HUMAN RIGHTS

1. To ensure that woman's human rights in particular CEDAW is implemented in the reconstruction of war torn societies, we recommend that peace agreements and negotiated settlements specifically include the application of CEDAW. (It could be in the preamble as the foundation of the agreement or the body of the agreement.)
2. No human rights should be subject to negotiations by any party to a negotiated settlement or agreement or by a party affected by the conflict.

FUNDING

3. We believe that a major obstacle to the implementation of key components of peace agreements (such as accountability mechanisms) is the lack of or inadequate funding especially for gender related mechanisms. We recommend that in order to ensure gender equality funding for accountability mechanism in particular be mainstreamed into the budget not paid for by voluntary contributions.

GENDER UNITS IN PEACE KEEPING OPERATIONS

4. Implementation of resolution UN SC res.1325 will be ad hoc unless there is a system within the UN system that interacts with Governments and NGO. We recommend that a gender unit at DPKO consisting of more than a senior gender adviser within peacekeeping operations and at HQ. That the position of the gender adviser should not be interchangeable with the human rights adviser or doubled with it.

 

GENDER ANALYSIS OF CONFLICT AND PEACEBUILDING

The UN Secretariat is encouraged to:

5. Ensure that senior Gender Advisers with appropriate decision-making powers and resources are present in all field operations and take an active role in fact-finding missions.
6. Ensure that gender-analysis skills are a standard requirement for all senior positions in Peace Support Operations (e.g. Special Representatives of the Secretary-General, the Force Commander, the Chief Administrative Officers, special envoys and peace negotiators).

MECHANISMS FOR GENDER MAINSTREAMING

Governments, UN Departments and Agencies responsible for Peacekeeping, regional inter-governmental institutions are encouraged to:

7. Require and ensure the provision of adequate gender awareness training to all civilian, military and civilian police peacekeeping personnel before and during their engagement in international peacekeeping operations, in concurrence with UN Security Council Resolution 1325, this includes "..training materials and guidelines to Member States on the protection, rights, and particular needs of women, as well as on the importance of involving women in all peacekeeping and peacebuilding measures by Member States in national training programs for military, civilian police, and civilian personnel of peacekeeping operations".
   
   
8. Create, and sufficiently fund and staff a Gender Unit within the Department of Peacekeeping Operations headquarters to systematically mainstream gender perspectives into peacekeeping operations through Gender Field Advisor offices and to assist in recruiting women candidates for positions at all levels, particularly decision-making levels.

INTERFACE OF PEACE SUPPORT OPERATIONS WITH CIVIL SOCIETY


Governments, international, regional inter-governmental institutions, non-governmental organisations are encouraged to:

9. Consult with community leaders, local NGOs, and wider sections of the community, including experienced women peacemakers and women’s groups to ensure that the concerns and expertise of these groups are included in newly established systems. Avoid top-down approaches or consulting only with male leaders, as these methods heighten the lack of local ownership and contribute to a lack of trust.

ACCOUNTABILITY OF PEACE SUPPORT OPERATIONS

UN departments and agencies and regional inter-governmental institutions responsible for peacekeeping are encouraged to:

10. Establish a Women’s Protection Unit along similar lines to the Child protection Unit in countries where a PSO is operating. The purpose of this unit would be to monitor, investigate, report, and recommend punishment, including UN peacekeepers found guilty of gender violence and offer compensation to victims. Publicity about the office and its services in the local language is necessary to ensure accessibility.

In addition the UN Secretariat is encouraged to:

11. Require that in consultation with local and international women’s peace, humanitarian, and human rights groups, leadership of peace support operations initiate mandatory monitoring and reporting at regular intervals of the peacekeeping operation’s impact on women and girls in the local communities.
12. Request that Member States and international and regional institutions participating in peacekeeping operations develop, and make public accountability mechanisms and disciplinary actions for peacekeepers who violate and exploit local populations.

TRAINING OF PEACEKEEPING PERSONNEL

13. Training of peacekeeping personnel should also include personnel at the headquarters of DPKO. Training is important in missions, but staff at DPKO must be included to ensure sustainability and cooperation at the political level with other UN agencies. Gender-sensitive staff at DPKO can assure the integration of women in Security Council visits and missions by including appropriate, gender-sensitive terms of reference in the mandates. This training would be greatly advanced by having a gender unit within DPKO.

(The NGO Working Group on Women, Peace and Security includes the Hague Appeal for Peace, International Alert, International Women's Tribune Center, Women's Caucus for Gender Justice, Women' s Commission for Refugee Women and Children, Women's International League for Peace and Freedom)