. Agencies
aim to raise 2.26 billion for programmes to support women's humanitarian
and peacebuilding needs in critical war zones. The UK government
has pledged to top-up any shortfalls in the fundraising to ensure
the target is met. Programmes are in: Afghanistan, Angola, Burundi,
Democratic Republic of Congo, Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea,
Eritrea, Ethiopia, Great Lakes Region, Maluku Crisis, Northern Caucasus,
Republic of the Congo, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Eastern Europe,
Sudan, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Uganda, West Africa http://www.reliefweb.int/appeals/2001.html
Opening statement by Kofi Annan. "The theme of today's
launch is "women and war", in recognition of the special needs and
contributions of women in emergency situations. Projects in the
consolidated appeals focus not only on women's practical needs --
such as protection, food, health services and wood for fuel -- but
also their strategic needs, for example the chance to play their
rightful part in leadership and decision-making.
It is high time for the issue of women and peace
and security to receive greater recognition on the international
agenda. Last month's meeting of the Security Council was an important
step forward. I hope the report which the Council has called for
will lead to women having a bigger role in peace-building, and will
make us all more dynamic in addressing the gender dimensions of
peace processes and conflict resolution.
Gender and Humanitarian Assistance Resource Kit
The Sub-Working Group (SWG) on Gender and Humanitarian
Assistance was established by the IASC-WG in November 1998. This
group had its first meeting in January 1999. It is co-chaired by
WFP and UNICEF, with the participation of FAO, OCHA, OHCHR, UNHCR,
UNDP, IOM, UNFPA, ICRC, IFRC, SCHR, WHO, ICVA, and InterAction.
http://www.reliefweb.int/library/GHARkit/
Office of the High Commissioner
for Refugees
Since the 1999 a new Senior Co-ordinator for Refugee
Women/Gender Equality has been appointed, revitalizing UNHCR’s
commitment to advancing the rights of refugee women and promoting
gender equality. At UNHCR's recent Executive Committee (1-5 October),
the Senior Coordinator for Refugee Women and Gender Equality facilitated
a panel on "Empowering refugee women as peace-builders". The presentations
and subseuent comments confirmed that refugee women are vital to
the peace process. Their peace activism, often at the community
level and grassroots level has been impressive and there was strong
affirmation of the need for partnerships with men, as a demonstration
of true gender equality, particularly in welcoming women to the
peace table.
Economic empowerment of women is important but economic
stability requires peace. Security Council resolution 1325 called
for the empowerment of women, including refugee women, to participate
actively in the peace process as a key goal of the UN, UNHCR and
partners. Despite their active participation in non-formal peace
building campaigns, women are frequently excluded from formal peace
negotiations. In Burundi, UN organizations, including UNHCR, sought
to draw Burundian women into the peace-building process to ensure
that their voices were heard. UNHCR has sponsored the participation
of refugee women in the Arusha Peace process and similar initiatives
are supported in the Manu River region in west Africa.
At the local level, capacity-building to ensure
that refugee women strengthen their peace-building skills is under
way in several countries including Kenya and Uganda. In the United
Republic of Tanzania, Burundian refugee women are participating
in a non-violent conflict resolution and peace building project.
It involves refugee women in educating the community in peace-building
mechanisms and creates a forum for women to discuss issues such
as peace and reconciliation.
UNHCR's Senior Coordinator for Refugee Women and
Gender Equity, the Protection Unit and the Evalutation Unit are
engaged in a one year assessment being carried out by the Women's
Commission for Refugee Women and Children to reviews policies and
practices related to UNHCR's protection responsibilities vis-à-vis
women refugees and with regard to gender equality.
The UNHCR Senior Coordinator for Refugee Women and
Gender Equity and the Women's Commission for Refugee Women and Children
co-sponsored a meeting of refugee women from around the world. The
three-day event, held at UNHCR headquarters in Geneva in June 2001,
included 47 refugee women, UNHCR senior managers, government officials
and representatives of the Women's Commission. Discussions focused
on security in refugee camps, the legal status of refugees, asylum
issues, sexual and gender-based violence and equal access to shelter,
water and health care. High Commissioner Ruud Lubbers took part
in one of the sessions. The event was the culmination of a series
of field-based global consultations with refugee women earlier this
year.
Office of the High Commissioner
for Human Rights
The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights
is the implementation of Security Council Resolution 1325 will
- Develop generic Terms of Reference for gender
specialists within human rights components of peace operations
- Human rights components of peacekeeping operations
to provide policy guidance on the special needs of women and girls
in the reintegration process.
Monitor whether mechanisms are in place to protect
the human rights of women and girls
- Develop gender sensitive guidelines for re-porting
and documenting gender-based violence and for interviewing women
and girls victims of sexual violence
- Monitor compliance by State parties through investigations
carried out by Special Rapporteurs.
Department for Disarmament Affairs
(DDA)
In cooperation with the Office of the Special Adviser
on Gender issues and the Advancement of Women (OSAGI), the DDA released
an excellent set of briefing papers on gender and disarmament. http://www.un.org/Depts/dda/msg3.htm
There are six briefing notes on: weapons of mass
destruction, peace and disarmament, disarmament, demobilisation
and reintegration, landmines, development and small arms which were
launched on 14 March, 2001 http://www.un.org/Depts/dda/gender/14marilpf.htm
The Department for Disarmament Affairs has included
specific references to gender in its proposed programme budget for
2002-2003, "The Department will seek to achieve gender balance by
encouraging Member States to nominate more female candidates for
experts groups, for the disarmament fellowship programme and for
other meetings and events organised by the Department... Gender
mainstreaming will be built into the activities of the programme.
To this end, the Department will request the Office of Human Resources
Management and the Office of the Special Adviser on Gender Issues
and Advancement of Women to organise a competency development programme
on gender mainstreaming."
UN Department of Public Information
Within the advocacy and promotion roles of the United
Nations in the field of the advancement of women, the Department
of Public Information and its global network of UN Information Centres
and Services is continuing an ongoing communications strategy to
support the implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform
for Action, as well as the recently adopted Political Declaration
and outcome document of the General Assembly special session "Women
2000: Gender equality, development and peace for the 21st
century", and Security Council resolution 1325(2000) on women, peace
and security. Such activities are aimed at increasing public awareness
and understanding of the impact of armed conflict on women, children
and families, the need for services to address women's needs in
these situations, and the role women can play to prevent and resolve
conflict.
The following are examples of recent activities
by the Department, or planned activities, on the subject of women,
peace and security:
UN-TV has produced a wide range of UN in Action/CNN
World Report programmes relevant to women's issues. Programmes related
to the subject of women and peace and security focused on, migrant
women; women and development; human rights for women refugees; women
and politics; women in Palestine; and women and food security. World
Chronicle TV interviews were conducted such topics as women at the
peace table; protection of civilians in armed conflict; men and
women victims of landmines; trafficking in women; and UNHCR monitors,
who are mainly women, who are assisting refugees in Chechnya.
Twice a week, the Department’s daily live programme
in English broadcasts feature items devoted exclusively to women’s
issues. Recent programmes produced by UN Radio have highlighted
the issues of women and the AIDS epidemic; international initiatives
to end trafficking in women; forced marriages; women at the peace
table; violence against women; dowry and bride burning; human rights
of women; women resolving conflict; the International Criminal Court
and the concerns of women; the health situation of women in the
occupied Palestinian Territory; and the Optional Protocol to the
Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against
Women. The Department plans to produce a mini-series about youth
and women in the Palestinian Territories, which will be aired as
part of UN Radio's 15-minute daily live broadcast in Arabic.
The United Nations Chronicle has published
a wide range of articles relevant to the subject of women and peace
and security and will continue to do so. Some recent issues focused
on:
Women and armed conflict: the Security
Council open debate last October on women, peace and security;
Women and the right to shelter: an interview
with the Executive Director of Habitat, Anna Kajumulo Tibaijuka,
in which she stated that the right to secure tenure is particularly
important for women and that her agency is cooperating with UNESCO
on the question of education for women as part of economic empowerment;
Gender equality: addressing women's
concerns: an article by the Coordinator for Gender Policy at UNCHS;
Alleviating malnutrition: Project Nashta
in India in which women are responsible for preparing and marketing
a nutritious low-cost supplement and as a result they have improved
their self-respect and self-confidence;
Women in Palestine: The UNRWA Microfinance
Programme which has helped women from among the poorest sectors
of the Gaza community take steps towards achieving a sustainable
development by providing working capital loans;
Women and food security: In Rights Watch,
the Chairman of the FAO Panel of Eminent Experts addresses the problem
of hunger which he says arises partly from discrimination of women,
their rights to land and discrimination of women within the household.
Other related topics were:
Trafficking in women: The International
Organization for Migration states that many women from Central and
Eastern Europe were brought to Kosovo for prostitution and efforts
are being made to protect them as much as possible;
Protection of civilians in armed conflict;
and
Men and women as victims of landmines.
The Department continues to widely disseminate the
international instruments emanating from the Fourth World Conference
on Women and the General Assembly special session "Women 2000",
as well as the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination
against Women and its Optional Protocol. A booklet containing the
texts of the documents emanating from the Fourth World Conference
on Women and the General Assembly special session is being prepared
for wide dissemination in the six official languages. The Department
is producing a brochure containing the text of Security Council
resolution 1325(2000) on women, peace and security in the six official
languages.
Recent DPI/NGO briefings relating to women, peace
and security included a briefing on the GA special session "Women
2000", which focused on emerging issues, and trafficking in women.
Related activities carried out by United Nations
Information Centres and Services include briefings, press conferences,
radio, and television programmes, seminars and exhibitions.
.Back to top
Governments
Inter-Congolese Dialogue: http://www.unifem.undp.org/pr_congodialogue.html
Botswana's former President and current Facilitator of the Inter-Congolese
Dialogue, has urged the Congolese Parties, signatories to the Lusaka
Agreement to ensure women's equal representation at the forthcoming
Preparatory Meeting of the Inter-Congolese Dialogue. The DRC's forces
vives (civil society) have so far designated only one woman to represent
them at the preparatory committee meeting for the Inter-Congolese
Dialogue to be held in Gaborone, Botswana, from 20-24 August. The
Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) government, political and armed
opposition groups will be naming their delegates to the meeting
this week.
"I am deeply concerned that women may be inadequately
represented at the Preparatory Meeting. I have appealed to the Congolese
signatories to the Lusaka Agreement, to increase their quota of
female representation in an aim to address this serious imbalance
and to ensure gender issues are addressed at the Dialogue," Sir
Ketumile Masire said. The Facilitator appealed to the UN Secretary-General
and to the Security Council for urgent support in this regard.
"This is the first real test of the Security Council's
watershed resolution 1325 on women and peace and security," said
Noeleen Heyzer, the UNIFEM Executive Director from New York. The
resolution, adopted in October 2000, urges all actors negotiating
and implementing peace agreements to involve women in these processes
and to support women's peace initiatives.
Canada (DFAIT) and the United Kingdom (DFID)
government supported the development of a Gender and Peace Support
Operations gender training initiative programme for military and
civilian personnel in Peace Support Operations. The course is intended
to enable both civilians and military
personnel to improve their ability to integrate
gender awareness and analysis into the policies, programs and practices
of Peace Support Operations. The development of the training materials
was coordinated by
the Lester B. Pearson International Peacekeeping
Training Centre under the stewardship of the Canadian Department
of Foreign Affairs and International Trade (DFAIT) and the United
Kingdom Department for Internationa Development (DFID). The materials
were prepared in collaboration with a variety of United Nations
bodies and agencies (including the UN Department of Peacekeeping
Operations, OCHA, UNIFEM, UNICEF and UNHCR), the national militaries
of Canada and the UK, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) and
the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA). A team of
international experts, including representatives
from military and police organizations, civil society, and women's
and gender equality seeking organisations, were also involved in
the development of the material. The UK and Canada are in the process
of developing a website to house the gender materials online. The
webstie address will be: www.genderandpeacekeeping.org
Canada will conduct a three day course using
the gender training initiative for a limited number of human rights
and humanitarian NGOs November, 2001.
Canada has established a Canadian Committee
on Women, Peace and Security to set domestic priorities for the
implementation of Security Council Resolution 1325 and G8 commitments
on Strengthening the Role of Women in Conflict Prevention. The Committee
is chaired by Senator Lois Wilson and is
made up of government officials, NGOs, and Parliamentarians.
Canada: Gender and Foreign Policy Making,
a discussion list hosted by the Canadian Centre for Foreign Policy
Development (from September 17 to October 15, 2001). This moderated
on-line consultation is a forum where we can discuss the implications
and impact of gender on the practice and development of Canadian
foreign policy. The goal of the Centre is to open this space for
discussion and identify new approaches for advancing the discussion,
within and outside the Department of Foreign Affairs and International
Trade.
UK: Oct 2001: A UK government mission from
DFID met with relevant DPKO departments and OSAGI, DPA, DDA and
UNIFEM to develop a strategy of support to the UN in mainstreaming
gender throughout peacekeeping operations. Their objectives were
to identify the key constraints to gender mainstreaming through
analysis of the institutional capacity of DPKO to undertake gender
mainstreaming, the complementary roles, responsibilities and capacities
of other UN bodies with respect to gender mainstreaming in peacekeeping
operations and to draft a preliminary strategic framework for support
to DPKO.
Non-Governmental
Organisations
The NGO Working Group on Women and International
Peace and Security was formed to push for the open session of
the Security Council on Women, Peace and Security and has since
expanded to include: Amnesty International, International Alert,
the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom, the Hague
Appeal for Peace, the Women's Caucus for Gender Justice, the International
Women's Tribune Center and the Women's Commission for Refugee Women
and Children. These groups have pooled their efforts, networks and
expertise to spread the good news about Security Council Resolution
1325, and will continue to work towards ensuring its full implementation.
The Coalition made Security Council Resolution 1325 into an attractive
brochure and have distributed 15,000 of them around the world.
The NGO Working Group on Women and International
Peace and Security, 22 October 2001: Discussion Session
organised by the NGO working group relating to the implementation
of Resolution 1325 as a tool for Peace building, Protection of Women
& Prevention of Violent Conflict.
Women's International War Crimes Tribunal on
Japan's Military Sexual Slavery, Convened by VAWW-NET Japan, The
Korean Council for the Women Drafted for Military Sexual Slavery
by Japan, Asian Centre for Women’s Human Rights (ASCENT), December
2000
The Tokyo Tribunal 6-15 December, 2000 was a women's/people’s
initiative in partnership and solidarity with experts and international
lawyers, to set a precedent for the prosecution of war crimes against
women from the perspective of women's human rights and move towards
a vision of a 21st century free
of violence. It was a collective initiative of the
victimized countries namely - the Philippines, North and South Korea,
China, Taiwan, Indonesia, The Netherlands, Malaysia, and Japan.
Well-known and respected human rights defenders, lawyers, historians,
academicians, researchers and the survivors were engaged in the
preparation for the event since 1998. Among the objectives of the
Tribunal was that, as the millennium comes to an end, it is but
proper to give the women who are all in their advanced age, a sense
of what constitutes justice.
The staging of the Tokyo Tribunal was one of the
most phenomenal events of the year 2000. As the proceedings of the
Tribunal unfolded, audience were transported back in time to World
War II as the Prosecutors with the help of the evidence and testimonies
of the survivors resurrected the systemic violations practiced by
Japan’s Imperial Army through establishment of the sexual slavery
system. Each country prosecutorial teams presented their case and
evidence in the most professional manner. Survivors painfully recalled
and relived their horrendous experience of being a so called "comfort
women". It was only fitting that the summary judgment delivered
at the end of the Tribunal found Emperor
Hirohito guilty of the crimes charged by the Prosecutors.
The Tribunal was an expression that civil society will no longer
tolerate the culture of impunity and will strive to replace it with
the culture of accountability.
Women's Caucus for Gender Justice: Public Hearing
December 11, 2000: The one-day public hearing of testimonies
of crimes from on-going war and conflict situations around the world
immediately following the Tokyo Tribunal is an occasion to demonstrate
that the crimes against the former ‘comfort women’ during
WWII are not isolated incidents specific to the events around WWII.
Battles are increasingly fought over women’s bodies and women
continue to be used as war weapons. It is an occasion to show how
the lack of accountability for crimes already committed causes the
continuation of commission of such crimes unabated. Innocent civilians,
women and children continue to pay the price for the refusal of
world powers to learn lessons from the horrendous experiences of
war.
The public hearing will comprise of testimonies
of victims and survivors of war and conflict situations from different
regions of the globe such as Chiapas, Colombia, Guatemala, Algeria,
Congo, Liberia, Rwanda, Sierra Lione, Somalia, former Yugoslavia,
Afghanistan, Burma, Cambodia, East Timor, Indonesia etc. The hearing
will not only present painful experiences of women who had been
victimized by war but also provide a forum simultaneously to talk
about the initiatives in each of these places to rise and fight
back to demand justice such as the experiences of women who joined
the resistance movement, who did organizing work for peace and justice.
Such an account will serve as an inspiration not only for the women
themselves but for humanity itself. The public hearing will usher
the continuing work of women for genuine justice, peace and end
to impunity.
International Alert, March 8, 2001: Women
Building Peace Campaign, handed over 100,000 signatures from over
140 countries, signed by women, women's organisations and civil
society groups working for peace and social justice, in suport of
women's demands for protection, participation in decision making,
and and end to impunity for crimes committed against women. Also
gave Millennium Peace Prize, detailed in UNIFEM section above.
International Alert, March 2001: 'Raising
Women's Voices for Peacebuilding: Vision, Impact and Limitations
of Media Technologies' by Dyan Mazurana and Susan McKay, published
by International Alert. Disseminated to a wide range of policy makers,
academics and the media the publication provides an accessible means
of understanding and increasing the knowledge of women's responses
to violent conflict and peacebuilding and explores how women have
used communication technologies in their peacebuilding work, and
the innovative and effective results they have had using extremely
limited resources.
International Alert, July 2001: published,
"Women, Peace and Security: A Policy Audit, from the Beijing Platform
for Action to UN Security Council Resolution 1325 and Beyong, Sanam
B. Naraghi-Anderlini
International Alert, September 2001: A meeting
with the international donor community was held in London by International
Alert. Hon. Dr. Inonge Mbikusita-Lewanika was the key-note speaker
on the theme of The Impact of Conflict on Women - Women and Peacebuilding.
International Alert, October 2001 & On-going:
International Alert develops a monitoring framework for core generic
issues in Resolution 1325. This will be used in case-study countries
(initially Nigeria, Southern Caucasus & Nepal) The framework
suggests measurable indicators through which key issues of gender
mainstreaming can be monitored. It aims to identify at a general
level the extent to which Resolution 1325 has been domesticated,
could potentially be developed and supported by the Resolution,
as well as identifying gaps in terms of areas not covered by the
Resolution.
In addition to this framework, a second context
specific level of monitoring will be developed in which contextual
focus issues & relevant indicators for these are identified
& developed by national partners in each case study country.
This work forms part of peace audit work which will be substantiated
by better practice examples of women's 'know how' and an advocacy
'tool kit' manual.
Women's Commission for Refugee Women and Children,
Protection and Participation Project: The Women's Commission
is carrying out an assessment to review policies and practices related
to UNHCR's protection responsibilities vis-à-vis women refugees
and with regard to gender equality. The assessment considers the
measures taken BY UNHCR over the past decade to respond to the particular
needs and risks faced by women covered by the UNHCR mandate. The
assessment describes how the principles contained in the Guidelines
for the Protection of Women relate to ongoing practice. It analyzes
how structures of organization, channels of communication, lines
of reporting and accountability, and resource constraints in Headquarters
and in the field may facilitate or impede progress. Over a one year
period, the assessment team has undertaken field visits to Eritrea,
Ethiopia, Zambia, Pakistan and Turkey, as well as extensive interviews
with UNHCR and partner agencies in Geneva and the field. An advanced
draft report is being considered and the report will be finalized
by early December 2001. The proejct is informed by a steering committee
comprised of key members of UNHCR staff, and the governments of
the United States and Canada. The latter governments are also funders
of the project.
Women's Commission for Refugee Women and Children,
April 2001: Protection and Participation Project: In April 2001,
the Women's Commission released "You Cannot Dance if You Cannot
Stand: A Review of the Rwanda Women's Initiative and the UNHCR's
Commitment to Gender Equality in Post-conflict Situations." The
report highlights the strengths and weaknesses of the Rwanda Women's
Initiative (RWI), providing lessons learned on the potential role
for women in post-conflict reconstruction and for future women's
initiatives. The report also provides specific recommendations for
the future of RWI.
Women's Commission for Refugee Women and Children,
May - July 2001: Adolescents and Children Affected by War: From
May to July 2001, for the second in a series of four participatory
studies with adolescents, the Women's Commission carried out a research
study in Northern Uganda that involved 54 adolescent researchers
and more than 20 adults from the community to identify key concerns
facing adolescents and solutions to their problems as part of an
international campaign to increase services and protection for and
with adolescents affected by armed conflict. These adolescents identified
the research issues, developed their methodology, led the study
and spoke to over 2,000 of their peers and adults living in Gulu,
Kitgum and Pader districts. Reports and recommendations from these
studies will be used for advocacy to address concerns raised in
each site covered, and will contribute to wider, international efforts
to improve services and protection for refugee, internally displaced
and other adolescents affected by armed conflict and persecution.
This is the second in a four part field-based assessment that will
also include collaboration with youth in Kosovo, Sierra Leone.
Women's Caucus of the International Action Network
on Small Arms , July 2001: UN General Assembly Resolution
54/54V paved the way for the first United Nations Conference on
the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All its Aspects,
which was held in July of 2001. The Women's Caucus played a pivotal
role in exposing the gender dimensions of the impact of small arms
on women with publications, events and a webpage.
Women's International League for Peace and Freedom,
July 2001: international seminar in Geneva on the Middle
East Crisis, featuring women from all countries of the Middle East,
and with a special focus on Security Council Resolution 1325
Women's International League for Peace and Freedom,
October 2001: launch of the Peace Women project and website
http://www.peacewomen.org, a centralised repository of information
and links on women and peace.
Reproductive Health for Refugees Consortium,
The Gender-based Violence Initiative
With funding from the U.S. Department of State's
Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration (BPRM) and on behalf
of the Reproductive Health for Refugees Consortium (RHRC), the Women's
Commission for Refugee Women and Children (WCRWC) and the International
Rescue Committee (IRC) are jointly administering an intensive two-year
investigation of current resources and field practices related to
international Gender-based Violence (GBV) which will produce: a
global report on current multi-sectoral responses to GBV in refugee
and internally displaced settings; a web-based bibliography of current
GBV literature, posted at www.rhrc.org, for easy access by
international and local GBV program planners and field staff; and
an GBV standardized assessment, monitoring and evaluation tools
manual, to be field tested in select sites, designed to assist donor
and implementing agencies in the early identification of and appropriate
response to GBV among refugee and internally displaced populations.
Reproductive Health for Refugees Consortium,
The Gender-based Violence Technical Assistance Project JSI
Research & Training Institute, on behalf of the Reproductive
Health for Refugees Consortium and with funding from the U.S. Department
of State's Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration (BPRM),
has recently initiated a year-long on-site global technical assistance
(TA) project. Designed to support the development of appropriate
GBV prevention and response activities in refugee, post-conflict,
and IDP settings, the TA project will: facilitate effective programming
strategies by assisting multi-sectoral actors to develop programs
and establish protocols, procedures and management strategies; provide
technical assistance and training to UN agencies, governments, national
and international NGOs, with particular focus on outcomes, monitoring
and evaluation; promote consistent data collection and reporting
in order to develop a common understanding of the type(s) and extent
of GBV occurring in various refugee settings.
Peacekeeping Watch: August 2001: Women's
Caucus for Gender Justice, Center for the Strategic Initiatives
of Women and the Women's international League for Peace and Freedom
launched Peacekeeping Watch. The network is intended to facilitate
the quick flow of information about the commission of violations
by Peacekeepers, to bring media and public attention to their occurrence
and to seek appropriate responses from the UN as well as troop contributing
countries. The network would seek to link those in countries where
there is, or has been, a peacekeeping presence with
others in troop contributing countries and with
non-governmental organizations working around the UN system. Individuals
and organizations working on issues relating to human rights, violence
against women, peace and security, or militarism are encouraged
to join. http://www.peacewomen.org
Violence Against Women in War day, 11 October
2001: panel and reception activities around a book edited by
Anne Barstow, War's Dirty Secrets. Co-sponsoring organisations:
Presbyterian UN Office, Women's International League for Peace and
Freedom, International Women's Tribune Center, Women Ink, The Grail,
MADRE, Women's Caucus for Gender Justice, World Conference on Religion
and Peace
NGO Working Group on Women & International
Peace and Security
International Alert
1 Glyn Street,
London
SE11 5HE
United Kingdom
Ph: 011 44 207 793 8383
Fax: 011 44 207 793 7975
epiza-lopez@international-alert.org
Hague Appeal for Peace
777 UN Plaza,
New York , NY 10017
Ph: 1 212 687 2623
Fax: 1 212 661 2704
Email: hap99@igc.org
Amnesty International
6th Floor
777 UN Plaza, New York
NY 10017
Ph:1 212 867 8878
Fax: 1 212 370 0183
E-mail: ai-un-ny@amnesty.org
Women's Caucus for Gender Justice
P O Box 3541, Grand Central Post Office
New York, NY 10163
Ph: 1 718 626 2681
Fax: 1 718 626 3528
Email: caucus@iccwomen.org
Women's Commission for Refugee and Women and
Children
122 East 42nd Street
New York NY 10168
Ph: 1 212 551 3063
Fax: 1 212 551 3180
E-mail: maha@womenscommission.org
Women's International League for and Peace Freedom
777 UN Plaza
New York, NY 10017
Ph: 1 212 682 1265
Fax: 1 212 286 8211
Email: wilpfun@igc.org
International Women's Tribune Center
777 UN Plaza
New York, NY 10017
Ph: 1 212 687 8633
Fax: 1 212 661 2704
Email: iwtc@iwtc.org
Back to top
| 
PeaceWomen 